My grandpa used to say, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Applied to the current cattle market, most everyone is profitable with today’s calf prices. However, when the tide goes out, we’ll find out who’s not wearing pants.

Is there a rancher anywhere who would not benefit from more profit? If you are willing to think outside the box, here are three tried and true ideas filled with profit potential in any market.

1) Graze more and feed less. The largest expense for most cow/calf producers is feed. Anything you can do to keep cows grazing will be cheaper than hauling hay. Stockpile pasture, utilize crop residue or lease more grass, just keep them grazing. I have found that cows are more content when they’re not listening for the sound of the feed wagon. I realize there are other considerations, like mud, deep snow and land use, but if the cows can harvest their own feed without you or your machinery, you will increase your bottom line.

2) Implement some form of rotational grazing. If you grew up like me, this sounds like a lot of extra work that you don’t have time for. However, I had to try it to realize the potential for increased production. Benefits include: increased stocking rate, faster gains, better nutrition, healthier cows, fewer flies, increased soil fertility, greater plant diversity, infiltration and retention of water just to name a few. You don’t need a whole system laid out on the entire farm. You can work wonders with $1,000 of electric fence and a little extra labor.

3) Buy calving ease genetics. Many ranchers believe that the best way to bigger weaning weights is bigger birth weights, that is if the calf survives the birthing process. I used to stay up all night for two months trying to save every last one. Even with that level of dedication, 95% survival was the best I could do. That’s not very good compared to 99 or 100%, not to mention reduced stress and labor. Imagine calves that jump up and suck on their own, getting off to a healthy start. Think of the labor you could save without calf pullers, prolapses and stomach tubes. This has potential to change your life financially, physically and mentally. You might even learn to enjoy calving season again!

Whenever you’re ready for a change, PCC® has bulls with grass efficiency, fertility and calving ease. I’ll see you next time on the Herd Quitter® Minute.