09/05/07 Replacement heifer options

Every year there is a discussion about buying replacement heifers or keeping them from your own herd. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this with some comments. It seems like anytime cattlemen get together sooner or later a discussion will pop up about keeping replacement heifers from your own herd or buying those replacements. Producers who buy replacements think it is the best option to maintain numbers in the cowherd. Most publications that come out of universities, extension programs and economists generally agree buying replacement is the most economically sound method. The data from these sources are always summed up in neat and tidy tables with all the expenses, inputs and projected returns to prove their point. I really think there are so many variables involved in each method of maintaining the numbers in the cowherd that it is hard to rely on just tables and numbers. I think the tables and research are good to study but other factors may dictate which option should be used to supply replacements for each ranch or cowherd. Producers running a terminal cross program will usually find it easier to buy replacements since the cross herd heifers are not kept and it is quite a management problem to maintain a cow herd for strictly producing replacement heifers. Many experts say you can buy better replacements than you can raise, but I don't believe I've seen a study on how much lighter weight calf that purchased animal will raise the years she is getting adapted to a new range environment. I think if either option works for a certain cowherd stick with it. I'm Jeff Keane.