Replacement heifers are high here too! I used to do cow/calf, but when the drought began a few years ago, I sold them all off. Last year, bought some calves and raised. Sold all but one last month. I hope he will go into the freezer this winter.
I fear hay prices, this year. I gave $7.00/sq. bale, in the pasture, last summer. Luckily, I had good pastures through most of last winter, so still have some nice square bales in my barn. Might not be as good as having "fresh" hay, but been protected and was really nice, when stacked in there. I should know in the next day or two, if the pasture behind the horse pasture is worth baling into round bales. The grass looks good, and is relatively weed free, so no spraying needed. I'd love to add a few round bales to my supplies, for the horses. One never knows how long the drought will linger, or what the prices will do, because of operating costs.
I guess I am the odd horse owner. As long as the hay is clean, not all weeds, and not moldy, etc., I figure my horses can eat it. If they can pick around the weeds in the pasture, they can pick around a few in a round bale! I'd rather they do that, than go hungry, because there was no hay!
