What are replacement cattle?

Answer 1

Replacement cattle is a term used commonly to describe certain cattle at Auction or Sale barns. Generally it refers to cows or bulls purchased to replace other cattle in a ranchers herd. This would be in contrast to slaughter cattle which are sold to be processed into beef. The difference is generally the price. The auctioneer starts the bidding at a price per pound and if sold at that type of price is recorded as Slaughter cattle. If the price per pound exceeds market value of the meat then the auctioneer switches to a total price per animal and the sale will be recorded as replacement cattle.

Replacement cattle are also cattle that are grown on-farm to replace older, less productive cows or bulls. Replacement heifers is one term you will commonly run across more than replacement cattle. Heifers in a breeding herd are selected over other heifers in terms of size, growth, conformation, temperament, and, in less instances in commercial operations, high expectations from experiences from her sire and dam's side. Heifers that are smaller, have poor conformation, are a little wilder than necessary, or have average- or less-than-average-type mommas or have a terminal sire go to market to be used for beef. These heifers that are selected for the breeding herd are fed in a similar fashion as the cowherd but with slightly more pampering because of their growth requirements, bred at the right age and weight (~15 months @ 60% or more of the cowherd's average weight), and grown and cared for like all the other cows would be.

Replacement heifers can also be bought by private treaty, or off another farm that raises heifers then sells them. Provided that the farm is near your location and raises the heifers in a similar way that you raise your cattle, these replacement heifers can be bought from the farm and used and integrated into your cowherd. Most cases that this happens is if you sell all the calves as feeder or stocker cattle, especially if you breed the heifers and cows to a terminal bull such as Charolais, Limousin, Simmental, Maine Anjou, or other breeds that sire calves that are good for the market.

Replacement bulls can be bought in a similar fashion as above, but it is better to buy your bulls through buyer-to-buyer instead of through the salebarn. The chances of purchasing the wrong type of bull or cow through a salebarn is more increased than if you go one-on-one with the seller, especially if you don't know what to look for in health qualities and temperament, or even conformation. There's a higher chance that these bulls or cows that are going through the salebarn are there because they're not wanted on someone else's farm (unless you're attending a dispersal sale, which is something altogether different) and are headed for the meat factory. Bull sales from seedstock producers are other places to go to purchase replacement bulls. But, be shrewed, don't bid on a bull unless your absolutely certain he's the one you want. Bulls that had just come off a grain diet in their bull testing station may quickly break down in the tougher conditions that your cows are in. So, buyer beware.