Herd Quitter™ Blog
Poisoning Our Cattle
Many, if not most, cattlemen are unknowingly poisoning their cattle with expensive mineral supplements. This is something most PCC™ Cooperative Producers and many PCC customers first became aware of in 2020 and 2021. I don’t know when commercial mineral mixtures first...
Optimum Cow Size
For the last 40+ years, land-grant universities and status quo beef producers have been single-mindedly focused on increasing pounds per cow (bragging rights) — at the expense of pounds per acre (profit). Consequently, cow size has increased by 40% — and ranch profits...
Higher, Higher, Higher
Calf prices continue to go higher, higher, higher! Many 400 to 500-pound steer calves are selling for over $4.00 per pound. WOW! Most of us never thought we would live long enough to see calf prices this high. We are truly living and ranching in the BEST of TIMES! A...
The Healthier Option
While Kit and I were on our way home from the Nebraska Bull Sale, I grabbed a meal on the road. As I browsed through the convenience store options, I saw some breakfast burritos. Surely, that would be healthier than most options in a...
Cowboy Auction
In a recent Sale Report, I said, “We used our unique Cowboy Auction to sell 113 Solar Bulls in one hour and ten minutes.” A couple of PCC™ subscribers wanted to know what a Cowboy Auction is. Since many of our subscribers are not bull customers, that’s a valid...
It’s Not Complicated
I can be an “intellectual” at times, theorizing solutions to complex problems. While these whimsical daydreams can be fun, they are rarely practical. Farnam Street explains why: “Smart people are uniquely vulnerable to mistaking complexity for insight. An executive...
Low-Stress Weaning
Good for the Calves... Good for the Cows... Good for You. Weaning is the process of separating a calf from its mother. It typically takes place in the fall of the year. It can be a very traumatic time for both the cow and her calf. The key to success is to minimize...
Gratitude
As we approach Thanksgiving, I can’t help but think of all the things I am thankful for. One of the easiest ways to improve your situation in life is to practice gratefulness. When I think of gratitude, I often think of saying “Thank you,” but it’s much more than...
Quit Bargaining with Reality
Farnam Street had this insight in its recent newsletter: “Frustration is bargaining with reality, hoping it will change. Yelling at traffic doesn't make it move faster. Rehearsing the same complaints about your spouse doesn't change their behavior. Getting angry at...
The Long Haul
If you plan to be in the cow-calf business for the long haul, you must be willing to change with the times. Nothing stays the same. The present is different from the past and the future will be different from the present. Today’s beef industry is not the same as it...