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all over Iowa | Another hidden advantage to keeping your calves is saving the costs of selling them at the sale barn. Commisions, vet, yardage, trucking, shrink, etc, all add up to about $12/cwt. So when you keep and feed your own calves you are already $60/hd better off than the guy that buys them at the barn. Add to it the reduced stress and sickness and the advantage is considerable.
On the flip side, honestly assess your ability to feed cattle - space, shelter, equipment, labor, management, etc. You need to be keeping good records so that you have the answers to these questions at hand. The only way you would want to feed them yourself is if you can competitively do so - the only way to know that is with records. Consider retaining ownership and having your calves fed for you is also an option; performance (reduced days on feed and less feed per gain) adds up to more savings per head than by not paying someone else yardage. | |
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feeding out your own calves
