Got to thinking about the pros and cons of buying and managing replacements.  It’s that time of year again…an impressive offering of bred heifers to go across the auction block in the next several weeks!  As always there’s lot’s of talk about what they’ll be worth and who’ll be in the market.

After the increased losses last year many will need replacements…but after selling fewer calves this fall due to last spring’s heavier losses along with increased winter cost and the huge steer/heifer spread will they have the capital to move forward?  What are the bankers saying?

When are they due and what are they bred to? Seems like more and more cow outfits are moving the calving dates out some…especially after last winter, right?  And, it’s getting harder and harder to find help let alone qualified heifer calving help.

Cattle folks are getting older and calving heifers requires getting up in the middle of the night.  I can’t speak for all of ’em but for me, I’m getting up in the middle of the night more than ever but I darn sure don’t need to take a walk in sub zero weather with a flashlight and muck boots.

Guess what, we’re fortunate to live close to so many of the finest replacement heifers to ever walk the face of the earth!