Where Babies Come From

Let me start this post off with some background information. We are a heifer raising ranch. We buy cows at a young age, breed them, and sell them before they have their babies because we don't have milking facilities for mama cows and their babies.

Just like people, cows have an average gestation.

Just like people, cows don't always give birth according to their average gestation.

Fortunately for me because I love the babies...

 but unfortunately for the ranch because a "fresh" cow (just gave birth)...

 doesn't bring as much money as a "springer" (a pregnant cow)...

we sometimes have some girls that pop a little bit too soon and we end up with this...

"Why do fresh cows bring less money than springers?" One might ask.

Dairy farmers will pay more for the pregger cows because...

1) They can get the most milk out of that cow as they can start milking as soon as the baby pops. Whereas, a fresh cow that's been milking it's baby for a few days, doesn't have as much milk as she's been feeding her babay for awhile.

Get it? Ok, number 2 -

2) Dairy farmers desire female calves, not male calves. Why? Female calves eventually turn into springers which bring in - what? - more milk. Male calves eventually turn into veal as they can not be milked - duh. A few lucky male calves get to grow up into bulls, and well, I don't think I need to do any explaining there. Therefore, because a female calf is more valuable to a dairy farmer than a male calf, one would pay more for it at auction. Price comparison as a newborn calf? Typically $200 for a female calf and $10-$50 for a male calf.

How does this pay a part in our end of the deal?

Well, if we send a pregnant cow to auction, the sex of her baby is unknown. (Unless she was inseminated with sexed semen, but that's a story for another post - or you could read my college senior project blehhhh). So, since the sex of the baby is unknown (with the high possibility it could be a female calf) and the mama has not popped nor lost any milk, the buyer will pay more for a springer than a fresh cow.

Get it? Or did I just really confuse yall, and now you're craving a big glass of milk? Or veal?

Isn't the baby above so cute though?? And guess what - we got a girl. :)

  Just another day on the ranch.