bottle calf prices

Wild_Bill · #21 12/06/14, 11:29 AM

I get jersey calves for $5-$25 dollars here. After the weather breaks I'll buy a bunch more. At the sales around here Holstein and beef bring about the same...to much. Day old $300-500. Why would anyone do that? Can get 5mo. Old weaners for$2-3lb i would much rather spend $500-$1000 on something that is past the danger time, been with mom for the whole time, and doesn't need a bottle twice a day. But the jerseys are cheap enough to take a shot on. I'm growing out the 3 i have now, but will most likely sell any more at a month.

arabian knight · #22 12/06/14, 11:40 AM

Jerseys bull calves are selling for a higher price that Jersey Heifer Calves.
A week old Jersey bull calf 250 to 350
the same age heifer calf and not a free martin either is 150 to 200. I know cause I bought one raised it through the summer and sold it for a profit even when figuring in milk replacer and grain costs., LOL
Holstein calves are 400 to 500 for week old calves. And They ARE getting this price too, you call up and they are Gone faster that a person can get a e mail of phone call through.

myheaven · #23 12/06/14, 01:49 PM

I just checked cattle/calf prices. WOW!!!!! heifers are much cheaper. LooKS like I may go invest in a few heifers. bull calves are wow way high up to 500 per holstine bottle calf.

blanket · #24 12/06/14, 04:57 PM

Right now is a very bad time to get into calves because of the high prices, dealing with the bubble caused by the cattle sell down, drought, high corn and hay prices and losses over the past 4 years. Beef calves are scary high and dairies are following. It wasn't all that long ago dairies would give away week old bull calves for the hauling. Personally if I can't get bottle calves for $75 each I'm setting out. Bred Heifers are probably the way to go right now. You put out the high dollars for the calves, milk replacer, and deal with young calf losses and predators you can be upside down in a hurry. Just my humble opinion

arabian knight · #25 12/06/14, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myheaven

I just checked cattle/calf prices. WOW!!!!! heifers are much cheaper. LooKS like I may go invest in a few heifers. bull calves are wow way high up to 500 per holstine bottle calf.

See what did I tell ya. LOL I am going to get another heifer calf Early this spring and sell in the fall and see how that goes, I have two unused pens now because of no miniature horses so I can let one side grow while the calf is in the other one eating. LOL
Or eat her, heck they will taste as good as a bull calf. LOL But that means going through a winter with high electric costs keeping the water tank from freezing.
I have a small farm not one mile away so that is close no driving and is a personal friend besides. Jersey Of Course.

heyrakes · #26 12/06/14, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Jerseys bull calves are selling for a higher price that Jersey Heifer Calves.
A week old Jersey bull calf 250 to 350
the same age heifer calf and not a free martin either is 150 to 200. I know cause I bought one raised it through the summer and sold it for a profit even when figuring in milk replacer and grain costs., LOL
Holstein calves are 400 to 500 for week old calves. And They ARE getting this price too, you call up and they are Gone faster that a person can get a e mail of phone call through.

WOW, looks like i need to get a load of new calves and take them to sale in your area. i could quadruple my money

I was bit confused. when i heard them talking some of these prices i thought they were talking about weened calves

arabian knight · #27 12/07/14, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyrakes

WOW, looks like i need to get a load of new calves and take them to sale in your area. i could quadruple my money

I was bit confused. when i heard them talking some of these prices i thought they were talking about weened calves

Just posted on CL
Nope
3 Holstien Bull Calves - $1200 (Turtle Lake)
3 Holstien Bull Calves
2-5 days old
$1200 cash only

Here is another one
2 Brown Swiss bull calves - $1250 (Prairie Farm)
2 healthy Brown Swiss bull calves, 2 and 3 weeks old on bottles.
$1,250 for pair

secuono · #28 12/07/14, 12:25 AM

I'm in VA, too, but I see prices at $125-200.

Zimobog · #29 12/08/14, 10:37 PM

At least $500 and sometimes as high as $2000 if they are weaned.

Donna from Mo · #30 12/09/14, 08:37 PM

$400 for big Holstein bull calves, 3 days old, from a dairy. Thank goodness I got my two when they were still $325.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/grd/4787369716.html

**gone-a-milkin** · #31 12/09/14, 08:49 PM

Around my area I am seeing a lot of pastures filled with dairy steer calves.
It used to be the Amish were the only ones who really raised them in any quantity.
Now, a lot of those Amish farms have switched to sheep and goats.
Just my observation in this location (the Ozarks, MO).

Frosted Mini's · #32 12/11/14, 05:47 PM

$400-470 for day old Holstein bull calves here!! No thanks!

Donna from Mo · #33 12/12/14, 01:52 PM

Six weeks ago I paid $325 for a couple Holstein bull calves at the nearest dairy. Now they have gone up to $400. People tell me dairy bull calves are bring almost that much at the auction.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/grd/4787369716.html

francismilker · #34 12/14/14, 09:28 PM

For any bottle calf there's so much time and effort involved I'd rather just pick up a weined one. $400 is crazy high IMHO for any bottle baby.

postroad · #35 12/14/14, 10:01 PM

Good grief!! How do they think they are going to turn a profit at those prices. Just going to keep eating the increase on my Dexter herd and maybe watching the gates more. At those prices even my lowly Dexters might be worth rustling?

arabian knight · #36 12/17/14, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by postroad

Good grief!! How do they think they are going to turn a profit at those prices. Just going to keep eating the increase on my Dexter herd and maybe watching the gates more. At those prices even my lowly Dexters might be worth rustling?

This is the reason you are seeing prices so HIGH

And this is the reason you can buy a heifer calf at half, or even less than half of what a bull calf goes for, sometimes about 1/3 the price.

bottle calf prices - Cattle

postroad · #37 12/17/14, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

This is the reason you are seeing prices so HIGH

And this is the reason you can buy a heifer calf at half, or even less than half of what a bull calf goes for, sometimes about 1/3 the price.

bottle calf prices - Cattle

Seems odd? Heifers are good eating also and what about its reproductive potential?

arabian knight · #38 12/17/14, 08:25 PM

Yes I know they eat just as good. I bought a Jersey heifer last spring raised it through the summer and doubled my money paid 125 she was 3 weeks old from a Jersey farm 1 mile from me. I plan on doing the same thing early this spring. This heifer was not a free matin one either. Just had too many I guess he advertised in a local trade paper. LOL

Frosted Mini's · #39 12/17/14, 11:38 PM

Well, I checked again with the dairy where I've gotten jersey x angus from before. They have holstein bull calves and jersey x angus bull or heifer calves for $420...the jersey bull calves are $20 each. So, I could get 21 jersey bulls for the price of one of the others. Hmmm, guess I know what I'll get if I decide to get some bottle babies...