Evaluating and marketing cull cows may not be the most enjoyable part of ranch management, but it remains one of the most important tools for improving both the sustainability and profitability of a cow-calf operation. Too often, cull cows are treated as a byproduct of the herd when, in reality, they can make a major contribution to annual ranch income. In many operations, cull cow sales account for 15-25% of yearly revenue, and in today’s historically strong market, that percentage can be even higher. Delaying culling decisions or carrying unproductive cows becomes increasingly expensive under these conditions.
Strategic culling becomes even more critical during periods of drought and limited forage availability. Across the southern third of South Dakota, recurring drought conditions have forced producers to more aggressively evaluate stocking rates and prioritize cows that will generate the greatest return moving forward. Every open cow carried into the season consumes feed, pasture, labor, and water resources without contributing to next year’s calf crop. In years where hay supplies are tight and pasture recovery is uncertain, those resources become far too valuable to waste.
Pregnancy diagnosis remains one of the most valuable management tools in a cow-calf operation. Identifying open cows immediately after the breeding season allows producers to market those females before incurring winter feed costs and before larger volumes of cows enter the market due to widespread drought liquidation. In addition, culling late-calving females can tighten the calving distribution, increasing herd uniformity and improving calf crop consistency. These strategies reduce feed costs and allow limited forage resources to be redirected toward productive females carrying next year’s calf crop. Producers should also evaluate bulls after the breeding season and cull those that are older, unsound, or subfertile, particularly when forage resource are limited.
Another strategy some operations may consider is selling heifer calves rather than retaining them for development. One challenge with selling replacement heifers, however, is that they represent the newest genetics in the herd. Producers should carefully weigh the cost of development and the time required before those females begin generating revenue. Another strategy is to market cull cows at the same time of purchasing replacements to improve cash flow when finances are strained. Replacement females are often one of the largest annual investments in a cow-calf operation, and coordinating cull sales alongside replacement purchases can help offset those costs while maintaining herd productivity. During drought conditions, this approach also helps avoid expanding beyond available forage resources.
Cow age should be another consideration when determining which animals to cull during drought. Older cows may struggle to maintain body condition and can require greater feed inputs during adverse conditions. However, mature cows typically have lower nutrient requirements than first-calf heifers and yearling females, which are still growing and have higher nutritional demands. Additionally, older cows are often well adapted to the operation and production environment and have likely already paid for themselves. Ultimately, decisions regarding age as culling criterion should alight with the goals and resources of the operation.
Culling decisions can be difficult, particularly when cows have been part of the herd for many years. Establishing predetermined culling criteria can help simplify decision-making and reduce emotional bias. Structural soundness, disposition, udder quality, and production performance should all factor into whether a cow earns another year in the herd. Given current market conditions and uncertainty surrounding forage availability, now is an ideal time to remove poor-producing or poor-tempered females. Eliminating inefficient or problem cows should also evaluate females based on longevity, reproductive performance, and their ability to maintain body condition under challenging environmental conditions.
One of the most effective ways to evaluate culling decisions is by calculating opportunity cost. Feed is typically the single largest expense in cow-calf operations, and feeding a nonproductive cow quickly becomes costly, especially during times of feed shortages. For example, feeding a cow for 150 days at approximately $2.30 per day results in a direct feed cost of about $345. However, the true cost is much higher when lost calf revenue is considered. With weaned calf prices remaining historically strong, a calf could generate $2,500 or more in revenue. In that scenario, the total economic impact of keeping an open cow may exceed $2,800 when accounting for both feed costs and lost production opportunity. Viewing culling decisions through this lens often clarifies the financial benefit of marketing open or low-performing cows sooner rather than later.
Intentional culling should never happen by default or simply out of habit. Keeping cows “just because” often results in higher input costs with little economic return. Instead, strategic culling allows producers to align herd size with forage availability, improve operational efficiency, and protect long-term profitability.
In today’s cattle market, thoughtful culling decisions can provide a dual benefit, generating immediate income from strong cull cow prices while reducing the number of animals to feed during periods of high feed costs and drought stress. Ultimately, strategic culling strengthens both short-term cash flow and the long-term resilience of the cow-calf enterprise.
