$350 bred cows

[Jake]

Was as the sale yesterday for a bit trying to pick up something for some profit. They ran in a two groups of cows (8+ month) bred hereford. The first group was mixed colors secong group was hereford cows. Both groups were older cows but would have raised the calf alright I believe. They sold by the pound and brought somewhere between 350-430 dollars depending on how they sorted out. One that had calved already came in with a pretty nice hereford calf. Guy probably could have made money but sure is hard to get rid of 5 or 8 hereford calves in our market.

 

[alacattleman]

Was as the sale yesterday for a bit trying to pick up something for some profit. They ran in a two groups of cows (8+ month) bred hereford. The first group was mixed colors secong group was hereford cows. Both groups were older cows but would have raised the calf alright I believe. They sold by the pound and brought somewhere between 350-430 dollars depending on how they sorted out. One that had calved already came in with a pretty nice hereford calf. Guy probably could have made money but sure is hard to get rid of 5 or 8 hereford calves in our market.

bred back too a angus ,,, a feller could take a little loss at that kind of price

 

[Jake]

If they would have been black I guy could have made them work. But they were the definition of "last calf heifer" You may have had half of the pen actually calf and raise a marketable animal the second time around. I just found it rather ironic when layin on the counter in the salebarn was the Hereford World with an article headlined "Herefords Pay"

 

[hereford_jock]

Interesting post Jake! haha

 

[ga. prime]

I like that phrase "last calf heifer". Good one, Jake!

 

[Jake]

I must apologize for my typing ability on that original post. Evidently these temps are getting to my fingers mobility! Heat index is a brisk -25 right now so I don't think anybody in their right mind would be buying something to calf out.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I like that phrase "last calf heifer". Good one, Jake!

That phrase is beyond awesome. I choked.

 

[George]

I must apologize for my typing ability on that original post. Evidently these temps are getting to my fingers mobility! Heat index is a brisk -25 right now so I don't think anybody in their right mind would be buying something to calf out.

I guess i'm not right in my mind then Jake :lol: .Started calving here last week in saskatchewan,temp went down to minus 54 with the windchill.Calve 150 cows by myself,so don't sleep very much when it's that cold.

 

[Jake]

I feel for ya George. We use to start on Christmas. Sure was nice weaning off those big 6-700# calves but I never could find a market for the frozen ones. I must like sleeping through the night to well. We switched to March calving for now. Calves are 150 pounds lighter at weaning but I guess it's just a trade off.

 

[Frankie]

We've been calving in Jan/Feb for several years because it works best for bull testing and sales. I really think we have less sickness than when we used to calve in March. January is usually the coldest month of the year, but nothing like what we've had this year. If next year is this bad, we may have to rethink our breeding program. Brrrrr.

 

[alacattleman]

If they would have been black I guy could have made them work. But they were the definition of "last calf heifer" You may have had half of the pen actually calf and raise a marketable animal the second time around. I just found it rather ironic when layin on the counter in the salebarn was the Hereford World with an article headlined "Herefords Pay"

i thought herefords were strong in kansas

 

[stockman12]

If they would have been black I guy could have made them work. But they were the definition of "last calf heifer" You may have had half of the pen actually calf and raise a marketable animal the second time around. I just found it rather ironic when layin on the counter in the salebarn was the Hereford World with an article headlined "Herefords Pay"

So what would it have taken to buy the same quality cow in the angus denomination?

 

[SRBeef]

When are buyers going to be looking at the quality of the animal rather than its hide color?

I would challenge anyone to tell the difference between a steak from a good Hereford steer and a steak from a good Angus steer when both have been fed out the same. jmho.

Jim

 

[Jake]

Trying to cover all the comments in one reply here.

Herefords are strong in Kansas if your talkin to somebody trying to sell a hereford bull. Unless your in an area with a specific market or are selling a large lot (semi load or larger) they are going to take a discount to black cattle.

The same quality of cow but in a black package will usually bring $100-150 more. ( I want to stress the USUALLY in my statements as there are exceptions on certain days and locations)

And as far as looking past hide color. When the feedlot, backgrounder, and other such interested people want good quality black cattle because they are more likely to find a premium in them they will continue to pay more for them. When there is a legitimate consitent market pressure for a different type of cattle the preferences in the marketplace will change.

 

[stockman12]

If you are purchasing cows how could anyone in their right mind turn down a head start of up to 150 bucks per head?

 

[Brandonm22]

If you are purchasing cows how could anyone in their right mind turn down a head start of up to 150 bucks per head?

WHO (besides the meat plants) purchases cows in January??? You don't have grass yet and it is too late to put hay in the barn and it is too early to tell if you put too much hay in the barn. Somebody who planned their business right probably could make a killing buying cull cows most years between Dec 1 and Feb 28 and then selling them in mid May as pairs or bred cows when everybody has grass......but you had better be planning this at least six months in advance, buying hay, buying grain, and stockpiling forage.....or it could be a March train wreck.

 

[Jake]

If you are purchasing cows how could anyone in their right mind turn down a head start of up to 150 bucks per head?

Lot harder decision when you know the first calf is at a guaranteed $50-75 discount if not worse. Sure its half the 150 but still a factor if you put anything else into your decision other than simply the discount on the cow.

And Brandonm22 is right a man can make a killing buying older cows this time of year and turning them in a few months. You can increase the value and marketability of a lot of animals running through the barns right now.

 

[stocky]

Jake, you didn't say how much per pound those cows brought, but if they were in the 35-40 cent range and they would raise a calf, there was some real good money to be made. You can calve them out, the calf will weigh about 400 or maybe more by early August and if you sell before the market breaks in early August, the cow will weigh out at least what you gave for her and you will have a 350-450 dollar calf for profit, depending on the quality of calf and price at the time-----I buy that type of cow quite often and do that with them. However, those heavy springer broken mouth cows are bringing from 550-675 here instead of the 350-400 you are talking about. 40 cents per pound is about my limit on those broken mouth springers to make money on, so they are still too high around here for me.

 

[SRBeef]

Most Hereford cows will weigh at least 1000 lb probably more so a $350 bred cow is going to be under 35 cents a pound. Probably 30-32 cents. If you have hay or stockpile grazing it's hard to see how you could not make something on them.

Calve them out, sell the cow for $400 (40 cents a pound in the summer) or so to cover all or most of your costs then you have a 400 lb calf as your profit. Not bad if they are healthy to start with. Basically turning hay and grazing into maybe $400-$500 PROFIT each. Double your money in 6-7 months. It doesn't matter what color they are, you are going to make money on $350 bred (and healthy) cows.

Not a bad return on $350 and some grass. With bank interest rates at 1 or 2 percent it makes more sense to have money in cows. My problem is I'd be sitting there trying to figure out how to explain this to my wife and the auctioneer would have them sold before I could come up with an answer!

Jim

 

[stockman12]

SR thats the way it looks to me. We have those that tell us they breed black so they can make money, if they are just interested in making money this would be the opportunity.

The only reason I can not see them jumping on this opportunity is they don't have the feed or they aren't really interested in making money they are really interested in following the crowd.