> But as I pointed out, you get to a point with extremely old cows that
> nature increases the odds against them. �Knowing when to give them Ford or
> Chevy therapy while they can still walk on the truck is also management.
What do you do, shoot your dog on his 10th birthday?
No, I never got to the point were I culled cows based on the criteria of age
alone . That makes no sense to me to do that as they were my best cows.
I did cull old cows sometimes but generally for the same reason as I culled
any other age group. I culled them when I couldn't get them pregnant.
I have been rightfully accused of running an old ladies home. But I could
afford it, and would have done it if I could not afford it.
I buried a lot of them here on the farm. I am sentimental about certain cows
and don't give a damn what it costs to give them a retirement. It always
showed up in my herd average, but I don't care.
------
But you are ignoring something or more likely, you just haven't experienced
it.
It's a simple rule of thumb as old as dairy farming.
When we buy cows, the time length of their survival time in our herd is about
the same regardless of their age at purchase.
Yes! Buying a bred heifer, a three year old or a 10 year old, all of them are
going to last, on average, the same length of time in your herd.
The number of culling opportunities that purchased cows have previously
survived balances youth, and results in all ages having about the same
remaining time.
I have bought a lot of pregnant 10 year old cows with wonderful results. A
purchased ten year was much more likely to last 2 more lactations in my herd
than was a homebred unfreshened springing heifer.
If I was forced to pinpoint an age to buy cows, I would say as fresh 4 yr
olds. Those that have been through 3 calving. The chance that they will
blow their udders at some future calving is greatly diminished.
--
Kindest regards,
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F. W. Owen
Owenlea Holsteins
9430 Spencer Road
Homerville, Ohio 44235
e-mail fwo@bright.net
home page http://www.bright.net/~fwo
voice & fax 330.625.2369
cell 330.635.2287
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