Preg Checking and Culling Cows
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- Опубліковано 2 гру 2017
- Every year on the ranch, each and every cow gets a physical, an examination by a vet, including vaccinations. While we have them in we check each one and make sure they are pregnant. Making sure they are productive member of the herd.
Preg checking and culling cows is one of the most important tasks taken on the ranch, it keeps the herd healthy as well as the ranch.
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Join us on our journey as we leave a life in corporate america to come back to Wyoming and help on the family ranch.
Our Wyoming Life features our Wyoming ranch and our ranch family. Giving you a look into the workings of ranching from raising cattle to raising and harvesting crops. Erin will join you weekly out of the garden, showing you how she helps provide for our family through growing produce and selling at local farmers markets, and Mike will take you along as he tends to the animals and land of ranch, from calving to fencing to planting and harvesting hay.
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Please watch: "Calving and Technology on the Ranch"
• Calving and Technology...
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Wow At first soft hearted me never really understood why you guys could so readily send your animals to be killed . For people who are brought up away from a rural environment life on a ranch can be harsh and shocking but when it is explained why the ranchers do what they do with their live stock it doesn't seem so harsh it makes total sense why they cull their animals. Thankyou for your explanation in helping me understand why you cull your animals .
Hi Kylie, you'd be surprised how many ranchers are soft hearted souls as well. Thank you for watching! - Mike
Our Wyoming Life Your welcome Mike we have massive cattle stations here in Australia
I've always wondered why you guys call them stations
@@OurWyomingLife We often call the out back cattle stations, due to the massive distance from any small town or city.
We have the Jackeroos who tend to cattle, fencing and the usual. There can be up to 10 or more Jackeroos and Jilleroos.
The Children are often Schooled Via School of the Air. Run from Alice Springs and other main Cities.
Used to be done via CBD radio, the internet has brought it a long way now.
The Stations have their own Petrol station, some have small shops.
It becomes a small town in of its own. With the next farm possibly 600miles away, it's similar to a Train line, donkeys years ago, we would drive from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Majority of it on a dirt road, 1,200km trip. Often the only petrol you could buy was from a Cattle Station. So as I know it, they refer to them as Stations due to this, but also due to them being completely independent with just waiting on the weekly run of mail coming in by plane.
Mike, here when a cow jumps a fence or goes through it we call that the "Bar Exam" if they pass their exam and make it through or over, thats it. They now know they can, and they always do it again. Those cows are dangerous to themselves and others so we never hesitated to send them to a new home.
Thanks for sharing, I enjoy your videos so much I even go and re watch the old ones.
You don’t run a rescue. You run a business; that means, if it does not produce and make money, you cull them. That simple. If you want a pet, you get a dog. You are a good steward of all your animals and raise them humanely; this is the most important thing. How we treat people and animals says a lot about us. I am praying for continued success!
Thank you for sharing the rancher's life. I live and work in downtown San Francisco and find myself living vicariously through your family's experience. The simplicity and physical work is appealing in many ways.
I love your matter-of-fact approach. It can be hard for those who aren't immersed in this lifestyle to understand the reasons behind culling, but it is a necessary and inevitable part of good husbandry practices.
Thank you for pushing me to focus more on the data, and per unit productivity instead of just trying to 'grow the herd' regardless of animal quality! Big fan from Uganda
Thanks for taking the time to do all the videos Jesse
Youre welcome Jesse. We hope that the reach people and make them think. :) - Mike
Awesome realistic view of tasks on a ranch. Your informative videos teach me a ton
Thank you very much! - Mike
I'm from Saskatchewan, Canada and totally admire what your Family is doing on the ranch. Love watching it.
Thank you very much and thanks for watching - Mike
monbarb Im also from saskatchewan... love watching too! The flat open prairie is so much like I remember seeing as we would drive around the province...GO RIDERS,! Eh?Well maybe not this year... (2020). BEST...CHERYL🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
I stumbled across your videos yesterday and have been non-stop watching them since. As a kid I grew up in a small town of 200 and would ride my bike to my cousins dairy farm. I spent a lot of time baling small square bales and watching you work with your cows brings back a lot of great memories of my childhood and even part of my adulthood when time permitted. I am retired now from a 30 year career as a Minnesota State Trooper and still visit my cousins farm but not enough to partake in heard health activities. They now milk roughly 300 cows all by robot.
Thank you Scott, Interesting thing but its amazing how many law enforcement officers I hear from that watch our channel. I wonder if there is a correlation between what can be a very hectic and stressful occupation to being drawn to a lifestyle like ranching and farming. I'm sure there is some police psychologist working on that one. Thanks for watching - Mike
Thx for the great information, driving a cattle liner since only 3 months, learned a few things today, God bless you
Just a great report, Thanks
I subbed, well done. I like learning these things.
Great addition of OWL. Love this channel. Honest wholesome Infotainment .
Thank you very much and thanks for watching - Mike
If my health was like it use to be i love go help u. I was raised with this stuff. I really loved it. Know due to sickness it knocks my out. God bless u and ur family and farm
Very informative video Mike,You and the wife make a great team,looks like hard work .All the best-Jerry
Thanks Jerry! - Mike
Lots of work for sure...Dang! This is my 12th or 15th video maybe that I've watched, really enjoy them. You seem to answer ALL your viewers comments, WOW!...that's gotta be super time consuming! I'll never feel bad if I don't get a reply, I'm just thankful for all the time you guys put into making AWESOME VIDS & EDUCATING us that know nothing about this lifestyle, simply a thrill to watch always!!!! I'm not sure why you're not on A&E or NatGeo yet...Lol!
We figure that if people are taking their time to watch us we can take some time as well. We have talked to a couple TV companies. It's important to us to keep our message intact. Who knows what can happen in the future. Thanks.
Nice job narrating. I enjoyed it.
Thank you very much, thanks for watching - Mike
39!!! Talk about barefoot and pregnant! They go where they are supposed to go, with or without some help. Looks like a LONG day! May God bless you with a mild winter. A ranch prayer I heard once, "May the rain fall, the grass grow, and the herd be healthy"!
hahaha, very long day. Thanks David - Mike
Thanks for this very informative and interesting video.
Thank you Ben for watching, it really means a lot to us. - Mike
Why I can't stop watching these videos?
Thanks
I grew up across the creek from a Holstein milk farm - probably 300 cows, a few bulls and probably 20 bison... my sisters had their horses stabled there also... the reality of the farms biz needs and the circle of life therein, made it clear to me that I wasn’t cut out to be in that line of work
Hi, I am really enjoying your videos, they are so interesting. Best of luck to you & family. I’m from Down Under 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
When people ask why we cull cows, I always tell then we don't run a bed and breakfast.
Oh but wouldn't it be easier! Thanks for watching! - Mike
mirrorimage cattleco -- It also makes sense to sell older or unhealthy cows before they die in order to recoup some of the investment in the cows.
BullittMcQueen1 that's rite cause the buzzards and the coyotes sure don't pay much for the deads
mirrorimage cattleco lmao
I love your videos! I kept trying to place who your voice reminds me of -- you sound a LOT like Mary Stoufer!!! He was one of my favorites growing up!
Marty stouffer! Wild America! That was a awesome show!!
I really enjoy your channel. Greetings from Germany
very informative and interesting
Really informative! 👋🏻
Hi Mike, culling makes all the sense in the world but it has to be emotionally difficult for you and Erin to let "old-timers" or sick cows "go." Thanks for sharing this important story of ranch life. Dean from Minnesota
Exactly, I get upset when people come on here and say its heartless ect.. like its only human nature Mike and Erin have mixed feelings of getting rid of the cows they need too but they have to do what they need to to keep them pain free and the ranch successful.
If only the country was looked at as a farm, if you don't produce.......well ya know lol they are a drain love watching what you guys do
Hi mike love the ranch its so cool in NZ we do not have that staff
NZ wow, that is amazing. I'm glad you found us! - Mike
I've hauled alot of culled cows from Nebraska to Texas for slaughter. Sometime some guys wait to long to sell the ole girls. Not fun getting them off the trailor. Thanks for the video Mike. I agree with Erin preg check day usually sucks
Oh yea, I can imagine that some are pretty hard to get off the truck. I've seen some old limpy cows at sales, no fun to deal with! Thanks for watching - Mike
kory league -- Why can't you sell the culled cows in Nebraska?
BullittMcQueen1 that's just where the buyer shipped them
Yes preg checking sucks the most on my grandpa’s farm. The thing is that not all preg checks are like this one. But if you can be calm, the cows will probably be calm
I've just recently have learned from The Hoof GP and this channel, that infection will actually grow bone in the area of infection/puss. All be it, bone that should not be there, and usually causes more problems, than not.....
My facilities are not very fancy, but I have everything set up for a one man operation. It takes me a while to work all my cows, but I don't have to schedule a vet and round up help, and I can do it on a nice day , or several if I do groups of 20. It can take an average of 5-7 min per cow, but I do a blood draw for pregnancy and 2 shots and ivermec, plus weight and records. But then, I don't spend any time on video making, which I really like that you do.
That sounds like a really nice set up. Thanks Mark - Mike
Mark Groth -- You take blood from each cow? How do you test the blood to determine if the cw is pregnant?
I would think a neighbor would help you if you provided him some steaks. :)
Amazing work. Its something we have to do in our ranch. Beacuse with it its imposible to continue for the risk of de illnes of the cows. A lot of money its involve. Thank for the videos!
When ever money is involved you have to be smart. Thanks Gibran! - Mike
Hello I love ur videos I'm a new Subscriber im from NEW YORK n never been on a ranch its awesome how much I've learned thank u I don't eat red meat no I'm not vegan never like the Taste of meat my family r big meat eaters I have shared ur videos with family n friends it's so Educational thank u
The Dairy I had worked on was very aggressive with culling cows. For a 60 cow dairy we had over 100 replacement heifers. I used to get upset when I would have a favorite pet, and Production would drop and she was culled. It’s always the friendly, nice cows that didn’t produce and the nasty temperamental ones that were bulletproof.
That always ticks me off too. Its always the nice ones that have issues. And the cranky ones make great moms! Just how it works I guess. Thanks! - Mike
I figure temperament and fertility are connected. Nasty temper=fertile cow! Ugh. I'm getting old though. They snort at me to much and off to town they go. I don't care how good their calves are. I don't jump fences like I used to.
I thought a little bit of meanness helps a cow to compete in the herd.
You just motivated me to be a better stock animal manager.
As you guys do me. Thanks - Mike
Love the video I think the U.S could use a good culling theses days.
Hi Mike! I learned the hard and sad fact at 7rs old, of what happened when our heifer didn't take from artificial insemination. Yep, we ate her. I remember asking my dad why she couldn't try to have a calf one more time. He simply said, " we can't afford to keep feeding her". Sometimes reality stinks. But, that's life, and I learned to move on. Have a great week Mike and Erin. Deb
Thanks Deb, yea its a tough lesson but one you are probably better for learning. Thanks for watching! - Mike
Deb Carpenter -- Then your father said, "We are having a hard time feeding you kids," and then you really got scared. :)
Here's a better idea.... Stop eating meat ;)
Another informative video,do you keep replacements for the culled cow from your own stock or buy in pregnant heifers. How often do you change out your bulls.
Hello Brent, bulls are usually good for about 6 years or so. We don't get ours tested but that is one way to determine how they are doing and yes we do keep replacements, we have about 20 replacements we will be calving in March. We try to alternate where we get them, if we are changing bulls we will usually keep them from our own stock, occasionally we do buy from other producers as well to bring in new genetics. Thanks! - Mike
@@OurWyomingLife I never would have guessed you did not seman test your bulls. You think UA-cam didnt like the one video, they would really freak if you posted a video of a bull getting seman tested...
I really following your chanel and thank you for giving the expirience, would you maind expleni some about taxes on the business
Another great video mike. IM curious as to how cows escaped the preg check line and busted out and headed back to the pasture.
I thought I showed it in the video, she busted through the fence, unfortunately I didn't get video of it as I had just put away my camera. Thanks for watching! - Mike
Oh So she was the only one that escaped. I wasn't sure if there was more than one. I would thats pretty good if only one escaped.
Luckily she was the only one in the corral when she busted down the fence or else there could have been a bunch headed out. We did have a few jump over gates but they were still in the Corral's.
@@OurWyomingLife weld another bar on the top of the gate , works for me ....
Haha I was wondering what happened to that gate I seen it in a recent video
Do you have a video about bull?. Why you pick the ones you did? How many do you use? Sad about the two white cows, were they a different breed? They always seemed to be out near the front. Was easy to spot them.
What happens to lump jaw cows? Do they sell at a discounted rate at the auction?
This year it was 4.5 hrs to do 400 head at my friends ranch hear in Alberta. The Injection was given in the hip the same as on your farm. How many head did you preg check? And if you don’t mind me asking what was the percentage of open?my friends was 3% on his total heard of 700.
We ended up doing just over 160. We didnt get to preg check last year and this year we were at about 5%. We have an old bull that we will be replacing this year. Normally it doesnt take us near as long as it did but with the wind, and weather I think the cattle weren't too happy about being worked with. We ended up having to fixe fence and gates as well as the chute once. Fun day. Thanks for watching Scott - Mike
This is a little late, but what jacket (green) are you wearing towards the end of this?
My jacket is black its a Carhartt Sandstone Traditional. Thanks - Mike
Look up Cody Creelman cow vet he does some great videos. And he uses a wond to pregnancy check cows.
I have seen that, very interesting, just different equipment. Thanks! - Mike
What kind of cow was that black and white cow? She was absolutely huge
do these undesirable cows sell for less than a halthy calf usually? and have you had a cow (that wasent already dead of course) who couldent be used for meat?
thanks
A cow at that age is pretty much only going to be good for hamburger and maybe even not good hamburger at that point, kinda hard to tell. We have had cows that have been to bad to even load on a trailer, they have to be dealt with on the spot as you cant sell them in that condition. As for price there is a big difference. Calves can sell for anywhere from 1.75 to 2.00 per pound. For a cull cow .60 cents is the norm. Thanks, great questions! - Mike
I would guess that like any business there is a breakeven point. How many cows do you need to have to cover your costs?
Hey Mike, I know this a broad question...but you said that a cow typically costs $800 a year to maintain. I'm curious how much you might typically get for calves? Or culled cows?
Currently calves are bringing right around $2.00 per pound and a cull cow depending on her condition will be worth about .60 to 1$ per lb. Cull cows definitely bring up the income of the ranch a bit. Thanks Scott - Mike
@@OurWyomingLife is a defensive farmer tactic" not to answer the $ question directly" since we dont know how much the cull cow weighs, he does not give the total cull cow profit to compare with $800 expenses. I enjoy the videos just the same.
Do you not use horses to drive the cattle to the corrals?
How do you know that there not gonna have a calf the next year
Your channel has many informative and entertaining videos. The concept of keeping the ladies pregnant and taking action if not is business driven. Makes sense. Where I lost it is when you said it cost $800 per year to feed and maintain a cow. In another video where the calves go to market, I figured your ranch nets $800 per calf. A cow can only have 1 calf per year so the numbers don't add up. What am I missing?
The ranch doesnt make money every year, thats why we diversify so much. If you have to buy all your hay then the feed costs get really high, in order to keep that cost low we hope to have our own hay to put up and not have to buy it. Thanks for watching - Mike
What ur view on bison farming.. Won't u think good for export & leather
There are a few ranches in our area that do run bison, its a big undertaking and alot of infrastructure is required. Thanks for watching - Mike
just started watching your videos, you do a great job. Is preg. checking expensive? why don't you do preg check yourself?
Preg checking runs us about 8$ per head, so yes it can get expensive. We could do it ourselves but we would have to buy the ultrasound equipment. Plus our vet brings out his nice chute to do it in as well. Its nice to have someone there that really knows what they are doing, he can give us due dates and sexes as well as look for any issues that might arise. Thanks for watching - Mike
@@OurWyomingLife 8 bucks including that fancy cattle crush is not too over the top ......that ultrasound machine is near 10000 new and takes time to learn how to use it .....have a cousin that does it for a living ......
How many cows were prego
In the words of Toby Keith "Should have been a cowboy"
haha, thanks Cody - Mike
How much does the veterinarian charge to pregnancy check each cow?
When are the cows expected to have their calves?
Ranching would be much easier in a milder climate with grass growing all year.
Ranching in Hawaii is big business, on the lesser tourist visited islands
this is Andrew from Missouri and I am getting started In the cattle business and am starting everything with money out of my pocket. So I like hearing numbers since no farmer or rancher will tell you the truth about what it cost and make. You said 800 dollars to keep a cow for a year. What does that all in tell? Land, labor, feed, taxes and so on cause that don't seem like good margins of you selling 1000 dallor calves? Thanks Mike and info helps love the videos
Profit margins are very tight and sometimes non existent. We figure that 800 bucks includes vet fees, her share of taxes, feeding costs and the cost of feed itself which is about 500$ of it. Costs of course go up when you have to buy hay as well. thanks Andrew. - Mike
AWESOME BLOSSOM🌻
(Just FYI, I say the above on most all great videos- sometimes cause what is being done or said is AWESOME and sometimes it's all I have to say in a positive way.🙃)
Why not make Erin a small cabana from whole sheets of plywood? Put the lumber on a small trailer or build it with skids or with wheels so it has sides and a top with the front open. She could have a table to the side or behind her to hold the paperwork while she steps out to spray the cow for the parasites. Kind of like the begin build of a tiny house. A warm and happy wife is a GOOD thing...LOL
Thats a great idea! Thanks Betty - Mike
Im my area most of lined area they us nothing but steal and 12" poles that are 8 feet tall... no your cow in not going over that.. the side pipes are 6inch... they more 300+ cows a day... Yep thats a dairy farm for ya....
I was just thinking to myself the cost of setting it up indoors.. To keep you out of the wind and cold.. not all of it but the chute & the tub and alley system... But thats just a thought..
We have debated that, not sure of the cost though. Thank you very much - Mike
How is that chute powered? Solar or does it rely on utility power?
Hydraulic with a gas powered hydraulic pump. They make electric ones as well. Super nice for over 20K lol
That brand of chute is made in Kansas and they also make really nice alleyways leading up to the chute and turrets to go into the alleys ours is powered by electricity
I couldn't help but think of Chicken Run when you mentioned hens that stop laying eggs. The culled cows that go to slaughter... where does that meat go?
Most of their meat will go to the animal food industry. Thanks - Mike
McDonald's...
@@SMiller5488 very true ........
mike the horses pal!
I know farmers and ranchers have to pinch pennies because its a hard way to make a living, but I really wish in an alternate universe this kind of life was lucrative enough that we could put the animals whose production has slowed into a respectful retirement, rather than having to sell them
Mike how much $ does it cost you per cow ?
did number 80 make it to pasture? (yes you can tell I am a city girl)
She is still in a corral right by home where she gets daily attention. Soon she will be headed out though. Thanks - Mike
I see your signs in ur barn promoting herefords but it looks like you have a lot of black angus? What breed do u raise ?
We have red and black Angus here on the ranch now. From the 1930s to the 1990s it was a Hereford ranch. Unfortunately at that time, long before my time here, they began having issues with footrot and The switch to Angus was made. Thanks and thanks for watching -Mike
I can't believe your vet would give needles in the hip, we haven't given a needle anywhere but the neck for more than 20years.Maybe beef quality assurance isn't a Wyoming thing. We usually preg 200+ cows in 1.5hrs but this year my vet brought a new vet from North Dakota that had never used ultrasound so it took use over 3 hrs and it was a very windy day (70mph) and my kids were starting to murmur ,and they would sympathize with Erin especially Jessica because she was the record keeper Wyatt and Tristan were in charge of keep the cows going so they stayed warmer moving around..
wow, thanks anderson. Amazing if you are preg checking 200 cows in an hour and a half that is 27 seconds per animal. We were fighting weather all day, the cows didn't want to cooperate and Kyle also had some chute problems, but hey no one is perfect. Thanks for watching
My vet said she tested 600 heifers at the feedlot in 1.5hrs and she only had to say preg or open , no shots given and the facilities were perfect , but she figured that she probably would never beat that. She said it was amazing and she would be writing that in her journal.
Hi go fri kopp no no kopp kopp mp
Mlm
Mb hung
We have a cow that had twins every year and first for 4 years
did u keep the cows for breeding, they may have the twin gene
Been REAL DRY here, how about WY? going to affect your hay production? going to affect ours if it doesn't snow soon.
We have had a bit of snow over the last few days, maybe about 6 inches total. It will help but more would be nice. - Mike
His voice kinda reminds me of Marty Stouffer..
omar mendez , Exactly...was trying to figure the voice out. That’s it! WTG!
🐮❤️🐮
Let's get physical physical
A farmer shot a wolf. The wolf kept the cattle moving about. When the farmer shot the wolf the cattle was free and didn't move as offend/to rarely at all. So that grass will always be beating down. The Farmer will take on the job of the wolf. By removing the wolf you take on the chores of moving the cattle
Makes sense! Thanks Bob! - Mike
Farmboss Bob -- Except the wolves eat some of the calves.
Love doing this with horses lol
And it's windy.......
haha, we should just report when the wind isn't blowing, it would be less work. :) - Mike
Would a cow that makes more money at action when it healthy? If so how more than a cow that is not as healthy?
For sure, healthy is always worth more. Thanks Tommy - Mike
My niece wants to be a vet. I'll be sure to show her this video since the vet has to stick his hand up a cows butt for 5 hours. I want her to be an malpractice attorney that sues bad doctors. She's already reading my business law book from college as a 5th grader. I think this video will persuade her. Thanks for making this.
haha, well there is a difference between large and small animal vets. But you dont have to tell her that! Thanks! - Mike
I worked as an assistant to a livestock vet and honestly, unless you're really squeemish it's no big deal
A job that must be done.
Very very true. Thanks! - Mike
No.
Start putting 5 Second commercials on everyone
Good idea, thanks - Mike
it was nice to see your wife.
Thank you Donald - Mike
Would it make more sense to artificially inseminate? How much is a straw from an average bull?
Can they drink their own milk, cows milk is full of calcium, wouldn't that solve all the calcium problem???? Or maybe give them other animals milk, if we don't want to get weird. Can their teeth be daily brushed???? Wouldn't that solve that problem???
This guy should look at holistic managment. Like Greg Judy in Missouri
Thanks for watching. We've talked to Greg. Big difference between Missouri and Wyoming lol. Thanks again -Mike
Our Wyoming Life i know you can get more out of an acre of Missouri ground than yours but it's possible anywhere is what they say. Soil management.
WOW MIKE YOU HAVE A REAL WIFE ANY WOMAN THAT WILL GO TO WORK LIKE THAT IS WHAT I AWAYS WANT BUT NEVER MEET SO YOU ARE A REAL RICH MAN JUST BECASE OF YOUR WIFE.
why the White cows the look so cute so it means the be old
Gee give a man a fish & he eats for a day. Give him a pair of cows ya could maybe eat for a lifetime of dairy products.
Producing a calf FOR YOU? stop lying that you really care for animals. They are only money machines to you.
You should live stream while working outside more
We are actually planning on doing that. Thanks! - Mike
GET DAIRY COWS
Not a very compassionate farmer.