Ryan D. Rhoades

Assistant Professor / Beef Extension Specialist / Colorado State University

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Jason K. Ahola

Associate Professor / Beef Management Systems / Colorado State University

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During the fall, many Western ranchers are weaning and checking for open cows. Cull cows will begin to be sorted from the herd, so it’s time to decide the best way to market this valuable set of cows. Improving management and marketing tactics by feeding cull cows through the winter can realistically increase their value by 25 to 45 percent. If retaining cull cows is an option for your operation, then here are a couple of management considerations to help improve your bottom line.

1. Consider marketing cull cows when prices are highest. This will require feeding them through the winter. The market has historically been extremely predictable, with the lowest prices for cull cows in the fall (i.e., October through November); then prices gradually improve to peak sometime in the spring (i.e., March through May).
   
   
2. Feeding cows that are in thin or moderate body condition should be a priority. Feed efficiency decreases dramatically at body condition score 6 and higher. Additionally, younger cows tend to have a more acceptable fat color and gain more efficiently, and thus have a financial advantage in short-term feeding situations.
   
   
3. If providing cows with a high-concentrate diet in a drylot is possible, consider using technologies such as ionophores, beta-agonist and MGA to increase average daily gain, feed efficiency and hot carcass weight. All products should be fed according to label directions.
4. Determine in advance who will be buying your cows. Depending on your location and size, direct marketing might be a way to capture additional premium. If volume is a challenge, work together with other progressive ranchers in your area. When selling direct to the packer, be cautious of discounts for fat cows and light carcasses.
   
   
5. Since feed is the primary cost involved, use a partial budget analysis to determine the feasibility of this decision. With a record corn crop predicted for this fall, commodity prices should be stable if not lower, which means there are a number of feasible scenarios for feeding cull cows this winter (i.e., grazing cornstalks to drylot).