This is the time of year when many cowmen are preg checking, aging and evaluating their cow herd. Many will add replacements and make decisions on which cows to cull.

According to Kit Pharo, some decisions are easy. A cow that does not produce a calf every year needs to go to town. This seems like a no-brainer, but it is amazing how many producers will give an open cow a second chance. She is dead weight – let her go!

You might be surprised how much late calving cows will cost you. A calf born at the end of your calving season vs. the beginning, will weigh significantly less and get sorted off from the group at sale time. Keep the cows that are the most fertile and cull late calvers.

Don’t make excuses for cows that always need help. Pulling calves, bad udders and fence crawlers are extra troubles you don’t need. A neighbor in Iowa had a cow that prolapsed her uterus every year. He laced her up afterward and removed it each spring so she could calve. I hope your time is more valuable than that. Cull the cows that make extra work!

Dangerous dispositions are another place where cows often get a pass. We make excuses for her like, “She sure is mean, but she always raises a good calf.” I put up with that nonsense back when I could run fast, but not anymore. It is not worth the risk. America needs hamburger – send her to town.

Old cows don’t have to be culled just because they reach a certain age. If she holds her condition and raises a good calf, why sell her? She is paid for, fully depreciated, and has earned her spot. It is not uncommon to find several teenage cows in PCC® herds. However, we do not give them special treatment – they need to pull their own weight.

Wally Olson offers another option, if you like developing heifers. He suggests selling cows at the top of their price appreciation, rather than keeping them for life. A heifer steadily grows in value from birth through age 5. From that point on, she will decline in value each year. Why not sell her when she’s worth the most instead of later when she’s worth the least? On the other hand, don’t discount the value of building longevity in your herd.

Don’t make excuses for your cow herd. Following these commonsense guidelines can build a profitable, low-maintenance cow herd. Buy your genetics from a seed stock producer who does the same. I’ll see you next time on the Herd Quitter® Minute.