Calf prices

Gabriel · #21 01/28/12, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nchobbyfarm

I have been going to the sale every week since the week after Christmas and they have set record highs each week. I have leased a pasture and fenced it but it is empty. I can't afford to buy in at these prices. I am simply a spectator until the market stablizes some.

Put an ad' out that you'll board some cattle. Charge by the day, or per pound gained.

sammyd · #22 01/28/12, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Here are some Holstein prices up here......"120-125 holstein steers for sale. They are 9-12 wks. old on full feed for 3-4 wks. All calves have been casturated, dehorned, and vaccinated. All of are calves come from local dairies never shipped or sale barns. Asking $230.00 each. We have 30-60 of these calves a wk."

worth every penny. I would snap every one of these up if I could.

myersfarm · #23 01/28/12, 01:28 PM

Cindy said Well, I still don't get why smaller ones go for more if the older ones are just about ready for beef

PLEASE DO NOT PICK THIS APART I AM SHOWING CINDY WHY SMALL 200 # SELLS HIGHER THAN BIG ONES READY TO BE SLAUGHTER at 1200 #

it is because the cost of gain...they are only buying a live animal

buy a 200 # steer and feed...I have not updated my feed charts lately but from before it cost to put on a pound of beef on a steer was 84 cents in the feed

so here goes if you took the 200 # and put 1000 lbs thats 1200 lbs and you have invested

$400 for animal $2.00 pound at 200 #and $840 in feed so thats $1240 for a 1200 pound steer ready to slaughter

so if those figures are right how much money would you give for a 1200 pound steer at the most $1240 or you could grow you own for that

most of these guys that buy them send to feed lot...never see them again

yes I left out shipping ...3 % death lose...$50 vet... and .35 a day yard fees but hope this helps you understand all these things are DEDUCTABLE....

myersfarm · #24 01/28/12, 01:32 PM

Cindy BTW I have talked to kerry

InvalidID · #25 01/28/12, 01:32 PM

Choice Steers ------ Choice Heifers
300-400 100.00-170.00 300-400 95.00-160.00
400-500 100.00-176.00 400-500 95.00-171.00
500-600 100.00-165.00 500-600 93.00-166.00
600-700 95.00-159.00 600-700 93.00-160.00
700-800 93.00-148.00 700-800 90.00-135.00
800-900 90.00-141.00 800-900 90.00-130.00
900-1000 85.00-125.00 900-1000 65.00-120.00

Holstein Steers ------- Feeder Bulls
300-400 85-120.00 400-600 95-130.00
400-600 80-105.00 600-800 90-120.00
600-800 70-105.00 800-1000 60-115.00
800-1000 65-92.50 1000-1200 50-90.00

Cindy in KY · #26 01/28/12, 02:51 PM

"worth every penny. I would snap every one of these up if I could."

Not me, SammyD, because I would have to buy lots of hay this time of year. When our pastures are full of grass it might be worthwhile, but then selling is only $1 a pound if you are lucky. There are a LOT for sale around here. It took a long time for our last Holstein to get to freezer size, and he was fat. You couldn't take them over winter unless you put up your own hay.

Hey Myers, so why do the beef guys take the smaller pound calves to the auction anyway?

myersfarm · #27 01/28/12, 03:40 PM

Cindy out of hay or grass or the man needs money....plus they pull them off old cull cows that goes to slaughter....lots of farmers raise up some heifers then pull that number of old cows to sell or sell outs were whole herd is sold....plus if the cow dies

Allen W · #28 01/28/12, 08:19 PM

It's possible calves may change hands 2 or 3 times before they reach the feed lot. The 450 lb calves in meyersfarm's first post could go out on wheat pasture and come off weighing 650 to 700 lbs. Somebody else could buy them and put them on grass for the summer before they go to the feedlot.

tinknal · #29 01/28/12, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy in KY

And why does the smaller, younger beef steers go for more per hundred weight than the bigger, older ones? Seems if I had $800 I could buy one 400 pound or 1 800 pound steer.

It's because the potential profit to be made is in gain. A 400 pound steer has more potential gain than an 800 pounder and thus more potential profit.

bknthesdle · #30 01/28/12, 09:48 PM

We saw basically newborns (100# calves) go for over $300 today at the auction.

Skip · #31 01/30/12, 08:27 PM

Newborn dairy? Candice?

bknthesdle · #32 01/30/12, 10:55 PM

No. I'd guess just a day or two old and they were beef calves.

tinknal · #33 01/31/12, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy in KY

Well, I still don't get why smaller ones go for more if the older ones are just about ready for beef. I am glad the cattle farmers are getting some good prices for their cattle. Are they selling the smaller 200-300 beef calves because they need money? Seems you would keep them on the herd. So you buy them at $2.00 and feed them out and sell them at $1.35? It is confusing.

."

Another point Cindy, these buyers are buying for future sale. They know what the cattle numbers are now, and what they will be in 3 months, 6 months, etc. If cattle numbers will still be strong in 3 months then the 800 pound feeders when fat may sell for a lower price than say 6 months, when those 450 lb cattle will be ready for market.