Low-input replacements

摘要

With beef cattle numbers down, input costs rising, and calf prices at record highs, specialists are seeking ways to replace those valuable cows at an economical cost. The price of admission into the beef industry today is pretty prohibitive, says RickFunston. But the University of Nebraska beef cattle reproductive physiologist believes one answer may reside in the heifer enterprise, which he says is "heavily underutilized and under-valued." Funston says producers should think about developing heifers, rather than selling them at weaning. "Rather than take a significant discount on a heifer at weaning, there is the potential of making a larger profit by growing that heifer," he says.