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For more information about this area, please contact:

Russ Tronstad
Extension Economist

Phone: (520) 621-2425
Email: tronstad@ag.arizona.edu

Cow Culling Decision Support System

Costs of Production

Costs directly influence the bottom line of profitability and the viability of a biannual calving season. Costs of production vary for spring and fall calving and young cows. The cost differential for spring and fall calving can be associated with more feed requirements, more labor, lower fertility, and/or lower calf weights. This cost differential for a six month period varied from $0/head to over $200/head. The highest cost differential implies that a dual calving season is not feasible and that only spring calving has viability.

The differential in feed costs for a replacement versus an older cow is crucial to the culling decision. The added feed costs associated with a younger cowÕs diet need to be weighted against the performance of an older cow with less feed costs. The model used a feed cost of $100 per head every six months except for replacements during their first year. An additional feed cost of $25 per head every six months was added for replacements in the period that they gave birth and the following nursing period.