Can You Make Money with Cull Cows in 2020?

Last week we took cull cows to the auction to be sold as either bred cows or cows that will enter the food supply. In this video I’ll update you on how things went and how much we got for them!

[@juliealbert9222]

Those are the truest words ever uttered on the farm "somebody is gettin rich & it sure the hell isn't me"

[@vnthomas16]

“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” President John F. Kennedy Hoped the auction would have gone a bit better for you, but the only way to go now is forward. Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas!

[@rawa5457]

So? This needs to be changed. Food concerns and supermarkets are a dead end in development for ordinary people.

[@hvlineman5227]

Good lord 52 cents/pound for the butcher cows. Exactly why I got out of beef, and into the bull leasing business. Tyler good job selecting the cull cows out of your herd. And thank you for sharing your personal money dealings with your viewers.

[@rawa5457]

Money is not everything. But these are His cows. I don't know what the bull leasing business is about. Do you buy company calves, fatten them and sell them to the company after fattening? Contract fattening? I don't know how it is in the USA. With us, such a business always looks good at the beginning, but with time there are always problems. Many breeders went through this system to live under the bridge. I think Tyler knows what he is doing and he does it well.

[@mio.giardino]

I don’t think ppl realize how much work/food goes into cows. You made very good choices overall.

[@lisaineastcentralohio6805]

We always say the same thing, the farmer is never the one who is getting rich.

[@JC-uq5gi]

You explained your strategy of selling bred cows just fine for folks that understand ranching. No worries Tyler. I understand your audience is widely varied.

[@jbweld6193]

I always enjoy videos where the basic economics of ranching are explored.

[@zach_hewitt]

It's always tough to go through financials in public, especially for ranchers. I think until folks realize how tough it is for the producer they'll just keep buying from the grocery store. I've got some friends that continually go through this and like you they are on KZbin hoping to help educate the general public about what goes into producing your beef. Keep on keeping on FTR!

[@jasonsmith7864]

Thanks for sharing the facts and the numbers....don’t get this enough.

[@Hoosier60]

What a mixed bag of results Tyler! It’s good that you’re no longer feeding the open cows over the winter that have a history of fertility issues; but, those prices sure do sting! As you stated “Someone is getting rich, but it ain’t me!” We butcher cows for family and some friends, but it is ridiculous to see the prices in the grocery stores! Your statement has never been more true Tyler! May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas Tyler!

[@rafalhalicki9596]

I wish we had more small farmers. The best meat 🍖 I have ever had.

[@johnfawcett4606]

Thanks for going over those numbers. That’s great information.

[@kevingordon7426]

Open cows. You made the right move. Cleaned up your herd.

[@wykeishacraft6820]

Hello to Farmer Tyler Ranch and all others too! Merry Christmas Everybody and Happy New Year. Stay Safe , Gid Bless You All.

[@bc8968]

I’ve read all the comments thus far-102, you have a choice : wait for the market to change or change your market. Another way to say it, you can be just another farmer waiting for someone to solve your problems (the market to change), or be the the problem solver yourself. I’ve been a viewer for a long time and I know you have an inventive and interesting skill set and mind, just think where you would be without utube as your second job. That’s why I say “change your market for your product(beef), or change your product. Results if you don’t, all you have is a hobby. Another comment: nobody’s getting rich, that’s just another excuse not to change, or then be the person that getting rich (if you really believe that). You can change, that’s the freedom of being Americans. Enjoy it, embrace it, God be with you. Merry Christmas!

[@michaelcorning4857]

I had a 16 yr old cow that gave me 13 calves when she had last calf she tore her uterus. Usually I cull pretty hard however in this case I let her stay on another 3 years an she passed on her own.Soft spot for older cows like that

[@calgal7828]

👍

[@calebmanuel17]

You shouldn’t let 3 yrs you should her to kill plant.

[@michaelcorning4857]

@@calebmanuel17 This particular cow gave me 13 calves an I just figured she earned to live out her life peacefully.

[@calebmanuel17]

@@michaelcorning4857 😄

[@foylanier5073]

I take my hat off to you for doing all of this on your own.

[@sandracahill8849]

Merry christmas former Tyler and wife and baby hope you have a blessed one and i'm looking forward to seeing you next year have a merry christmas and a happy New year the mississippi girl loves watching you

[@dustinwillis113]

Packers are the ones getting rich. Something needs to change or another 5 yrs there won't be any small guys. But that's what they want

[@debbieyoung1943]

Merry Christmas Tyler and family.

[@yli8888]

Sorry to hear the low price. It’s a tough time for the ranchers. Hope it changes for better next year. Merry Christmas.

[@fomoco300k]

The farmers’ mantra: “Maybe next year.”

[@rawa5457]

"Work, work, and your hump will grow on your own." - A Polish proverb that we know very well. The usurers are the same all over the world. Did I understand correctly? You sold the cows and you still have to pay the trader for their stay, feed and transport? It is worse than in Poland. I sell cows and take money. When they are with him, he is worried about what they eat. Our prices are (2020) : 2.7-3.8 $ / kg bulls; 1.7-3.18 $ / kg of cow. 1lb = 0.45 kg. May the New Year bring better prices. Happy and healthy Christmas and a Happy New Year to the entire FTR team. :):):)

[@rebeccahert7772]

Great job with record keeping, really helped with choosing which ones to cull!

[@DennysCountryLife]

Its hard to believe it's down to 52 cents a lb. The packing plants are making a killing. Looks like you made some solid calls there bud. I hope things turn around with the market. Maybe you should think about selling some of your own beef?

[@JC-uq5gi]

The beard is getting mighty 👍 I've got mine in grow-mode as well. Let it rip brother.

[@nathanratchford9996]

Keep up the good content!

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Thank you Nathan!

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Thank you for the information and a look at what farmers and ranchers have to deal with. Uncertainty. Merry Christmas.

[@Jburns4620]

Like my dad used to tell me, "It costs the same amount to feed a cow who is open then one who is bred. If they don't contribute to the cow/calf operation, they gotta go down the road." Sounds like out of the 5 cows you selected, they were probably the ones who had to go. Good eye. Of course, it took me a long time to get over making each and every one of them pets. With names. And personality profiles I came up with.

[@TylerBunchanumbers]

FTR, you need to look into preg testing yourself (blood) at weaning or fall vacs. It'll give you more to go on with culling as well as your expectations for calving season. Just a thought. Great vid.

[@AutoCrete]

#39 black cow was huge for a non exotic breed. Probably doing your pastures a favor on soil compaction. Nice job on opening the books for us. Thank you!

[@robertsimmons3556]

Evening Tyler. Good video, it was well researched and fully explained. Having read some of the comments on your previous video, it is crystal clear that some people have no clue where there food comes from and what it takes to be in the farming/ranching business. It is more then short sighted when your integrity is questioned about how you choose to cull your herd when indeed your presentation was honest and transparent. You are 150% accurate asking the question, who is making the money when your making 50 cents per pound and hamburger at Raleys is selling for 6.99 per pound. Does not take a Rhodes Scholar to ask that question.

[@snarky_farmer]

It's really sickening what cattle are bring now vs what prices are in stores. Someone definitely is making some coin...and you're right. It's sure as hell ain't us. Appreciate you putting the reality of it, along with real numbers, out there for people that may not know.

[@snarky_farmer]

Bringing* 🙄

[@Deutschehordenelite]

Definitely seems like you made the right decision, and always interesting when you talk about the numbers :)

[@justicekreger3107]

Wow, you’ve got to love what you do to make so little for your hard work. Thank you for your honesty and transparency. I follow another channel from Wyoming and that rancher is taking steps to try to break that cycle of the sale barn dictating what the rancher makes. But it is all very labor intensive. I learned a lot from you today. Thanks again from Texas.

[@LarsonFamilyFarm-LLC]

You did well sorting your cull cattle...80% not bad. As far as who's getting rich it's definitely not the producer it's the processor. I'm hoping they'll be more CFAP-1/2 congressional bills to help farmers...we sure do need all the help we can get. From my limited experience the only time you lose big money and win big money...is the day you buy your breeding herd and the day you sell your entire herd respectively....anything in between money is treading water and feels more like a hobby, like "giving back" to society.I was an engineer behind a cubicle for 33 years.... just started farming-ranching and i can attest that Farmers are so underappreciated. It's like next to IMPOSSIBLE to enter ranching and farming today...if a farm or ranch is not handed-down to you..land that's kept in the family. Small farms are falling and failing...it's such a shame. FYI..I would have brought that young bred 2nd- year cow for $1,500., you got ripped for $1,000. there. How hard is it to do you own pregnancy cattle checks? I'll be looking into that myself when i'm seeking to cull a cow.

[@johnkranias3458]

Maybe find another avenue perhaps?, butcher one and give samples to local restaurants, that's what i did, an international guy tasted it in a restaurant and buys all i can supply at four times the price. I'm not a feedlot, dad used to sell to feedlots and got hardly anything.

[@annebell7274]

Explained really well. Hopefully next time the deal goes more in your favour 🚜🚜🚜🚜

[@ardurbin2]

Thanks 4 sharin' the sale barn results, it is what it is & life goes on. Hopefully U upped the possibility of more calves in 2021 with 3 of the girls gone. Wishin' the Farmer Tyler family & all the FTR viewers a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. 😊👏👍

[@benardbett5197]

I am BETT watching all the way from Kenya. Thanks for your sincerity as a farmer .It helps us a lot in making our informed judgment as young farmers

[@shawnsavage9015]

Thanks for the video. Enjoyed watching it. I appreciate how you kept it real.

[@lorrieannesilvey474]

May all your remaining cows drop healthy babies and add the value you need to keep going. Merry Christmas by the way.

[@Gardenergal]

Thanks for overcoming your discomfort to discuss the numbers for us non-ranching consumers.

[@robertensign8786]

Awesome video as usual FTR. Glad we are getting some much needed rain here in NorCal. Let's hope it keeps coming and all our winter pastures start greenin up!

[@684ih4]

It's the same all over the world the farmer has to take what he gets!. Thanks for sharing

[@robynmorris2408]

Tyler, Thank you so much for sharing this information. I was checking the sales report from Galt, Orland and Cottonwood....and not liking what I was reading!! Yes, good call from you on the culls and thank goodness those open cows were heavy. I totally understand you uncomfortable feeling about sharing the actual dollars and sense......just really none of our business, but to make your point you were just in the that darn old spot...between the rock and a hard spot. Great video. Merry Christmas to your lovely little family and of course your extended family too. Be safe, healthy and many blessings to you.

[@knis01]

Enjoy your videos and Happy Holidays to you and your family!

[@timbrelman]

It is crazy the experiences of a farmer/rancher now.

[@joegreen9112]

Wishing a very merry Christmas to the FTR family.

[@tomislavjelcic8187]

20% of good/bad decision,depends from wich angle are we looking... Add on that amount period of time to relize that they are not having calfs plus the cost of feed and you will encrise the whole amount with that mathematics. That is how I would count in my way. It is what it is. Good cull!

[@PaullaWells]

Wow! This was so interesting to me because it was my first year to buy a side for our freezer. The total per pound estimate that we were quoted was roughly 47 cents per pound. In the end we paid closer to 48.5 cents per pound. This was through private sale and operation as well butcher costs. I'd say based on the information you just shared we got a spectacular deal on our beef. Granted we are in the middle of the country vs. the west coast as well as smack in the middle of midwest cattle country. I am sure that makes a huge difference in the price. Thank you so much for sharing this breakdown. I completely understand how it makes you uncomfortable to do so thus I am very appreciative to have the comparative numbers to validate my decision to purchase our beef in this manner. Hope you have had a very Merry Christmas!

[@softtailfred]

Last month here in Australia I sold 25 weaned calves, about 10 months old, that have been on grain for 3 months. They weighed 200kg plus or about 450 pounds. I sold them for about AU7.50 per kg or about 3.41 per pound. They averaged about 1530 each. Sales fees run about 10%. . Prices here are the highest in years. The weaners went to restockers because the drought over the past years and fires. Many large farms completely destocked. They are now buying back into the makets and its expensive. It's only by luck that I held out.

[@CJLeTeff]

Merry Christmas to you and yours FTR! C 🎄 🎁

[@arbuckleoakshomestead6800]

Wow! Thanks Tyler for sharing that experience. I just sold my first 2 cattle. A 7 month old bull and a pregnant Brangus. $300 for bull, $500 for pregnant heifer. 😳 Wholesalers hit our area often. Looks like I learned a lesson. Bring my own cattle to auction for a better return. Although I still made more than they cost me, I could of made more for the farm. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

[@jackfrost1460]

Hi Tyler 🙋🏻‍♂️ Good video 👍🏻 Great explanation of how the cattle and sale barns work. They r there to make money doesn’t matter what you make they are getting their cut! I can remember my grandpa telling me in the dirty 30s that ppl took cows to (in those days they sold to stockyards that the buyers bought cattle by the pens and didn’t go thru a ring) stockyards and that the price they charged to sell the cows and the freight to get them to the stockyards was more then they got for the cow! So he said ppl would actually get bills sent to them because they still owed money after they sold the cow! But to me one of the biggest crimes in both livestock and crops is the Chicago board of trade! It was set up for the farmer and rancher to be able to sell his crops or livestock in advance when the price was in his thought the best! That’s how it started out and farmers still do sell on the futures markets, but now it’s the big gamblers that use it like a high stakes poker game. They buy and sell millions of bushels of grain and livestock and never see any of it ! They buy a million bushels of corn today thinking it’s at a low and wait for the price to go up next week they sell a million bushels and make their profit all with a piece of paper ! No actual grain was ever moved just a piece of paper. But by them doing that it affects the price of farmers that actually raised it and just trying to feed his family. I say the way to fix that is if u want a million bushels of corn then you pay for it and u bring the trucks and haul it away and you want to sell it back get your trucks and haul it back . That way you have the same expense as the farmers do and there is no grain or livestock that doesn’t exist driving the prices down for the farmers that are out there working their butts off to make a living! Farming is one business that is very odd because the farmer is told how much their product is worth the only time they get to set a price is if they sell to another farmer! Something wrong with that when they truly feed the world !

[@steveadams99708]

Very interesting and educational! Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

[@larrymoore6640]

I'm glad you walked us through the process of picking and final sale numbers for your cull cows. I would look at it this way you chose right ones and got some money versus keeping them and having to feed and maybe even doctor the cows without 4 of them not producing for you in the spring.

[@yvonnekoedood4611]

thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas you all

[@carolyost6733]

Thanks for sharing. This is a case when it is good to talk about wanting the gals to be heavy. Love those big gals. Merry Christmas to you and mrs. FARMER TYLER and little one. I think there is a little one?

[@johnp1]

Does it matter at the auction whether the cow is grass fed vs grain fed? Very informative video. Have you considered marketing beef products directly to retailers/consumers?

[@marciaolson4878]

I feel like this isn’t any of our business but I may have missed why you feel you need to do it. Regardless, your experience as such a young man is amazing and you’re doing really well. Congrats on your management and good work.

[@JC-uq5gi]

Wow! 1700#s on #15. That's crazy. I was guessing 1400. I gotta work on grading cattle it appears. Lol. 1810#s! What a tank. Big girls.

[@virginiareid5336]

Thank you for going over the breakdown for selling your cows. I knew the sale barn got a percentage, but was a little surprised at some of the other fees you had to pay. Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Years.

[@miriambertram2448]

Thank you. The rest of the world needs to understand these nuts and bolts issues.

[@johndowe7003]

been reading up on the cow industry and its pretty much impossible to get into it due to costs, in a few years most of the beef will be imported from brazil and africa. its already started boys, only way to be in the cow business is if you are grandfathered in..

[@stkcattleandhay]

You did better than me. My bred cows brought less than my opens. I got .53-.54 for opens and .50 (after doing the math) for breds. All cows were 1300-1400#. Felt like I gave the bred cows away.

[@rustysmith4477]

Awesomely awesome 😎 the fees is always the sticker shock point but that is business. You are right someone is getting rich!

[@Davidraisedsimmentalcows.]

It is tough to send cows to the sale, because as you said you not sure what they will bring. You can also look at if they are not bred and you did everything that you can possibly do to get them with calf and they don’t get pregnant then you are wise to sell them even when not getting as much money as previous received before. Some things I try to look at.If they are problem cows in settling then being gone is good. You aren’t feeding them as open cows with out a calf to raise next calving season. You could put the butcher cow money into taking care of bills,saving, maybe purchase a few good replacements .. certainly that depends on circumstances. Your cows were in very good condition,and having them preg checked was a really smart idea. And as you shared it helped get you more income at the sale. One last thought, Your cows that you have at the ranch you are putting feed, care etc into and they will be given you calves to raise to bring in income. Appreciate the videos. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@michaelcorning4857]

Last week here in fla harvest cows avg 1610 brought 46 cent.

[@jeffwindham1304]

Enjoyed the video. I think most people are reluctant to talk about the money side of farming. I believe more people would watch your videos if you did this more often. Such as how you market your butcher steers

[@larrytremarki9458]

Awesome job Tyler, thanks for the informative video. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family stay safe and healthy!

[@duncanosborne4871]

That was a bit harsh on you, it happened too me i used to keep rabbits and to co operative, a guy would collect them take them to the processor then i took them myself getting rid of does which didn't breed went as well ended up with hardly anything for the work Anyway heads up let's hope the market gets better next year and I hope you have a good calving season and I wish you a merry Christmas and Happy New year, here in the uk we have yet another strain of this virus hit us which has come from soutj Africa so now we are back into a another lock down until Christmas no visitors or visiting family fot us this Christmas its forbidden at this time.

[@rshoemaker7368]

New to your channel. Really enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the auction process.

[@mikecox9214]

With an operation your size could you get into selling club calves or tie in with somebody doing grass fed. Maybe you could get into doing AI for yourself and others. I just really like how open and real you are. Wishing you and your family All the Best and Merry Christmas.

[@nadeenflynn9673]

Wonderful job sharing your numbers. Keeping it real.

[@alanclark6761]

Sometimes I don't know why we do it... Another channel I watch broke down the profit margin between the producer (hardly any) to the grocery store. He did a good job explaining that the $750 cow/steer would be sold for $4,500 at the grocery store (best I can remember). Thus the guy who spends the most time growing, nursing, tending, and feeding the stock gets hardly nothing when the processors and suppliers make huge profit for very little involvement. Yes, I'm convinced that direct marketing is the only way to save the family farms - or - if you're good at making youtube videos and get supplemental income. Thanks for the informative video's BTW.

[@madampolo]

Tyler, thank you for this video and for sharing your financial information. It is not something non-ranchers know. I hope prices go up in the future, but don't have much hope with the people we elected.

[@Sam-black]

Excellent video, will explained for people that count grasp buying and selling and people having different Needs & Wants 👍 Didn't look through the comments to the last video, probably just as well.

[@terryanderson4366]

This is similar to other markets such as real estate, vehicles, antiques, etc. It is how much you sell for but how you spend. Keep transportation, vet, feed, fence, labor, equipment, labor, financing, etc costs as low as possible.

[@Whispering.]

Merry Christmas and aHappy Newyear!🌟

[@tammysarrazin7078]

i was away for holiday now back to catching up on my channels hugssssssssssss

[@farmertylerranch4399]

Welcome back!

[@annebell4112]

Yah, yeah Tyler plays the info. Catchy number. 🚜👍🚜👍🚜

[@weavaman2216]

Havent got to watch lately. Merry Christmas and happy new year.

[@buffranchAB]

Merry Christmas to you and Family Tyler !!

[@buffranchAB]

Good eye Bud ! you sure got rid of the right ones

[@sandib4234]

Merry Xmas Prayers for a Prosperous New Year .......🎄🌟✨🎁🎸

[@melissaparker8406]

U look good to me I wish u lived in Tennessee I love what u do with animals

[@sevenmile]

Merry Christmas to you and yours! (Assuming Gov Gavin allows that) Legend has it that grandpa took a calf to the Auction yard. His check after all the deductions was for half a dollar. I'm am told he never cashed that check!

[@christineconard5287]

Hi Tyler just wanted to say have a merry Christmas and a happy new year and your family as well have a safe holiday

[@T_157-40]

Any idea what those five cows cost you to raise, feed, vet, meds etc prior to sell?

[@Mallard5plus1Farmhouse]

Thanks for this video man! Learned a lot!

[@RandWFarmstead-TonyWalsh]

Great video and explanation FTR.

[@sherrieblake8674]

Thanks for going over the $ portion.

[@johnking8679]

WOW, I've often wondered how that worked. Now, I know !! You win some and lose some !! It's a bit like life, Tyler - no-one promised it would be fair !! 😮

[@beneelliott5727]

Why do you not preg your cows after you wean the calves.

[@SteeleFarm]

Always love your video's since you and I have roughly the same size farm. However, I couldn't watch this one with headphones because some scenes are only in one channel.

[@terrywivey6596]

Merry Christmas!

[@annacalvert2747]

Merry Christmas to you and your family,

[@terrybrinson7659]

Good report.

[@LtColDaddy71]

I have to add this, because this just pissed me off so bad. From what I could see, those animals looked amazing and will probably grade out as choice and sell for so much $ compared to what you received. It's just sickening. I hope you look into direct marketing as much as you possibly can. All that money that's missing from your wallet is going to a bunch of people who never stepped foot on a farm in their lives! Suits, Cubicle Queens and assholes in general!

[@dm55]

How do you really feel?

[@adamgipson6151]

@@dm55 😂

[@quarrel05]

I was wondering why can’t he sell them himself and keep all them fees and rip off prices pay the laborer .52 cent and charge 17.99 per pound in the store should be Illegal!!

[@jaredross8840]

A bigger cow eats a lot more and normally doesn't wean a bigger calf than a medium frame cow