By Andi Anderson
With cull cow prices reaching record highs, now may be the best time for beef producers to pregnancy check their herds. Identifying and removing open cows before winter feeding can save money and create new profit opportunities.
Overwintering open cows is rarely profitable. Feed is the largest expense, with each cow consuming an estimated $300 to $500 worth of hay during winter.
By contrast, cull cow values are rising sharply, with a 1,400-pound cow at $1.60 per pound worth over $2,200. Factoring in feed savings, culling open cows can generate more than $2,500 per head, offsetting the cost of replacing them with bred females.
Despite this, studies by the National Animal Health Monitoring System show that only 20% of cow-calf producers in the Eastern U.S. pregnancy check their cows, even though open rates near 10% are common.
For a 40-cow herd, testing at $10 per cow costs around $400. If four cows are identified as open, removing them can save $1,200 in hay costs and create long-term gains by reinvesting in bred cows that add future calf sales.
Producers have three main testing options. Rectal palpation is the traditional method, accurate from about 35 days of pregnancy but usually requires a veterinarian visit.
Ultrasonography, becoming more affordable and portable, can identify pregnancies as early as 20 days and even determine fetal sex after 60 days, though it comes with higher costs.
Blood testing is the third option, requiring only a simple tail vein sample. Results are highly accurate and affordable, averaging $5 to $10 per cow, with some on-farm kits providing results in 20 minutes.
With costs ranging from $5 to $20 per head, pregnancy testing quickly pays for itself. By identifying open cows early, producers reduce feed expenses, capitalize on record cull prices, and increase calf crops for the next season. Too often overlooked, this simple management tool offers a clear path to better profitability.
Photo Credit: istock-emholk
Categories: Ohio, Livestock