cull the herd

cull the herd

1. Literally, to separate or remove (and usually kill) inferior animals out of a herd so as to reduce numbers or remove undesirable traits from the group as a whole. We had to quickly cull the herd when it came to light that some cows might be carrying an infectious disease.
2. By extension, to separate or remove people from a larger group. With so many people applying for a limited number of jobs, employers have had to cull the herd by introducing much stricter criteria and a more elaborate application for hiring. Universities have long used standardized test results as a means of culling the herd of applicants they receive each year.
See also: cull, herd
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • remove from
  • remove from (someone or something)
  • move off
  • cull out
  • brush off
  • brushoff
  • brush-off
  • clean (someone or something) out of (something)
  • clean out of
  • put/set somebody's mind at ease/rest
References in periodicals archive
They also decided to recruit volunteers and tribal members to cull the herd.
Home on the Range? Bison are destroying Grand Canyon's fragile meadows, but removing the animals is no easy task
Then a decision had to be made to buy hay for the winter or cull the herd. [Graphic omitted]
UC ANR advisors support cattle ranchers after wildfires
And another holds that democracy is working when voters in the early stages of a campaign cull the herd of candidates before the real voting takes place.
Analysis: Democracy, Millionaires and Billionaires
While some may think the deer running in Westboro add a little country charm to the community, they are becoming a public safety hazard; a hazard so great that the police chief - who is not a hunter - has proposed that the town allow bowhunting on certain town-owned properties in an effort to cull the herd.
Oh deer, vote eyes harvest; Westboro battles overpopulation
A recession also clearly illustrates where you have weak distributors; use the opportunity to cull the herd so that you're best positioned for the inevitable recovery and expansion.
Recession resistance
A referendum was held on whether to cull the herd of nearly 70 wild goats.
Animals get on our goat
If we're going to cull the herd on the basis of who earns the right to be here, let's not stop at eliminating the weak, the poor, the old, and the bad.
Take it easy and no play : all work makes Jack and Jane dull disciples
So I decided to cull the herd. On the handgun side, I read comparatively until I winnowed it down to just a few.
1 Connor = 1 riot
He alleges that park officials refuse to test and cull the herd because of an NPS policy to maintain the bison without human interference.
Bison on the firing line: around Yellowstone, rancher concerns about cattle disease are colliding with wildlife protection on public lands
They'll cull the herd, allowing the candidates who are performing best onto the stage, splitting the candidates into groups, trying to find a format that allows voters to hear what from the people most likely to remain in the race for the long haul.
Analysis: Three Steps on Perry's Comeback Trail
We have an overabundance of deer in this town and we have to find some way to cull the herd."
Station up for vote again, but no tax hike sought
The NTS hope to cull the herd to around 1600 by the end of next year.
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE; GRUESOME: FORMER ROYAL LODGE SHOWS OFF 2345 HUNTING TROPHIES