Breeding cattle prices

[ClinchValley86]

What kind of prices are yall seeing for heifers, breds, and pairs?

Been hearing of pairs going for $3k to $4k, nothing fancy.

1000 # heifers bringing around $1,900 at local barns.

Seeing commercial bred heifers listed around $3000.

Curious what yall are seeing.

 

[kenny thomas]

Sure have been high here. But slaughter cows are down some so that effects the bigger cows a little. We have a special sale Thursday so i will see what happens. I need about 10.

 

[Lucky]

A good bred cow is going to cost at least $2k here. Bred Heifers are all over the place as usual. Last set of nice Brangus bred heifers I priced were $2,900. Good breeding size Heifers seem to be a dime to fifteen cents over salebarn prices. I've never done it before but if we have allot of opens this year we might buy one and dones as replacements this year. I feel like we've been In the high calf prices long enough that the "high" is about to wear off.

 

[Warren Allison]

I have seen pairs that high at some registered cattle production sales. Not much over $3k for commercial beef pairs. Only commercial pairs that high are Brahma, then f1 Brahma crosses, like Herf/Brahma f1s.

What has absolutely flabbergasted me, is the prices Corriente cows and pairs are bringing now. We decided to double the amount of cows we run in September, and I was irked at what people wanted for solid colored ones. I had to pay $650-$750 for them back then, mostly cherry picking the ones that were open or that had black calves, or that were bred to a homo black bull. For a while, I could buy all reds and blacks for $650-$750, and sell the reds to my Wagyu guy for $1375, so I would end up with anywhere from $0 - to $150 or so in the blacks I kept. But after about 70, Wagyu guy said he had all he needed for now. Back then I didn't want anything to do with some of the more western cows that had Char calves, or were bred to Chars. Didn't want to waste a year calving, and/or raising, then trying to sell those off-colored calves. I wish I had bought them now, especially since Mike said he'd buy them for his home-raised beef thing his wife has going. But starting in October, people went nuts over Corrs! Rare to find a solid-colored open heifer or cow now for less than $1000. Breds will be between $1000 and $1300, and pairs are now up to $1700, even with Herford or Char calves! I think I have talked about them way too much, and too many people listened! So, I am about to do a conscious - clearing confession, here! Listen up, people: Do NOT buy Corrientes cows to breed to black bulls! I have been less than truthful about what those calves will bring! You will lose your butt!! We have been doing it mainly so we'd have an operation that could consistently lose money to off-set other income! I feel so bad about my deception these past 4 years or so. So, any of you that have been buying up those Corriente cows, because of the things I have posted, I will buy them from you for $600.00!!

 

[Hereford2]

I saw on Craigslist in Missouri, someone selling a whole herd of cor with some longhorns in the bunch, for $650/$750 a piece, don't know if they're still available or not?

 

[ClinchValley86]

Sure have been high here. But slaughter cows are down some so that effects the bigger cows a little. We have a special sale Thursday so i will see what happens. I need about 10.

may try and come visit with ya

 

[ClinchValley86]

I have been looking for breeding animals to jump for a year to two now.

I recall my Papaw getting $3,450 for a black pair when he sold out in 2014 ish. Pretty sure he got over $3k for every single pair.

With inflation and inputs and all that we should see $5k pairs to be comparable to high prices from a decade ago, no?

 

[coachg]

 

[Dave]

A couple weeks ago there was a dispersal of a registered herd about 120 head of mostly younger cows. They sold for $3,000 to $2,400. Most sales you can buy pretty good solid mouth cows bred to calf in Feb-Mar for $1,900 - $2,300. In the last few weeks I have bought 32 one and done cows for a $1,370 average. No old ancient cows. All bred for Feb-Mar calves. About a 1,200 pound average. No real thin cows or real fat ones. I do buy cows a little to the thinner side with a good frame and room to add some pounds. But that is part of what makes money on this deal is adding some weight to the cows.

 

[bird dog]

A couple weeks ago there was a dispersal of a registered herd about 120 head of mostly younger cows. They sold for $3,000 to $2,400. Most sales you can buy pretty good solid mouth cows bred to calf in Feb-Mar for $1,900 - $2,300. In the last few weeks I have bought 32 one and done cows for a $1,370 average. No old ancient cows. All bred for Feb-Mar calves. About a 1,200 pound average. No real thin cows or real fat ones. I do buy cows a little to the thinner side with a good frame and room to add some pounds. But that is part of what makes money on this deal is adding some weight to the cows.

I wish we had that kind of supply here. So many older cows have left the country you are lucky to find 3 or 4 at a time. To many of the short solids in decent shape are bringing $1800.

 

[Dave]

I wish we had that kind of supply here. So many older cows have left the country you are lucky to find 3 or 4 at a time. To many of the short solids in decent shape are bringing $1800.

I find that the bred cow specials like the one with the registered herd dispersal brings out a lot more people looking for bred cows. They drive the price up. At that dispersal sale I saw a pen of 9 broken mouth cows (not part of the dispersal) sell for $1,900. Too rich for my blood. I find more good buys at the end of a 2,000-3,000 head feeder calf sale. By then it is me and the kill cow buyers. Everyone else has gone home.

 

[Brute 23]

2-3 calves was always the general number

 

[SBMF 2015]

I've felt like breds and fall pairs have been softer than they should.
I watched some really nice front pasture type 3 yr old angus 3rd stage, bred blk bring 2,6-2,800 Saturday. That's not enough considering what fdr hfrs are worth.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

I have seen pairs that high at some registered cattle production sales. Not much over $3k for commercial beef pairs. Only commercial pairs that high are Brahma, then f1 Brahma crosses, like Herf/Brahma f1s.

What has absolutely flabbergasted me, is the prices Corriente cows and pairs are bringing now. We decided to double the amount of cows we run in September, and I was irked at what people wanted for solid colored ones. I had to pay $650-$750 for them back then, mostly cherry picking the ones that were open or that had black calves, or that were bred to a homo black bull. For a while, I could buy all reds and blacks for $650-$750, and sell the reds to my Wagyu guy for $1375, so I would end up with anywhere from $0 - to $150 or so in the blacks I kept. But after about 70, Wagyu guy said he had all he needed for now. Back then I didn't want anything to do with some of the more western cows that had Char calves, or were bred to Chars. Didn't want to waste a year calving, and/or raising, then trying to sell those off-colored calves. I wish I had bought them now, especially since Mike said he'd buy them for his home-raised beef thing his wife has going. But starting in October, people went nuts over Corrs! Rare to find a solid-colored open heifer or cow now for less than $1000. Breds will be between $1000 and $1300, and pairs are now up to $1700, even with Herford or Char calves! I think I have talked about them way too much, and too many people listened! So, I am about to do a conscious - clearing confession, here! Listen up, people: Do NOT buy Corrientes cows to breed to black bulls! I have been less than truthful about what those calves will bring! You will lose your butt!! We have been doing it mainly so we'd have an operation that could consistently lose money to off-set other income! I feel so bad about my deception these past 4 years or so. So, any of you that have been buying up those Corriente cows, because of the things I have posted, I will buy them from you for $600.00!!

Nice try Warren.

 

[ClinchValley86]

A couple weeks ago there was a dispersal of a registered herd about 120 head of mostly younger cows. They sold for $3,000 to $2,400. Most sales you can buy pretty good solid mouth cows bred to calf in Feb-Mar for $1,900 - $2,300. In the last few weeks I have bought 32 one and done cows for a $1,370 average. No old ancient cows. All bred for Feb-Mar calves. About a 1,200 pound average. No real thin cows or real fat ones. I do buy cows a little to the thinner side with a good frame and room to add some pounds. But that is part of what makes money on this deal is adding some weight to the cows.

I'm going to try that this winter on a handful then turn them into beef afterward.

 

[coachg]

View attachment 51390

Better quality cattle than I've seen at that state sale . It's been a few years since I've attended. I thought the prices were good not great for registered cattle. My only observation was the finish on most of them . If I had brought them home and put them on what little grass we have and hay they would have gone down like the titanic.

 

[Warren Allison]

I just saw a dude from Oklahoma on a Corriente forum, ISO 400 bred Corrs. He said he wanted solids, red and black, cows. Wanted to keep it at $2k or below! Reading on, he said he'd consider a few paint or spotted, and maybe some bred heifers, if the price was right! If wasn't for our obligation with Scott, I would email the guy and tell him I had 400...325 to 350 of them black..... and the others would be solid red.... all bred to top of the line Brangus bulls.... guaranteed black and polled calves,... for $2500. That's ONE MILLION DOLLARS, folks! Biut surely, the dude isn't that dumb. I might email him anyway to just to see what he'd say. But, I'd be in a mess if he said OK!! One thing about it, I won't ever find any at the price I need from anyone on that forum any time soon!

 

[gman4691]

Just bought 2 red angus cows (3 yrs. old) bred to calve about Feb.-March; 1 black angus x beef master cross cow (5 yrs. old) also bred to calve Feb.-March…average cost $2k each…purchased from Rutherford Land & Cattle in Fairfield, Texas…paid $360 to have delivered to me in Nacogdoches today (approx. 90 miles x $4.00/mile).

 

[CowboyRam]

I normally buy three or four year old march bred cows, but because they are so high this year I am thinking of buying either solid mouth or broken mouth cows. Breeding them back next summer and selling them next winter after I wean the calves.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Just bought 2 red angus cows (3 yrs. old) bred to calve about Feb.-March; 1 black angus x beef master cross cow (5 yrs. old) also bred to calve Feb.-March…average cost $2k each…purchased from Rutherford Land & Cattle in Fairfield, Texas…paid $360 to have delivered to me in Nacogdoches today (approx. 90 miles x $4.00/mile).

good buy! I've seen some of his stuff on social media. Seems like he might be a good feller.

I say we better get em before they get too high.