For producers across the country, whether beef or dairy, cull cattle are part of doing business. Therefore, NCBA and CattleFax have released a new resource to help maximize profitability when culling decisions are made. “Right Way. Right Time. - A Guide to Cull Cattle Management” addresses key problem areas, provides strategies for making timely culling decisions to prioritize animal welfare and is designed to help producers capture more value through effective management of cull cattle.
“Managing cull cattle to be in good condition, sound and fit to transport will increase their value significantly,” said Trey Patterson, president and chief executive officer of Padlock Ranch Company in Wyoming. “The animals leaving our ranching operations are not only a valuable financial resource, but they also constitute a class of cattle that need and deserve as much care as any other animal on the operation.”
Even though cull animals often are viewed as a loss, with effective planning, these animals can be a significant source of revenue. According to the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, over time, the industry has realized that some market cows and bulls have the potential to yield valuable primals to be fabricated and sold as retail cuts and to the restaurant trade.
For more information or to access the guide online, click here.