Avoid Buying From Someone You Don’t Know, Like and Trust
Obviously, you aren’t going to know everyone selling cattle across the country, but you may want to know them. Over the years, we’ve traveled the country looking at cattle and getting to know the people who own them. In many cases, we’ve made new friends. These have always been some of my favorite trips. Unless it’s part of your plan, though, you don’t have to travel as we have.
It’s easier than ever to get a good “feel” for the people with whom you want to do business. If you don’t have the opportunity to get to know them in person, follow them on social media.
Do they seem like good people? Do their cattle have success, particularly at the level you are at today? Do you see the same families staying with them over the long haul? Are they always attracting new families?
Check out their website, do they have a track record of success? If you like what you see in your research, reach out to them and get to know them. You’ll find people you’ll enjoy working with for when buying your next calf.
Don’t Buy Cattle Without Doing Research
We’ve seen kids jump online and buy steers out of online sales without seeing them and without talking to the seller. When the cattle arrive, the families are disappointed with the purchase. This should not surprise anyone.
Those calves have been too small, too straight and too wild among other problems. I’m not saying don’t buy online, I’m saying don’t buy without doing research. You are going to spend the next 6 to 8 months with this calf. Make he’s the one you want to spend time with.
Cattle should be age and frame appropriate. Don’t expect a small framed April calf to feed for an early summer show. Research the pedigrees that are winning. We try to stick with proven sires when selecting calves for our customers.
It’s not like shopping on Amazon, where if you get a shirt that doesn’t fit, you can send it back.
Cattle are not like that and it’s unfair as a buyer to expect the seller to compensate if you don’t do your own research. You’ll see a theme in all of my posts…reach out to the seller.
Avoid Cattle with Bad Dispositions
Unless you are working to become the next “cattle whisperer”, it’s best to try to select for cattle that will be easy to get along with. Good-natured cattle feed and show better.
If your calf is so nervous that he won’t eat when you are around, you will struggle much more to get him to his endpoint than one that eagerly runs to the bunk when you pour his feed.
It used to be that you just had to deal with cattle that were tough because the “good ones” often had dispositions that were hard to get along with. Today, we still run across cattle that are “worth dealing with” because they are really good. However, it’s best to try to get one you’ll have fun with all year.
Walk Away From Cattle That Are on the Edge Structurally
Odds are that structure will not improve as cattle get older and heavier. Don’t select a calf that is too straight as a baby. If you aren’t comfortable evaluating their structure, ask someone who is savvy or ask the seller. Since we have established that you are working with someone you can trust, they will tell you if a calf is on the edge.
That doesn’t mean they have a crystal ball. Some cattle can get too straight when they are pushed to grow too quickly. Their feet and legs just don’t keep up with weight gain you are asking of them.
Make sure to buy a calf that is big enough to get to the endpoint you need without pushing him too hard.
Don’t Select One with a Bad Appetite
Much like kids, some will eat anything you throw in front of them and some will barely eat at all. So what are some indications of a good eater? Watch him eat at the bunk. If he is gobbling feed, he’s a good eater.
Generally, cattle that have good rib shape and depth will be good eaters. Pay attention to genetics here too. If you see certain sire groups winning many shows at all levels, chances are that those cattle feed pretty well.
Don’t Push To Look At Cattle Before They Are Ready
What does that even mean? Every fall, everyone is very excited to go look at calves. I’m no different. It is exciting! We sell both cattle we raise and cattle Frank buys to fit the kids that we work with. In the past, the new cattle would get to our house and I’d run out to look at them.
Do you know what I’ve learned over 20 years? Not to look at calves too early. I only look to make sure they are healthy in the first few days. I intentionally do not evaluate them, other than general impressions, because it’s not fair to them. It’s hard to get an accurate read on them.
After a 30-hour traveling trip, they don’t look very shiny. Can you imagine trying to impress someone in an interview or trying to look great after a 30-hour trip?
It takes them at least a week of relaxation to fill up, look good and get rid of “trailer legs”. We don’t want to push them and compromise their health.
In the Sacramento Valley of California, we have extreme heat in the summers. The calves that summer here really don’t start looking good until Mid-September.
The same goes for cattle who have never left the ranch but have just been weaned. Any stress will keep calves from looking their best. You may miss a good calf if you look at him before he’s at his best. It’s in your best interest to wait to look at cattle when they are ready to be viewed.
Don’t Buy a Calf with White If You Know You Can’t Keep Him White
When we sell calves, we pair cattle with the goals of the showman. We work to fit their budget, experience of the showman and overall goals. We also consider the facility and how the showman can be most successful with care.
We’ve worked with kids who do a great job with their cattle but are not likely to keep whites sparkly. Thus, we’ve steered them away from cattle with white on them.
Don’t be offended, we avoid showing cattle with white on them because we know how much work it is to keep them really white. When we were raising Herefords, I always hated it when they were born with white knees…that’s just more work!
On the flip side, if you know you are perfectly capable of keeping them white, you’ll stick out at the show…in a good way. Any savvy judge will appreciate how hard you worked to achieve those sparkly whites.
Buying Your Next Calf
At Ward Cattle Company, we are very serious about cattle selection. Structural correctness, disposition, and the ability to feed while having a great look are the highest priorities for us.
Keep this advice in mind when buying your next calf. As I said, knowing the things to avoid is just as important as knowing all of the right things.
We’ve successfully placed hundreds of calves in the hands of kids over the years by adhering to these guidelines. We make mistakes and you will too.
After all, they are animals. They are not widgets on a production line. Proper selection is your first step to success in your project. Oh, and have fun! This is a great project and you should enjoy it!
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