|
Sunnyside, WA | I don't blame you for wanting to quit milking after 30 years. Sounds like its been a great career.
You could have chose to grow the dairy herd as much as you have grown the crop side then I think you may have a different perspective on dairy right now. And a different breakeven.
I use no sexed semen at all and have plenty of heifers. I calve on average at just under 22 months old and have 90% heifer to total cow ratio. I don't see sexed semen helping me in my situation because it reduces conception rate too much. I like technology but don't see it as the silver bullet.
A number of herds in this area are using beef bulls on the hard breeding cows after so many services. They say heifers are not worth much and why not take advantage of the high beef prices. Not sure if this will limit heifer numbers in the future, but it may. If most of these cows do get pregnant, a large majority of them go to beef before they calve anyway.
Edited by J. Sheehan 7/1/2012 15:10
| |
|
milk prices
