Successful cattle producers have long recognized that fall is the time to pregnancy check cows before they get into the high maintenance costs of winter. It just doesn’t make sense to put hundreds of dollars worth of feed, pasture, interest, health care, and labor into a cow that is not going to bring home a paycheck next year. This is even more critical this year, with short pastures, scarce and expensive hay, and high feed prices.

If that cow isn’t going to produce why not replace her with one that will have a calf in the spring or save her part of your winter costs? Not only is now a good time to cull open cows before you spend the winter expenses, but they are probably in the best body condition and weight they will be in until mid summer. Click here to read this article in it’s entirety.

Source: Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Area Extension veterinarian. Article appeared in Cow-calf Corner, is a weekly newsletter edited by Dr. Glenn Selk, Extension cattle specialist Emeritus at Oklahoma State University with contributions from additional OSU Extension specialists.