Running a successful business means making strategic decisions aimed at delivering quality results while staying profitable.

In the beef cattle industry, one key decision is what to do with a cow that doesn’t rebreed and is classified as open, according to experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.

“It’s always a loss, so you start with a loss. Every cow needs to bring you a calf every year. Is it a loss that you can recoup some value from yeah, I think so,” K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers said.

On a recent episode of the Cattle Chat podcast, K-State veterinarian Bob Larson explained that cows that don’t rebreed or calve late are often sold because they no longer align with a producer’s management goals.

However, he noted that while a cow may not fit one operation, she could still be a good match for another. The experts recommend considering the cow’s potential value and how long to keep her, while ensuring clear communication between the buyer and seller about the cow’s management.

“If I have an open cow I’m trying to sell to somebody, it’s going to come down to communication with those potential buyers. I’m going to highlight the genetics, provide them with all the health records, and be there for any questions. Talk to them about the history of the cow, the temperament, all those kinds of things. So, I think you can sell, and I think it’s just going to take a little bit of strategic planning and a lot of communication.,” Larson said.  

If cattle aren’t rebreeding due to being too thin, improving their diet can add weight economically. The profitability of this approach comes from buying cattle at a reduced cost. Experts agree that estimating the costs of maintaining an unbred cow until she’s sold is key to assessing financial feasibility.