Feeding Cull Cows

Every herd culls cows each year, and what you do with them in the weeks before sale can change what they bring. The decision deserves the same budgeting you give any other group of cattle.

Key points

Condition score every cull on the 1 to 9 scale before deciding.
Only feed cows that are sound and healthy enough to respond.
Build the ration with a nutritionist and move onto it gradually.
Compare feed and handling costs with a current quote from your buyer.
Follow withdrawal times exactly and never ship an unfit animal.

Why some producers feed culls and others sell right away

A cow that comes off a calf in poor flesh may gain condition and value with some feed and time. A cow in good flesh may have little to gain. The choice comes down to the animal's condition, her health, your feed supply and what the market is doing, and none of those are the same every year.

Treat it as a small project with a start, a finish and a budget, rather than something you drift into because the cow is still standing in the lot.

Start with an honest condition and health check

Score each cow on the 1 to 9 body condition scale, and write it down. Thin cows are the candidates that might respond to feeding. Then look for reasons she should not be fed at all: lameness, a bad eye, advanced udder damage, poor teeth, or any sign of illness.

Ask yourself these questions before you commit feed:

Is she sound enough to walk to feed and water?
Is she healthy enough to ship without problems?
Is she pregnant, and does that change when and where she can be sold?
Do I have a place to keep her separate from the working herd?

Planning the ration and the time frame

Feeding culls is usually done with a plan for a limited period, so the ration should be built around the feed you already have and what you can buy at a fair price. A nutritionist or extension specialist can balance a ration for your hay quality and tell you what the cows can handle without upset.

Move cows onto richer feed gradually. Cows that were on dry forage need time for the rumen to adjust, and rushed changes lead to digestive problems. Make sure every cow has clean water and enough bunk space so the boss cows do not push the thin ones away.

Know your numbers before you feed

Work out what you expect to spend on feed, labor and yardage, and compare it with what the added weight and condition might return. Prices change, so use quotes from your buyer or sale barn at the time you decide, not last year's memory.

Include shrink, transport and any sale commission. If the margin looks thin on paper, selling sooner is a perfectly good answer. Your accountant or lender can help you think about how culling timing affects your cash flow and taxes, and this is not financial advice.

Withdrawal times and cows that were treated

Culls are often cows that were treated for something along the way. Check your treatment records before shipping. Any animal sold for slaughter must be past the withdrawal time on the label or set by your veterinarian, and the cow must be fit to travel.

Residue avoidance protects consumers and the reputation of every producer. Records are your proof, so keep identification and treatment dates together and legible. Cows that are down, severely lame or compromised should not be hauled; talk to your vet about what to do.

Common mistakes

The usual errors are feeding a cow that was never going to improve, skipping the condition score and guessing, changing diets too fast, and forgetting that a cow in a pen still needs shade, water and room to lie down. Another is shipping a cow that is not fit to travel because the truck was already booked. When in doubt, ask your buyer and your vet what is acceptable for your cattle and your state.

Talking with your buyer

Buyers differ in what they want, so ask them directly about condition, pregnancy status, identification and any paperwork. Rules for selling culls can differ by state and by plant, so check with your state department of agriculture and the buyer.

Ask what the buyer pays attention to and when to deliver. A short phone call can save you from feeding cows past the point where they bring any extra return.

Also plan where the cows will stay while on feed. They need dry footing, shade in heat, a windbreak in cold and room to lie down. Sort by size and condition so thin cows are not pushed off the bunk, and check them daily. Any animal that stops eating or goes down on a good ration needs your vet, not more feed.

When to get help: Ask your veterinarian whether a cow is fit to ship and what her treatment history means for withdrawal times, and ask a nutritionist or extension specialist to check your ration. Your buyer or sale barn can tell you their current requirements.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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