Last week, I discussed the Beef Industrial Complex (BIC) and how the beef industry in America has become corporatized. Remarks from PJ Budler on Jared’s podcast helped me connect the dots. Basically, the goal of the BIC is to pressure farmers and ranchers to operate in a way that makes the BIC the most money.
The pressure is real. I have seen it first-hand. To even expose the BIC or argue against some of their main “beliefs” can get you ostracized. That’s why it was nice to see an article in Drovers this week discussing cow size. I encourage you to read the entire article. I’ll share the conclusion:
“Even amid strong calf markets, increased feed costs associated with larger, higher-milking cows often outweigh the marginal gains in calf value. While the short-term benefits of bull selection are readily apparent when feeders are sold, the long-term consequences of retaining replacement females may not be fully realized until those females reach mature size – often five years after birth.
“Therefore, when replacement retention is a key component of the production system, selecting bulls with moderate mature weight and milk EPDs may better support long-term cow-calf efficiency and profitability by reducing unnecessary feed costs and maintaining the level of performance the operation’s resources can realistically support.”
I’ll take it a step and recommend buying bulls that are low-maintenance and developed without high-cost inputs. Maybe it’s time to start looking at your bottom line instead of the BIC’s bottom line.
When you are tired of being manipulated, lied to, and coerced by the BIC, PCC® is here to help. We have the largest selection of low-maintenance bulls in the US. These bulls will put the profit back into your operation!
If you are still unsure, don’t worry. Come to one of our spring bull sales and talk with the PCC crew, cooperative producers and fellow ranchers. We are low-pressure and low-stress and will be happy to tell you what has worked for us. There is a better way; come and check out the possibilities!
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