Have been buying old, mostly BM bred cows and pairs since 2012. Can usually buy for just above kill price. Have made decent money every year. Some years more and some years less but never lost money doing this. I try to get them bought between mid October and Feb 1, when market is cheapest and sell before Labor day, in August,before the fall price decline.. If you are going to do this, get started immediately or wait until fall to buy.

I'm not really in the cattle business but am in the feed conversion business. Have just figured out that these old cows are my best feed conversion tools.

I finally figured out that they don't get to be an old bred cow if they didn't properly do their job as a younger cow. Being bred is a good indicator of decent health. Pretty hard to get bred if not in decent health.