Curt Arens
BEING PRODUCTIVE: When buying or retaining replacement heifers, producers need to be aware of the effect of several factors on the long-term economic implications from those heifers.
Longevity or replacement rates within the herd are crucial in deciding what you can afford to pay.
One of the biggest decisions you can make that affects your bottom line for the cow-calf herd is deciding what you can pay for replacement heifers. If you pay too much, you are setting yourself up for a situation where those heifers cannot possibly pay for themselves over time.
At a recent University of Nebraska BeefWatch webinar, Randy Saner, Nebraska Extension educator, told participants that longevity or replacement rates within the herd are crucial in deciding what you can afford to pay — and if a heifer made money for the operation, or cost money.