Wondering What my Small Herd is Worth?

[JAS]

We have a small herd that we are thinking of selling due to the lack of hay and pasture this year. We were just raising them for our own freezer. Could I get an idea on what they are worth here in South Dakota. Thanks.



Yearling bull half Highland and half Murray Gray/Angus. He has little nobs, not really horns and not really polled. Do not know what he is worth, he is nice and muscular, really a nice looking fellow. Might keep just for our freezer though.

Approximately 7 to 8 year old 3/4 Murray Gray - 1/4 Angus cow with this year's bull calf. The calf had issues with his front leg tendons but is getting around fairly well now.

Approximately 5 year old Highland cow with bull calf out of a Murray Gray/Angus bull. She has horns but she is very mild, although not a pet. Can rub the flies off her nose if she lets you. Very nice cow and this is her second calf.

Murray Gray/Angus yearling heifer. Pretty silver color. Not tamed at all.

[ycanchu2]

Originally Posted by JAS

We have a small herd that we are thinking of selling due to the lack of hay and pasture this year. We were just raising them for our own freezer. Could I get an idea on what they are worth here in South Dakota. Thanks.



Yearling bull half Highland and half Murray Gray/Angus. He has little nobs, not really horns and not really polled. Do not know what he is worth, he is nice and muscular, really a nice looking fellow. Might keep just for our freezer though.

Approximately 7 to 8 year old 3/4 Murray Gray - 1/4 Angus cow with this year's bull calf. The calf had issues with his front leg tendons but is getting around fairly well now.

Approximately 5 year old Highland cow with bull calf out of a Murray Gray/Angus bull. She has horns but she is very mild, although not a pet. Can rub the flies off her nose if she lets you. Very nice cow and this is her second calf.

Murray Gray/Angus yearling heifer. Pretty silver color. Not tamed at all.

i would say around here the bull and heifer would bring 1.00 to 1.25 a lb. depending on the size/weight, and the cows with calves about a 1k to 1.2k.
Unless you have no grass whatsoever and no hay and/or unless hay is outrageously high, you might want to just buy some hay and feed them for a while, it could rain sometime.
Four adults and 2 calves aren't going to eat that much.

[trbizwiz]

Selling will cost you two times.
Youll take a beating now because everyone is selling and no one is buying.
youll take a beating next year when you buy beef because the supply will be low.

People are culling like crazy and the herd will be smaller next year. If you can find waste land nearby to "custom graze" with temporary electric fence or some other out of the box solution I would attempt that before selling at a loss now.

[PaulNKS]

If you try to sell them as beef cattle, you will also get docked. Any time you start to throw in any hint of "exotic breeds" or anything not specifically standard beef breed, you get docked. ....at the sale barn.

Don't forget that the rise in feed prices will also make the cost of beef in the stores soar this winter and next year.

If you don't absolutely have to have the money from them, I would put as much of them in the freezer as possible to hedge against the coming food prices and sell the rest. You may be better off selling to individuals rather than at a sale barn. I'm just guessing.

[sammyd]

.60-.80 cent a pound on the hoof.

[agmantoo]

Ditto what sammyd and PaulNKS stated if sold through a sale barn. You will take some hit on the breed. If a person ever expects to sell through a sale barn then the cattle produced need to be what the buyer wants.