46 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2026 real-world conditions to gain back the cost of developing her as a heifer under today’s finances. Panel members addressed this challenge head on. Hill responded that five years is often more realistic, even in large, well-managed systems. Sewell agreed that many industry averages lean closer to four or five years once normal culling pressure is accounted for. Brandt’s response was quite direct: “Be mean to your heifers.” Applying pressure early exposes which females truly belong in a long-term production system. The economic implication is unavoidable. If producers model replacement profitability, assuming seven or eight calves, but in reality, that cow may only deliver four or five calves, the financial shortfall compounds rapidly at today’s purchase prices. What Metrics Actually Matter When asked how they measure progress toward a better cow herd, the panel unanimously shifted away from trend-driven performance metrics and back to fundamentals. Sewell emphasized average cow weight as one of the most powerful profit levers on any ranch. Moderate cows increase stocking flexibility without increasing land base. Bigger cows must justify their footprint with superior output or they erode margin. Hill focused on system compatibility – wintering ability, minimal supplementation and cows that maintain body condition without being propped up. Both stressed age distribution and fertility as the truest indicators of herd health. Longevity, not just conception, drives lifetime return. Marketing the Culls An important practical question was then asked: if producers push heifers harder and increase fallout, how should non-fitting females be marketed? Hill described rebreeding cull cows as one way to add value, particularly when feed resources allow. Strategic relationships /( FREDERICK ANGUS ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE I FEBRUARY 24, 2026 1 p.m. LIVE AT THE RANCH REBUILDING THE COW HERD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 CONTINUED ON PAGE 48 Scan this QR code to access the Beef Heifer Replacement Price Forecast 2026 from the UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability.
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