Bred Heifers for sale
Everyone develops heifers differently. I think the key is to understand what yours truly need, based on your management, marketing, and goals. We breed cattle to work in their environment with minimum inputs. We don't want to select against performance, but we are circumspect about how much performance can cost, and try to supplement only when it is economically advisable. We read BCS and manure as our guide. After a decade of this work, our cattle are smaller than they started, more fertile on less inputs, more docile, better uddered and ultimately more profitable. They excel in grass finishing and direct market programs. These bred heifers were developed on unfertilized bahiagrass followed by stockpiled bermudagrass. They have wintered on annuals and hay. If you need cattle that are built for the rigors of the South without crutches, we have 40 heifer pairs available, $2150/pair until 6/01/2022. Calves were born in late February and March. Priced as first calf 3n1s ($2400) starting in August after preg check. Volume discounts available.
Cows for Sale
If you are looking to start or grow your low input cow herd, we open up our entire herd for your interest. I tell visitors, "Everything is for sale", even if I have to protect a handful with blush worthy pricing. I try and price 90% of my cows at levels I would be willing to pay for them. From open weaned heifers, to 6 year olds in their prime, to proven teenagers, we have something for everyone who's interested in Southern Grass Cattle. Our business is breeding cows that work for you, not the other way around. While these cows graze unimproved perennial pastures mostly of Bahia, Bermuda, and a selection of broadleaf forbs, they have been selected to thrive in the heat and humidity. We have sent dozens of cattle into fescue country and they tend to do as well or better there than here. We have blended line-bred, old line Angus cows with those that thrived here for the last 50 years. Our cattle are trained to single wire temporary electric fences, and have been selected for docility and easy handling. They also are aggressive graziers of just about anything that grows.
Spring calving commercial pairs are $2050-$2350 each. Calves born in February and March.
Spring calving commercial pairs are $2050-$2350 each. Calves born in February and March.
Christmas bred cows for sale
In the quest for extreme pressure on fertility, we tend to have some open cattle that we believe will be consistent producers under average or better forage availability. Many of these cattle have now been bred back twice inside a 45 day calving window and I have even more confidence in them. They are priced at a discount to our no-strike herd, and we have no reservation about putting our name on these. We will keep these in our herd until they make another mistake and are off to the barn. They calved in December and January. Commercial bred pairs are $1900-$2100. They are Angus and Angus cross cattle from 4-9 years old.
Class of 2021 update
If you remember from my previous post, this young group were 81% bred in 33 days last year as true heifers. Well I'm proud to report this year we left the bulls in a little longer but of the 76 cows exposed, 71 were bred in 60 days of exposure. Getting first calf heifers bred back can be challenging, but ours performed above the herd average, AND raised great calves. Our program is getting stronger!
How much to pay for breeding stock?
Anyone looking into getting into the cow business to make money should have a business plan. Am I selling at the stockyard, pot loads, to value added buyers, as breedings stock, or into direct market as beef? Know your expected costs so you can estimate your profits. Buying cheap cows can be a way to make money, but it sometimes can lead to long term problems that aren't easy to fix. My family has spent decades selecting cattle that work in our environment, and I have been tuning these cattle for a handful of Presidents to make them extremely efficient as grass finishers. Spend as much money as your business plan allows to get you as close to your goals as possible. Buy from a breeder who doesn't take better care (ie. more inputs) of his/her cows than you plan to. Buy from as close to your environment as you can. These are a few of the basic rules of importing breeding stock.