How much woudld you charge??

[TSYORK]

I've got two weaned, on grass and grain holstein steers. They're a little over two months old, as I get them as day olds from a local dairy. A friend I work with want to buy them. I'm in Western NC, and the auction prices have been fluctuation between 1.05 -1.10 a pound for feed steers. However, I do raise mine a little bit different. I use organic milk replacer with no hormones or antibiotics. I also use a natural dairy chop that has only corn, oats, barley, molasses, vitamins and minerals. Of course, they're not organic, but they are natural raised. I do price my calves a little higher than sale barn because I feel they are a cut above auction stock. I would post pictures of the dudes, but I can't seem to find the cord to my ding-dang digital camera. Anyway, I was wondering, in the ballpark, what would be a fair price for these per head. I am enteraining the thought of between $150.00 - $175.00 each. I'm a little flexible on the price, but I'm not looking to give them away either.

The reason this guy wants these calves is because he refuses to bottle feed them. He says he just doesn't have time for the morning and night chores and would rather pay someone a little extra for him not having to bottle feed them. The calves are very healthy looking and are completely off milk.

TIA,

[lasergrl]

depends on the area and time of year. Late winter I was getting $100 for 4 week old jerseys and $140 for 4 week old holsteins. Now in spring I couldnt sell them for 1/2 that for some reason. I think your higher end is fair.

[travlnusa]

You need to figure out how much you have invested. Milk replacer, grain, housing, etc.

Add 10%, and that would be your bottom price. Work you way up from there if you have a private treaty (non-sale barn) buyer.

[bigmudder77]

id sell for at least $200 or id keep them

at 2 months old they should be at least 200lbs and even at $1 a pound thats $200

id ask like $250 each

i had better luck selling in the spring than in the winter and the prices are higher

[RosewoodfarmVA]

A holstein steer will not be worth as much as a beef breed steer at market. Even if market price is 1.00-1.10 for steers, that's for BEEF steers. Your holstein if taken to the market probably won't bring but about .75. You'll need to keep that in mind when selling.
I'm not saying it's not worth that, just saying that's how the sale market works. Dairy breed steers don't bring as much, about 3/4 of beef breed price because they can't be fattened up on the same time frame and feed schedule as a beef breed in a feedlot.

[francismilker]

I raise about 40-50 calves per year lately and have learned the only way for me to make any profit at all is to keep them on a nurse cow whose diet is all or mostly grass and the calves are raised on all or mostly grass. Any other combination of feed, MR, or supplements is taking from the bottom line. I realize it's enjoyable for me to play around with these critters but in today's economy I have to be a good steward with money. Otherwise, my hobby is taking from my family. Dairy steers, as some have mentioned don't sale as well as beef steers therefore it doesn't pay to put feed into them that isn't growing in the pasture. When you look at feasibility studies that a lot of Ag Universities have put on they've deemed it un-economically feasible to put calves on creep feed. (and these studies were done on beef steers, not dairy steers) Therefore, I try to get all the weight gain out of them I can on grass and then sell them when the market is up. I usually try avoid at all costs wintering them due to the mandatory feed and supplements required to get them through in good body condition. I've tried holding them over until Spring before with a loss even though Spring prices are better than Fall prices at the auction.