Calf prices comparison

[coachg]

Sold 38 last year for almost tha same money as we have sold 29 for this year . Not complaining just amazed prices have continued to go up !

 

[MurraysMutts]

And just getting higher! Wait til spring. I watched 2 babies bring 975 today each!

 

[Dave]

And just getting higher! Wait til spring. I watched 2 babies bring 975 today each!

Yesterday they had 3 bottle calves. $1.150

 

[Lucky]

I saw a 190# calf bring $7.90 at the sale yesterday. I wish them luck! Bred cows were out of sight too

 

[Down in Dixie]

I watched 200 lb calves sell for over $7 a lb last week. I was hoping to get one to graft onto a cow but not for those prices.

 

[Dave]

Only one bred cow today who would calf in my time window. A 1,350 lb smooth mouth Angus cow bred 8 months sold for $3,350. More than I would pay. I never even wiggled. When it starts getting real crazy, start looking for the crash.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Yes.
Old cows 6 mo plus bred over 3000 was normal today.
It's crazy times for sure

 

[Lucky]

Old heavy breds were $3k+ here as well. An 800# open brangus heifer brought $3,350. What's surprising me is it's as dry here as I've seen it in at least 10 yrs and people are still holding on and buying. We are planning on selling our yearlings early because of this drought. The good deal is I've probably fed 40% less hay this year. The cows are actually eating the stockpiled grass that normally has no value after mid December. That and I haven't missed the sticky black mud.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Im needing to get a couple more for late spring appointments. Looked up heavy steers yesterday and aboud pooped myself. In east tn, 1050 pound steer brought 3.09.

Looks like im in the market for some young cull cows/heiferettes to beef. Otherwise, im going to have to charge $6.50 hanging. Hell, may have to, yet. I can definitely see why many people have cancelled their processing appointments.

I think the dollar is crashing. Look at gold and silver. They've jumped in dollar value similarly to how cattle have in the last few years. Cant help but wonder.

 

[SmokinM]

I saw where they upped fat cattle to $2.40 yesterday. That puts 1475# fats at about $3500 a head. Grain is cheap so I guess if the math is mathing for the big guys we will be ok for a bit.

 

[Dave]

I was talking to a man who works for a feedlot and has cattle of his own on feed there. He told me the cost per pound of gain. I don't remember the number but it was well under $1 per pound. And the cost is much lower in the corn belt.

 

[gcreekrch]

1025 lb grass steers for August to October deliveries pushing $5000 Can $ Grass heifers $400 back of that.

 

[Travlr]

I saw a 190# calf bring $7.90 at the sale yesterday. I wish them luck! Bred cows were out of sight too

At that kind of price you have start wondering if buying old cows, calving them out, and selling that calf and cow immediately would make sense.

 

[Travlr]

I think the dollar is crashing. Look at gold and silver. They've jumped in dollar value similarly to how cattle have in the last few years. Cant help but wonder.

It's crossed my mind that with the sudden interest in crypto currency by people in the government, they might not care much about inflation at all. Especially if they are planning on a bankruptcy and making paper money worthless, and only having electronic funds in the future. It sure would be easy to control a population with all funds controlled electronically...

 

[Lucky]

At that kind of price you have start wondering if buying old cows, calving them out, and selling that calf and cow immediately would make sense.

Broke mouth third trimester cows were pushing $3k. The one and done deal would be tough. We're looking at paying $3,650 for 3-6 yo heavy bred blacks right now. Might find some for $100-150 hd cheaper if you had time to sit through every sale within 200 miles for a few weeks.

This market might not hold but I doubt there will be any serious herd rebuilding anytime soon. It's funny how people with money want cows and people with cows want money.

 

[MurraysMutts]

At that kind of price you have start wondering if buying old cows, calving them out, and selling that calf and cow immediately would make sense.

I've been watching that exact scenario. Gotta be real careful what ya buy. A 7 mo bred corriente type is worth a bunch. But once she's open, she's super cheap. That scenario don't work. Same with thin old cow.

Big fat good condition cows MIGHT work. But it'd be awful tight. Because they bring so much more initially. Best to let em raise it and re-sell after 6 or 8 months

 

[Travlr]

I've been watching that exact scenario. Gotta be real careful what ya buy. A 7 mo bred corriente type is worth a bunch. But once she's open, she's super cheap. That scenario don't work. Same with thin old cow.

Big fat good condition cows MIGHT work. But it'd be awful tight. Because they bring so much more initially. Best to let em raise it and re-sell after 6 or 8 months

Yeah, I was thinking especially of the fats. If you can get them ready to pop and get a calf within a month or six weeks and keep the money churning it might work on a small scale. But it all depends on the market holding and that's always chancy.

 

[Dave]

This week I have seen one and done bred cows sell for $3,000 - $3,350. That will pencil buy not by much. It doesn't leave room market drop off of just a little. Or losing a calf. Or any of the little things which can affect the bottom line.
I saw some painted up longhorn/Angos cross cows with 150-200 lb Char calves and short bred back sell for $4,300.

 

[MurraysMutts]

On a 10 or 20 head operation, losing 1 cow and one calf at 3000 to 3500 will just about make ya sick!

 

[angus9259]

I've been wanting to retain a few heifers, but for what I'm being offered for them, retaining them seems insane.

Day old black calves (mostly off dairy farms using angus bulls) here are crowding $1800.