Having profitable cattle is the goal of many a producer. But when exactly does a cow become profitable? We have all heard the statement that it takes 6-7 years for a breeding cow to pay for herself, right? What if I told you that is not always the case.
That may be a widely held belief within the cattle business, things tend to be a little more complex than just going by a set number of years. Whether or not a cow will eventually be profitable requires several different components in order to justify her being there on the ranch.
It is easy for cattle to be profitable when the rains are coming on time and the grass is green. It is when things are not as good, such as during a drought, that her sustainability really comes into play. During times of drought when conditions are limiting feeding capacities it is important to account for all the relevant variables. If your cows are not performing regularly it may be time to do some culling with your herd.
