big calf/little calf

[cowman]

All the back to nature gurus told us that we needed to go back to calving cows on grass and breeding these little small cattle. Which was just peachy when feed was cheap! And if you were lazy! You could carry that little late May calf over the winter on cheap grain and hay and hit the rising spring market or throw him out on cheap grass. Didn't have to stay up all night when it was -40!
Also worked pretty good when there was a big price on those little calves... a 4 hundred pounder brought almost as much as a 600 pounder.
This year things have changed a bit. The little calf brings about the same price per pound as the big calf. Big or small, both are dismal but a $700 calf sure beats $450 when it comes time to pay the old feed bill? I expect the gurus will now be telling everyone to calve in January and load up on those big exotic bulls! Oh and by the way, blaming those dumb cattlemen for making the mistake of calving late!
My own personal guru told me a long time ago...forget all the hype and fads. Raise them as big as you can as cheap as you can. You sell pounds not BS!

[countryguy]

Cowman,with all your infinite wisdom you should be ashamed of yourself.Somehow you forgot that these "little" cows as you call them eat a heck of alot less than these big exotics,hence you can keep more cows on the same amount of ground.You are also forgetting that these little cows can be wintered for a heck of alot cheaper than their big cow cousins.What you must remember about the cattle business cowman is that you are selling pounds of beef per acre,not calves at so much per head.

PS.Calving in May lazy?I'd say the right word is SMART!

[cowman]

I guess I shouldn't have said little cattle, but stressed little calves. No way am I a fan of big hard doing cows.
Also I let my own bias show when in fact I should know there are many ways to get to where you want to be.
What I was trying to point out is that this year the worm has turned and the person who calved in Jan./Feb. is reaping the benefit. This year, the market doesn't want those little calves. A lot of people have these little calves, can't afford to feed them, and will take a bath on them. What they get for that small calf will not feed his momma this winter.

[ValueChainFX]

Cowman, I do enjoy your wisdom and sometimes to know that you do get frustrated like the rest of us. You are right the producers out there have many ways to reach the end result THEY are looking for. I guess the key is that all producers just need a few more choices and a lot less BS from the guru's. We are all guru's in our own right, and these forums' give us a chance to express what our thoughts are and new ways that we may look at a fractured industry.

Cowman and countryguy thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[cowman]

Well I doubt I've ever been called a guru but I do enjoy stirring the pot once in awhile and playing the devils advocate! And I think that is a good thing because it makes people think and consider all the alternatives!
I hope your venture is turning out positive and I can really admire your drive to make this happen. I really hope your plant succeeds! We need more people like you! Entrepreneur first class!!!

[cswilson]

cowman too bad u don't sell bs cause you'd be rich-been there done the early big calf deal-i'll take my may-june calvin cows any time. nights are made for lovin and sleepin not packin calves around