Now is the time to examine cows closely after weaning for physical problems that might interfere with performance or require extra labor or expense to get them through the winter. Some of these problems are correctable, however, in many cases, salvage is the most logical avenue.
· Check eyes closely at time of pregnancy testing to make sure no growths are present. These growths usually indicate the start of cancer-eye. If a cancer-eyed cow is culled early enough she can bring current market price per pound. If you wait, she will only bring $.0 to $.10 per pound. That’s a big difference!!
· Excessive hoof growth can be temporarily treated by trimming but will often reoccur. If the female has been foundered, she should be removed from the herd. The tendency for this condition to expose itself can be passed on to future offspring. Cows exhibiting lameness not explained by a localized foot infection should also be culled.
· Antibiotic withdrawal times must be followed in cows salvaged after failure to respond to treatment. Typical of this type are injuries to joints of older cows, particularly in the shoulder and stifle. These injuries are normally not correctable and will often start a general decline in the cow’s overall condition.
· During the fall months, be on the lookout for cows that are excessively thin for no apparent reason. It may be due to some physical problem that is not obvious. Worn-off teeth in older cows may interfere with chewing of roughage and feed. As a general rule, cows exhibiting an unthrifty condition that cannot be related to parasite infestation or management should be culled. It is best to receive some salvage value rather than to spend money and labor only to lose the cow later.
· Cull cows with udder problems could hinder calf health and/or performance. Eliminate such things as blind quarters, large teats, pendulous udders or other problems that may interfere with a newborn calf’s first meal. If they are not removed from the herd, these cows will usually propagate these faults through their daughters.
Generally, cows should be sold immediately after they are culled. This is particularly true of cows that are being eliminated because of physical problems. However, cull cow prices are very strong, and cow prices are expected to continue very strong in the coming months. If you have excess forage this year you might benefit by feeding some of it to cull cows. If you do decide to hold the cows until after the first of the year, make sure you sell them. Often, after being kept this long, the temptation is to hang on and breed them again. Failure to sell these cows will weaken your total program.
