As the industry has seen a second consecutive year of low cow slaughter numbers, an overall decrease in the beef cow herd, and an increased demand for red meat in the grocery store, it has only helped to serve the dairy industry. This has added significant value to two facets of the dairy industry, cull cow prices and beef calf prices. With record high sustained prices and a projection of decrease for the beef industry, animal numbers as reported by the USDA (Figure 1) indicate its prime time for dairy culls. Being able to take advantage of these markets allows producers to capitalize on marginal cows and heifers.
Graph 1: Figure 1
Identifying marginal animals can be sought in multiple ways. Two easy ways nTell aims to provide ease of identification is through reproduction status, in youngstock and adult cows. Both graphs found in the Reproduction KPA (Key Performance Areas) provide a quick snapshot of animals that are past ideal breeding windows, with heifers being old and cows in later DIM with no inseminations. These animals will ultimately cost the farm more in comparison to herdmates with earlier breedings and shorter calving intervals. Therefore, having the ability to quickly pull these animals gives a producer a quick snapshot to alternate their purpose from milk into the lucrative beef market instead.
Graph 2: Repro KPA>Reproduction Trends - All Adults>Overdue to Breed Adults
Graph 3: Repro KPA>Reproduction Trends - Heifers>Overdue to Breed Youngstock
Are there animals in your herd nTELL can help identify to capitalize on profitability?