With dry weather and short pastures, cow-herd owners face tough culling decisions. One way to match cows’ needs to available grass is to sell cows.
Give careful thought to which grass eaters go first, says Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension beef nutritionist. Under drought stress, identifying those cows becomes urgent.
The first cut is simple, Bailey says. Even the best herds have poor performers that need to be culled. Sell cows not pregnant or nursing. There is no feed for freeloaders when forage is short.
“Next, cull lactating cows with bad disposition, bad eyes, bad…
