Buze77
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Which would you buy?
I sometimes wonder when i am at an action what certain buyers preferences are when looking for cattle to buy. All of these options are considered great buys for some farmers but risky purchases to others. I was just wondering what choice would any of the cowtalk members make if faced with one of these choices. I made 4 multiple choice answers but if you have one of your own answers that is different feel free to give it as well.
If you had $7000 burning in your pocket and a big sale coming up what would you look to invest it in?
A. a bunch of embryos from a very popular cow family.
B. a 3 month old calf from a very popular cow family
C. a open yearling heifer from a somewhat popular cow family
D. a 9+ year old EX91+ cow from a very popular cow family
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25/5/2008, 23:47
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foxleigh
Ex97
True blue dinky-di maverick
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…
the old cow ...if the price was right otherwise embryos
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26/5/2008, 3:58
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smous
Ex97
Magwalibavu
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I have done A, C and D. Last year I made a ridiculous offer on D, she was a grand old Sambo daughter that was a big time show winner in this country in a herd that was about to be dispersed by private treaty. Nealy fell off my chair when the offer was accepted, she gave us an Iatola heifer two months later, with no flush history, she has turned out to be a tremendous flush cow and we have in the region of fifteen to eighteen pregnancies from her first two flushes. We are now going to sell embryos. So that worked, she could quite easily have delivered a bull and flushed like a long drop toilet.
Did the embryo thing, hmm, very few pregnancies, two heifers and three bulls. One bull into AI, two had to be slaughtered for health reasons. Hopefully the heifers will get in calf and develop the family line for us. At the moment still not sure if this investment will pan out.
Years ago purchased a nine month old Blackstar heifer from a good local cow family. Turned out to be the best cow I ever owned, lived to be thirteen years old and despite some of our matings continiously cranked out great daughters. I miss her still.
Last edited by smous, 26/5/2008, 7:10
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WWS-SA
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26/5/2008, 7:05
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Big Bird
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Re: …
I started off doing D. In recent years I've done B and C because I haven't had as much time to deal with old cows, but D has given us our best results.
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26/5/2008, 8:58
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mootoyou
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Re: Which would you buy?
Always been one to take a gamble. . . . although you should never gamble with your last pound!
I'd go for A, and keep everything crossed that it worked out.
Yes it's a gamble and relies on your ability to pay attention to detail, with recipients etc, but it if it pays off . . .you can make massive strides with small feet!
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26/5/2008, 11:08
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ryanns
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Re: Which would you buy?
i think i would go for C you are a lot closer to knowing what you have than a or b in terms of that there is a shorter period of time to start getting a return on your money and the pedigree has less time to change ie sire to drop
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26/5/2008, 14:11
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Smurf4
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Re: …
quote:
foxleigh wrote:
the old cow ...if the price was right otherwise embryos
Same here, at least this purchase has got some rock solid numbers behind her, she may also have progeny on the ground so that you can estimate her brood cow abilities before you part with your money. then you can breed or flush her on your onw terms.
Too many calves and heifers can easily go wrong.
If the embryos go well then your in the money but if they don't hold... 
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26/5/2008, 14:20
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Scotty Mac4
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It all depends on the options right, you could go to a good sale on the right day and maybe pick up 3 of the 4. I bought a calf at a month old for $1000 once and she could maybe go EX in the fall after she calves, shes 88 now. I bought a calf once with one hell of a pedigree behind her, she did really well at the shows as a calf but didnt pan out as a cow. And with the old cow they either have to be milking, we bought some old cows once to fill a milk increase that was given to us and at the time these cows were dry and were ready to calve in a month.....biggest mistake we ever made with buying cows because old cows are bossy and picky and going from one farm to another the forages are different and so is the management of the cows, in the end 2 of the cows calved out and went displaced and 1 we shot because everything that could happen to her did. But with old cows buy them open and flushing them would be the plan in the back of my mind because you can increase your herds value and get your own prefix on pretty decent animals.
But you hit and miss with all purchases, not every buy has the same circumstances but thats my opinion.
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26/5/2008, 17:18
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PEOVEREYE
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Which would you buy?
Done D alot but one thing i would insist on his is she is safely back in calf . We had some decent old cows out of some real well known families but never left me a heifer or worse still in a few cases which still break my heart i lost their heifer calf the pillock you not bothereed about live forever . Trying to convince the other half to let me have a dabble at A, but if it doenst work she will remind me forever.
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26/5/2008, 18:58
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cowmilker
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Re: Which would you buy?
A. Could get only bulls and hard to get your money back on bulls. Look at heifers from cow before deciding on embryos.
B. Still going to be awhile before you can make any money and you can tell only a little about a 3 month old calf.
C. I bought a heifer not bred that would not flush and the only way I could get to calve was put an embryo from another cow in her.
D. An old cow that is scored good is a good bet but not a shure bet. When buying an older cow, make shure you are taking her to a better home.
I like buying bred heifers out of good scoring cows and unique bulls. Great cow families will produce some very nice heifers that have the chance to make you some very nice calves.
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27/5/2008, 3:09
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Mooramba
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Re: Which would you buy?
I would go for the proven cow, often you will pick her up for a lot less than a calf or yearling, and she can start paying for herself straight away. My preference would be for a cow safely back in calf, our et man told me once " pregnant's not a bad way to buy them", i consider this good advice. Went to a sale recently were there were 20 daughters of an elegance daughter. The 8 in milk daughters av quite a bit less than the younger hfrs. Farmers by our nature are optimists, and i think too many look at a young animal and imagine how good she could be, and forget all the mishaps and disappointments that can just as easily occur. Same with embryos, we have had plenty of recips tested in calf at 6 -12 weeks only to lose the calf. If money matters i would have the cow every time, progress a bit slower, but you can invest in a broader range of families for the same money.
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27/5/2008, 10:12
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JAH8
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Which would you buy?
D every time, youre not buying the dream of A, B and C becasue you know exactly what your getting. And with a bit of luck and a strong tail wind you might just end up with A B and C from the old cow!! x
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27/5/2008, 12:33
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Moneyquin
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Re: Which would you buy?
D. As well as the above, its advertising your herd. Visiters are more likely to come to see this 'great cow' and who knows what else they see/fancy/buy.
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28/5/2008, 22:42
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debutante
VG85
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Which would you buy?
Option A , take a partner with you and by 7 embryos at 2000$ each , as long as it`s embryos from a good young just classified cow and from a good sire , you get the newest genetics and at 2000$ you are almost sure that you will get an individual that you will make money on in the futur.Addition to that you will probably be able to sell bulls from that batch of embryos.With 7 you will be unlucky not to get a female.
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1/6/2008, 13:19
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