Just my 2 cents. I think the price per pound was pretty good, and yes they were a little light. Don't know what the feed/grazing/hay situation was for last year. Like you said, they are gone so go from here. Prices here in Va are in the 1.25 to 1.40/lb for 3-4 wts.
Don't know the grazing conditions there or what you figure the average carrying capacity of the land. Here it is 1-2 acres per c/cf pair in a NORMAL growing season. Rain at regular intervals etc....all summer. If you have approx 60 acres fenced and it hasn't been grazed or anything they ought to have a decent first year of cleaning it up and picking unless there is alot of brush/woods/trees. I think they will be able to put on some weight and grow some. Are they already bred back for fall calves this year? Is it better to calve in the fall with less flies/heat etc, there?
I prefer spring calving 1st calf heifers here so they get the advantage of the growing/grass season. But did calve out 8 1st calf heifers last fall, they will be preg chkd this week and calves weaned to give them about 90-120 days dry to grow a little bit extra before fall calving. I will try to remember to note the calf weights but look like they will run in the 450-550 lb size. Calves were born in Sept so will be about 8 months. They weighed 70 lbs avg. when born from our very easing calving bull. I like the small calves; they pop them out, they are up and at 'em and no stress. We had an easy winter but hay quality wasn't top notch due to a late first cutting last year from delayed haying/wet may-june. The calves got a little feed, but only 1-2 lbs per head about 3 times a week to teach them to come into the catch pen through the creep gate. It makes it so easy to work them if they are used to coming in and don't get stressed. So they get a little "treat" for coming in and are used to me being there. But no, they don't have a creep feeder so growth is 98% momma's milk and grass/hay.
Minerals are VERY important. We try to keep a loose mineral mix in front of them and have a TM salt block in the mineral feeder so they don't go to spilling it all out. Have a couple that don't like the loose mineral so at least they are getting some benefit from the red salt block. Did not use supplement protein tubs this past year and I think they would have a little better condition if I had. Will see how the preg chk goes; hopefully they will all be bred but think there is 1 that might not be, her condition isn't as good as the rest.
We try to leave calves on for 6-9 months, but will wean/sell according to conditions/market demand etc. I will pull calves off heifers a little sooner than off cows so they can get a little longer break and grow and put back on condition before calving again.
I think once you get them on your land, get a feel for the carrying capacity and make improvements to the pasture so it is good grass, that you will be able to make the payment. Sounds like you have the handling facilities so I think you are doing good so far. If you can get them to wean off the calves a little bigger, and 2nd calf should be better, then 400 lbs @ 1.50 lb would be $600 a calf x 10 calves plus the hunting lease will make your payment. If you allow for expenses, vaccinations, a vet call or 2, maybe a lost calf, and unforseen things, you still ought to break even, on the yearly payments. The land should accrue in value, it is an investment in your future. Interest rate is very good, and if possible, maybe add a little more to the payment and cut a few years off it and save some interest money....or buy a few more head; not expensive ones, and let the low interest rate give you some more money to build a cushion on good years. Maybe you will find that these girls will not all make the grade and you can either decide to keep back say 2-3 heifers a year for replacements, or buy a few if the prices are more favorable to sell calves and buy breds.
Right now, here it is much more sensible to sell the calves for $5-600 per head and buy breds that are averaging only $800-1,000 head. Unless the cow dies, and sometimes they do, you can have another calf to sell in 8 months and still have a cow that is bred again or at least will bring salvage value of 500 or so. Rather than raise up a heifer that will take 2+ more years to get a calf to sell.