how do you stop bulls fighting

[rkaiser]

Just about as many "playboys" in the commercial business these days as well cowman. Corporate welfare is making it hard to stay away. Land is and mostly has been a good investment, and what better way to use it than to put some of those good old "herd inventory" cows on it.Where do you think a big bunch of those high priced purebred, and now even crossbred, bulls are destined.

Okay cowman, I'll bite yer bait on the purebred thing.

How can I say you are wrong when Soderglen, and many more, are pumping out those crossbred crossbred bulls for more money than most purebred sales. More people than you see merit in a GOOD LOOKING animal.LOL. One of the main reasons that I beleive in purebred cattle is direction. Uniformity and consistancy will be hard to acheive if the industry moves toward the unpredictable genetics of crossbred cattle. I know cowman, your calves look good, and if they aren't consistant, so what. They can be matched up in goups and sold in the market to 3 or 4 different buyers. If, however you or anyone else is looking to integrate into a market like a lot are these days, consistancy, all of a sudden, becomes an important issue. Genetic potential can only be "stamped" with purebred cattle.

I doubt if you have talked that forward thinkin son of yours into keeping too many of your homesteader bulls cowman, but if you have, power too you. I think your post, and arguement have more to do with price and costs than purebred vs. homesteader, and that part I will agree with. There are likely more good bulls sold every year for decent prices than you might imagine. And I question your gamble of keeping that one calf and making your whole scheme work financially. Somehow we end up culling quite a few of these darn purebred bulls by the time they reach sale time at two years old. One more factor you seem to have left out of your equation where we are making big money on poor buggars like you selling $2500.00 purebred bulls?

[cowman]

Well I think I pointed out that you aren't making big money selling $2500 bulls? The numbers just aren't there?
But like you said I am selling a commodity, not a niche product? And as such the cheaper I do it the more money in my pocket. I don't see the regular market paying for consistency or a pedigree? In fact I believe it is moving away from that in a big way!
Crossbred calves usually outsell straighbred calves everytime in the market? And pre-sort calf sales are more efficient than regular sales? The day when the rancher got up and gave a spiel about what good well bred cattle he has and how good he treats them are pretty well gone because frankly no one cares!
Obviously the feedlots have this figured out or they wouldn't be doing it? Does it really pay to go the extra mile and breed a "consistant" product? Age verify them and have them on a health program like "Pfizer Gold"? From what I have seen the market doesn't compensate you.
We are all so worried about how we can shave a few bucks off the feed bill? We have become obsessed with that. The fact is there are many ways to lower costs and to increase production? The biggest bang for your buck anyone will get is to cross breed and get some hybrid vigor into those cattle!
At the main farm I have an outdoor wood fired stove that heats the shop, house etc. Takes about one half hour a day in the winter to tend to. And yep in the heifer corral the water tank is heated with a wood heater...I would guess it takes about ten minutes a day. A few on here take great delight implying I am some sort of dinosaur for not getting with the times and installing an electric/gas set up...well I know both will work and I sure enjoy those extra dollars in my pocket! The cow herd drinks for free out of the springs.
Bottom line is this: If anyone intends to stay in this "commodity" business and deal with the Cargills and Tysons of this world you had better figure out how to cut costs and keep production at the max...or you won't be able to compete. Pretty simple?