Are prices going down

[tmaygspeara]

well, sorry for the story sounding strange, but its the god honest truth. Everyone after the auction was stunned and confused. even after the auction was over and everyone had recieved their check, people were outside till about 9pm comparing checks. Usually people will never let you know how much their cattle sold for, but tuesday was an exception. people i never meet were venting and asking to compare check stubs. I have never seen .30 a pound on my check. i thought it was a typo and i ask the cashier lady who gives out check was their a mistake. I referenced my numbers and i wondered if they might have had a mixup, but .30 cents a pound what it was. Also my buddy had .30 cents on his check for his 1000lbs heifers, he recieced $300 per cow. I wouldnt post a lie on this board just to cause confusion, i only posted this to see if there was a problem with the industry this time of year

 

[Brandonm2]

well, sorry for the story sounding strange, but its the god honest truth. Everyone after the auction was stunned and confused. even after the auction was over and everyone had recieved their check, people were outside till about 9pm comparing checks. Usually people will never let you know how much their cattle sold for, but tuesday was an exception. people i never meet were venting and asking to compare check stubs. I have never seen .30 a pound on my check. i thought it was a typo and i ask the cashier lady who gives out check was their a mistake. I referenced my numbers and i wondered if they might have had a mixup, but .30 cents a pound what it was. Also my buddy had .30 cents on his check for his 1000lbs heifers, he recieced $300 per cow. I wouldnt post a lie on this board just to cause confusion, i only posted this to see if there was a problem with the industry this time of year

It sounds like your sale barn is a dink auction that no order buyers attend any more. You probably lose 5-8 cents a lb every week but just don't notice it. This week the big buyer (often the stockyard themselves) wasn't buying so prices took a big hit. I dropped off an old Herf bull at a sale once and got a $334 check in the mail (he was worth ~$800 then). Needless to say that was the last animal they got from me and 9 months later their barn was being auctioned off. Somebody probably bought those calves at 30 cents a pound and drove them to another stockyard and got 90 cents and was laughing himself silly. I suggest you find another bigger sale barn. Longhorns bring a lot more than 30 cents. IF we had had half that kind of price drop off nationally that is ALL anybody would be talking about.

 

[Driven]

Longhorns bring a lot more than 30 cents.

Yep. $115 for 7 weights Tuesday. LH are up. Your favorites were a bit cheaper. Must be location, location and location. Hilton finally learned that.

 

[stocky]

Tmagspeara, I am sorry for you and the others who sold for those prices. Someone made a pile of money by taking those calves and reselling them. One good clue as to what kind of price protection the auction has is whether or not the auction company is buying the cattle at the set in price if there is no bid. If the auction company buys the cattle instead of backing up the price, at least they are reputable enough to not let the cattle get stolen. If they keep backing up the price until they get a bid, as a seller, stay as far away from that barn as you can. As a buyer, never miss one of their sales. It is an expensive lesson, but once again the lesson is learned "never take an animal to an auction that you are not prepared to bring back home". If you follow that rule, you will never be complaining about people taking advantage of you.

 

[Howdyjabo]

Our local barn will buy calves that go below market. It safguards their future- and they don't loose money by doing it.
More farmers feel comfortable knowing they will get at least market price; so theres always lots of calves there; so theres always lots of buyers there. Its a good stabalizng strategy.

With The cows they will if its really below market- its harder to group and turn them for an easy profit.

 

[Legacy38464]

I have to agree with some of the others I would have No-saled them and took a much smaller lump. We have been selling heifers at 6-700# and recieving a minimum $.85-$.90.(mostly blacks are selling closer to the dollar mark) I would be out of business shortly at those prices with tons of beef in the freezer. I hate that all those people were ripped a new one. Sounds as if maybe the barn was a little on the squirrely side ;-)

 

[tmaygspeara]

here are the numbers i got off the internet from the cattle association from the auction i attended

Tylertown, MS Tuesday, November 06 2007

CATTLE: 1037 as compared to 889 last week; Slaughter Cows Steady;
Bulls Steady; Feeder Steers Steady; Feeder Heifers Steady.

Supply Feeders under 600 lbs 72%; over 600 lbs 2%; Slaughter Cows
12%; Pairs/Replacements 14%. (Steers 55%; Heifers 45%).

SLAUGHTER
Cows Percent Lean
Breakers 70-80% 850-1200 lbs $42.50 - $44.00
Boners 80-85% 850-1200 lbs $42.00 - $47.00
Boners 80-85 High Yield over lbs $47.50 - $48.50
Lean 85-90% 850-1200 lbs $40.00 - $46.50
Lean 85-90% 750-850 lbs $33.00 - $39.50
Lean 85-90% under lbs $18.00 - $32.50

SLAUGHTER BULLS: Yield grade 1-2 1000-1500 lbs 47-50; 1500-2000 lbs 47-61.

FEEDER STEERS: Medium & Large 1-2 200-300 lbs 130-140; 300-400
lbs 123-134; 400-500 lbs 110-120; 500-600 lbs 95-106.

Medium & Small 1-2 200-300 lbs 100-120; 300-400 lbs 90-110.

Medium & Large 3 200-300 lbs 122-130; 300-400 lbs 112-123; 400-500
lbs 100-110; 500-600 lbs 84-94.

FEEDER HEIFERS: Medium & Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 100-107; 400-500
lbs 99-105; 500-600 lbs 87-96.

Medium & Small 1-2 200-300 lbs 90-102.

Medium & Large 3 200-300 lbs 110-120; 300-400 lbs 89-100; 400-500 lbs
85-93; 500-600 lbs 75-84.

COW/CALFS PAIRS: Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs)
900-1100 Lbs with 75-250 Lbs Calf 700-900;
Small & Medium 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs) 800-1000 Lbs with 75-250
Lbs Calf 530-680.


REPLACEMENT & FEEDER COWS: Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Young
(2-4 yrs) 900-1200 Lbs bred 2-7 months 730-925;
Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs) 900-1350 Lbs bred 2-7
months 800-1125;
Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Aged (over 8 yrs) 850-1150 Lbs bred 3-7
months 500-710.


Source Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce - USDA Market News Service
Jackson, MS Michael Lasseter, Market Reporter, (601) 359-1159

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/jk_LS148

0900c ml

 

[tmaygspeara]

also some of you were saying how you would have not sold them. Is it possible for you to change your mind about selling after you get your check

 

[stocky]

Tmay, No, you may not change your mind after you get your check. There are basically 3 ways to do this.
1. You set a minimum price when you check the calves in and get it recorded on your check in slip. If they do not bring that, they do not sell.
2. After they say "sold" and before the animals leave the ring, you call out "No Sale". They will mark them not sold and back to you and you pay 1-2 dollars per animal no sale fee.
3. The way to do it without anyone knowing you didnt sell them is to simply bid on them yourself up to the point where you will let them go. If they do not bring your price, you bought them back and in the office they count them as a no sale. Some on the board disagree with this, so that is a consideration.

 

[Green Creek]

If they published those prices as legitimate for the same sale you attended, something is really out of whack here. I think I would get the law involved on this one. Call the state attorney general's office and the Department of Agriculture and complain, loudly.

 

[KenB]

here are the numbers i got off the internet from the cattle association from the auction i attended

Tylertown, MS Tuesday, November 06 2007

CATTLE: 1037 as compared to 889 last week; Slaughter Cows Steady;
Bulls Steady; Feeder Steers Steady; Feeder Heifers Steady.

Supply Feeders under 600 lbs 72%; over 600 lbs 2%; Slaughter Cows
12%; Pairs/Replacements 14%. (Steers 55%; Heifers 45%).

SLAUGHTER
Cows Percent Lean
Breakers 70-80% 850-1200 lbs $42.50 - $44.00
Boners 80-85% 850-1200 lbs $42.00 - $47.00
Boners 80-85 High Yield over lbs $47.50 - $48.50
Lean 85-90% 850-1200 lbs $40.00 - $46.50
Lean 85-90% 750-850 lbs $33.00 - $39.50
Lean 85-90% under lbs $18.00 - $32.50

SLAUGHTER BULLS: Yield grade 1-2 1000-1500 lbs 47-50; 1500-2000 lbs 47-61.

FEEDER STEERS: Medium & Large 1-2 200-300 lbs 130-140; 300-400
lbs 123-134; 400-500 lbs 110-120; 500-600 lbs 95-106.

Medium & Small 1-2 200-300 lbs 100-120; 300-400 lbs 90-110.

Medium & Large 3 200-300 lbs 122-130; 300-400 lbs 112-123; 400-500
lbs 100-110; 500-600 lbs 84-94.

FEEDER HEIFERS: Medium & Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 100-107; 400-500
lbs 99-105; 500-600 lbs 87-96.

Medium & Small 1-2 200-300 lbs 90-102.

Medium & Large 3 200-300 lbs 110-120; 300-400 lbs 89-100; 400-500 lbs
85-93; 500-600 lbs 75-84.

COW/CALFS PAIRS: Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs)
900-1100 Lbs with 75-250 Lbs Calf 700-900;
Small & Medium 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs) 800-1000 Lbs with 75-250
Lbs Calf 530-680.


REPLACEMENT & FEEDER COWS: Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Young
(2-4 yrs) 900-1200 Lbs bred 2-7 months 730-925;
Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Middle Aged (4-8 yrs) 900-1350 Lbs bred 2-7
months 800-1125;
Medium & Large 1-2 Cows Aged (over 8 yrs) 850-1150 Lbs bred 3-7
months 500-710.


Source Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce - USDA Market News Service
Jackson, MS Michael Lasseter, Market Reporter, (601) 359-1159

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/jk_LS148

0900c ml

:roll: I don't see any $.30 per pound listed?

 

[tmaygspeara]

so that let me know auction posts bogus numbers, but i know what i got.

are these number i posted kind of low, also what does these figures mean

SLAUGHTER
Cows Percent Lean
Breakers 70-80% 850-1200 lbs $42.50 - $44.00
Boners 80-85% 850-1200 lbs $42.00 - $47.00
Boners 80-85 High Yield over lbs $47.50 - $48.50
Lean 85-90% 850-1200 lbs $40.00 - $46.50
Lean 85-90% 750-850 lbs $33.00 - $39.50
Lean 85-90% under lbs $18.00 - $32.50

SLAUGHTER BULLS: Yield grade 1-2 1000-1500 lbs 47-50; 1500-2000 lbs 47-61

 

[twabscs]

The only $0.30 possibility is in this line:

Lean 85-90% under lbs $18.00 - $32.50

But this is for super skinny slaughter cows. Don't see how someone could mistake a 700 lb heifer for a slaughter cow?

You got any pictures of these "heifers?" I know you're in a bit of a drought area, were they real skinny?

 

[Howdyjabo]

If they sold at the end of the sale(might also explain the lowball if buyers had to leave early) the reporter may have already left.So the low balls didn't get reported- and nothing shady went on.

Are you in the drought area?
We are seeing in our area that when the buyers leave or loose interest theres not the local demand to hold the price up-- no one has extra grass.

At .30 for a healthy sound calf- I'd be talking to the yard about making it righter or loose my business. Least they might not let someone steal anothers calf next time. They at least should have taken the initiative and bought it- and gave you the option to no sell it latter.
Thats just bad business.

 

[tmaygspeara]

ok question. so how would a person know what auction to take their cows to to get best price, or how to know when it is the best time to sale at that auction. I dont think i can trust the figures they post and then get taken again so how can i prevent this from happening again

 

[stocky]

The market reports are only good for general trends. They are always shaded toward certain things to make them look good. Do not try to draw any reference from the prices quoted toward what yours might bring. I would develop friendship with a cattle farmer who sells alot of cattle and get his advice. Anyone who does consistently well at an auction, has someone inside helping them--meaning to get the cattle in at a good time and get the proper attention to them. The farmer you get to know will probably tell you who to ask for or who to send your cattle to when you check them in. That will give you a good chance. Just make friends and ask questions and ask them how they have consistent success. Large sellers will be able to help you with the inside help.

 

[Crowderfarms]

ok question. so how would a person know what auction to take their cows to to get best price, or how to know when it is the best time to sale at that auction. I dont think i can trust the figures they post and then get taken again so how can i prevent this from happening again

We have four Sale Barns within 25 miles of in every direction. One of them most fellers avoid, but the other 3 are fairly close in sales results.

 

[twabscs]

Different barns work differently. Up here in NW Missouri, some barns have the concept of a "commission company" that works for and represents your cattle during the sale. The St Joe barn has five commission companies, and you have a specific person to work with and are really your "advocate" when it comes to selling your cattle. They have specific pens and are responsible for feeding and watering your cattle, etc. If you have any issues, you have a single point of contact for getting any issues resolved.

 

[Brandonm2]

You have got to learn how to read these reports and this thing speaks volumes

"FEEDER HEIFERS: Medium & Large 1-2 300-400 lbs 100-107; 400-500
lbs 99-105; 500-600 lbs 87-96.

Medium & Small 1-2 200-300 lbs 90-102.

Medium & Large 3 200-300 lbs 110-120; 300-400 lbs 89-100; 400-500 lbs
85-93; 500-600 lbs 75-84."

WHAT does this tell us???
You are trying to sell 7 weight heifers in a barn where there were not enough 6 weight heifers to even report a price.

And then there is this
"Feeders under 600 lbs 72%; over 600 lbs 2%;"

Do the math. There are 889 head at the sale so there was only 18 head of calves that topped 6 weight.

I bet you they NEVER have more than a dozen seven weight heifers at this sale, therefore an order buyer who's business is buying seven weight heifers is highly unlikely to ever attend this sale and IF he did he walked through the barns twice got a sandwich at the cafe and headed to the house. There aren't enough animals there in that weight class for him to sit there and wait 5-8 hours for. Your heifers didn't have any buyers. The stockyard scr*wed you by letting them go for canner prices (and I would never forgive or forget); but NEVER grow them TOO big for your auction (and I have been burned like this before....just NOT THAT BAAADD). This is why you scout a sale 2-3 weeks in advance. You don't care what the classes you aren't selling are bringing...just what your classes are bringing.

Another thing.....I know a lot of this is THE drought; but the fact that everybody who uses this sale barn is selling sub 600 pound calves (IN NOVEMBER.....where a decent March 1 steer calf ought to weigh 650 lbs easily) tells me that your better cattle people are avoiding this sale.

 

[Howdyjabo]

I think Brandon got it figured out just right.