Statistic

[15444]

During which quarter does Canfax estimate there to be 750,000 cull cows waiting to be slaughtered? I thought it was end of the third, but not sure.

[slinger]

Based upon stats from 2002, the week ending Sept 20 shows that Canada had slaughtered 372,453 cows & 7063 bulls and exported another 203,039 cows and bulls to the US for slaughter ......... the same report indicates that our cow slaughter is off 34% from the year previosu and exportas are off 47% ...........

My best quess is that we have 300,000 to 350,000 cows that have a decision pending, either disposal in some form or manner or retention within the herd.

My personal view is that if she is under ten years of age and healthy then she is retained and treated as an heifer replacement ......... and all heifer calves are marketed ........... string the issue out, ease the marketing of cows, market what returnds the best dollar in the short term in hopes that resolution to the cow marketing questions comes through lifting of the ban on cull cow/bull movement within the next 24 months.

[rsomer]

Anne Dunford of Canfax predicted a backlog of 750,000 cows by the end of the first quarter 2004.

http://www.producer.com/articles/20030821/market_quotas/20030821mkt01.html

[cowman]

I wonder how big the calf crop might be next year? Everyone I talk to is basically hanging tough and going to calve out those old culls.
The drought here last year cleaned out most of the older cows and "problem" cows. A lot of them left for greener pastures but the good young ones basically stayed home.
I hope the border for young stuff is open next fall as we just might have a few more calves that need to find a home?

[15444]

Were carrying on like its business as usual. All of the spring calvers are bred and the bulls will go out with the fall calvers in a month and a bit. Deriving the majority of our income from the farm so we have to keep plugging along, regardless of the industry. There probably will be a slug of calves next year, but what can you do?!

[cowman]

That is a very good question. I don't have an answer...I don't think anybody does! We're stuck with these cows unless we want to take a major loss. I imagine just about every old dog in the country will be held over this year! Should make for some interesting times next spring? Get out your milk pails and beef up the corrals!
I wonder what this whole thing might do to the so-called "cattle cycle"?