Buy? Hold? Sell?

[sim.-ang.king]

With the drought and pasture quality going down, I have already weaned 2 bulls that were born in Feb., but my question is I have 4 other calves that I could wean at the end of this month at 3 months and the oldest at 4. If I weaned them then I could then ship the mammas to another pasture we have for fall calvers, that has more acres, but lacks in water so we would have to haul more water. So wean at the end of the month, which is about as long as the grass would last, and then buy corn to fed them. Or keep the calves on the cows till the end of September like normal and fed hay till then.
Second part is when to sell. My plan right now is to hold the calves till November, which would mean buying more corn to fed them. Or I could cut the loss by selling now, but they are getting closer to 20 cent cheaper then last march when I sold. So hold them till November and pray for cheaper grain, or sell now and at a lower weight and price than what I got last march?

Buy corn? Hold off weaning? or Sell the calves now? What are your ideas, and what are your plans for this year?

[salebarn junkie]

I would sell now the market will usually dip in the fall i would take the sure thing and not mess with weaning young calves

[cow pollinater]

I don't have a way to see your entire situation but I think I'd get those calves sold and focus my resources on the cows for next years calf crop. If you try to carry those calves you're drawing resources away from your cows and the calves that you have now will likely be break even at best if you try to carry them until fall and in the meantime your cows are suffering.

[sim.-ang.king]

Very good point from both post, and most likely the answer. Anyone else?

[kenny thomas]

If it makes any difference in your decision I think you will find the calves are worth much less than the .20 less you quoted. Prices has went down bad. Why cant the calves be moves with the cows?
I dont have a good answer but I an weaning some July 28th for a September 12th sale. But difference is I have grass to help out the feed bill.

[ga.prime]

Calves were .20 cheaper this week than they were two weeks ago.

[sim.-ang.king]

Your right they are cheaper and they keep getting cheaper, but that's not really my point. It's gone down because of the drought, so if I could feed them till the drought broke and the price went back up I might, or might not, get ahead. But food is the main problem.
Yes kenny the calves could go to the other pasture, but like I said it is hard on water, and it would harder on the calves in that retrospect. Plus we don't have a very good loading corral over there since it's never had a loading corral, and we haven't got the money yet to build a good enough corral.

Any more comments?

[fitz]

I agree with salebarn & CP. If things are getting real tough my first concern is the condition of my brood cows. If the calves are close to 300# I'd get 'em off my cows and bank on the next crop. Prices are on a down turn, I'd wean them on the truck.

fitz

[u4411clb]

The price of cows went down in large part because the price of corn going up due to corn crop failing. The drought breaking is really not going to do anything to change that. If corn doesn't get rain asap like this week no amount of rain a month from now is going to make a bit of difference. Put the calves on the trailer that is what I am planning to do Tuesday and yes prices are down but are still as high as I have ever seen them in July so price is not an issue I am willing to bet you would still be making money. You will get just as much for 400+ lb calves this year as you would have gotten for 600 lb calves any year except the last 2 years.

[1982vett]

I agree with salebarn & CP. If things are getting real tough my first concern is the condition of my brood cows. If the calves are close to 300# I'd get 'em off my cows and bank on the next crop. Prices are on a down turn, I'd wean them on the truck.

fitz

Whatever you do....that is the roll of the dice...

Was getting as bad around here as it was last time last year (as far as pasture) but it has rained 3 inches over the last 7 days and is getting some green color back in the pastures. Just saying timing is everything so - Yes....Buy Hold Sell

[bigbull338]

as said the corn crop is burning up in the field.so corn is going to go sky high.an its already going up high.sell the calves in 30 days.

[sim.-ang.king]

I agree with salebarn & CP. If things are getting real tough my first concern is the condition of my brood cows. If the calves are close to 300# I'd get 'em off my cows and bank on the next crop. Prices are on a down turn, I'd wean them on the truck.

fitz

Whatever you do....that is the roll of the dice...

Was getting as bad around here as it was last time last year (as far as pasture) but it has rained 3 inches over the last 7 days and is getting some green color back in the pastures. Just saying timing is everything so - Yes....Buy Hold Sell

That is probably the winning statement. Everyone is probably about selling now, and I hope anyone else that is in the midwest reads this, and it helps in this major problem. Guess we can only hope for some rain to save the bean crop, and green up the pasture some more.

Thanks for all the sound advise!

[Kathie in Thorp]

The price of cows went down in large part because the price of corn going up due to corn crop failing. The drought breaking is really not going to do anything to change that. If corn doesn't get rain asap like this week no amount of rain a month from now is going to make a bit of difference. Put the calves on the trailer that is what I am planning to do Tuesday and yes prices are down but are still as high as I have ever seen them in July so price is not an issue I am willing to bet you would still be making money. You will get just as much for 400+ lb calves this year as you would have gotten for 600 lb calves any year except the last 2 years.

Apparently this seller, not too far from me, thinks cow prices are still going out the roof. http://yakima.craigslist.org/grd/3140319073.html

[thommoos]

From early post about your cattle i do not it will be beneficial for you to hold them and try to add pounds, but the cost benefit, I say sell now. If you take 4 animal and feed 1 ton of feed @ 250.00 a ton. and they gain 1 lbs for every six of intake, you will add 333. lbs of flesh @ maybe going from 300 range to 400 range drops .30 per pound here in alabama.
Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
2 300-350 322 180.00-184.00 181.92
1 350-400 360 177.00 177.00
1 400-450 405 146.00 146.00
1 600-650 635 124.00 124.00
1 650-700 655 120.00 120.00
Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 2
Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
4 300-350 335 160.00-170.00 168.60
7 350-400 374 142.00-150.00 146.13
5 400-450 415 137.00-142.00 139.60
3 450-500 457 132.00-134.00 132.67
1 500-550 510 130.00 130.00
1 550-600 555 121.00 121.00
4 600-650 634 117.00-119.00 118.25
2 650-700 672 115.00-116.00 115.51
5 700-750 704 110.00 110.00
1 750-800 795 108.00 108.00

SEELLLLLLLLL, SElllll, Selll, Did you here me Sell.

[1982vett]

I hear prices are a little stronger...I guess the paper traders are finished and the market can return to a mild panic rather than a schizophrenic frenzy.