kenny thomas
Well-known member
Thats slaughter bulls
Calf prices
- Thread starter kenny thomas
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Thanks, Kenny
Those I talk to think the gap between weaned and unweaned will narrow as we get into fall. They said with the real hot days and cooler nights some were having more issues with sickness. As days cools they feel the sickness issues will decrease again. Also there have been good rains across a lot of the wheat areas in this region in the last ten days. They feel demand will increase. And supply will be limited. With the cost of fuel and fertilizer we are considering fertilizing the volunteer and grazing it. Will sell the big calves off the cows.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
We vaccinate in June and again in July, so our calves are fully vaccinated prior to weaning. We fenceline wean. Our calves never miss a beat. They are in a pasture that they grazed with their dam. Weaned 12 days and we loaded the steers today and delivered to the feedlot. $2.50# and they averaged 811#. Thats $2027.50 EACH.
Amazing. I'm making more money on the steers than the bull calves. Market was going up, so I raised the price to $1950 for weaned bull calves. Decent money for weanlings. Sold 6 ---5 were sold before they were born. People call and get on a list for next weaning.
Well, I will have to rethink my pricing for next calf crop.
Already have orders for 4.
Amazing. I'm making more money on the steers than the bull calves. Market was going up, so I raised the price to $1950 for weaned bull calves. Decent money for weanlings. Sold 6 ---5 were sold before they were born. People call and get on a list for next weaning.
Well, I will have to rethink my pricing for next calf crop.
Already have orders for 4.
Travlr
Well-known member
Yeah... considering what your animals look like (and I'm sure any documentation) you are selling too cheap in this market.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
I have never been in the market for bulls. Males are my "cash flow". I always kept 1-3 calves intact. If I didn't sell them shortly before weaning I (hubby, now nephew) would cut them. My feedlot buyer would take them right with the regular steers.
Simmental breed has exploded in popularity for commercial breeders, so demand has increased to the point where people finally figured out if they wanted to PICK their choice of bull calves, they put their name in the pot for the following year. I left 6 as bulls this year because I had orders for 4 (and an iffy 1 more). Sold all 6 and had 4 more I could have sold. GREAT for me!! ALL males are gone by October. Jan/Feb born steers and bulls, and last Sept/Oct born steers (fed out for 12-13 month old kill dates in October).
So even if I don't have many female sales, I always have a good income in the fall.
Simmental breed has exploded in popularity for commercial breeders, so demand has increased to the point where people finally figured out if they wanted to PICK their choice of bull calves, they put their name in the pot for the following year. I left 6 as bulls this year because I had orders for 4 (and an iffy 1 more). Sold all 6 and had 4 more I could have sold. GREAT for me!! ALL males are gone by October. Jan/Feb born steers and bulls, and last Sept/Oct born steers (fed out for 12-13 month old kill dates in October).
So even if I don't have many female sales, I always have a good income in the fall.
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Dang calves are still high, even tho they are down a little.
We don't get some rain, it's gonna get bad!
We do get some rain, it's gonna get crazy high again!
We don't get some rain, it's gonna get bad!
We do get some rain, it's gonna get crazy high again!
GoWyo
Well-known member
Sold calves today. 6 steers average 615# at $2.74, 5 steers average 532# at $3.15. Heifers we didn't keep for replacements went 583# at $2.57 (this was big end had some 600 pounders and replacement quality), 470# average at $2.50, 477# at $2.60, and the light end average 446# at $2.77. We were pretty happy with that. The bull crop and replacement heifer pen look really good. These were March and April calves
CowboyRam
Well-known member
Did you sell them in Torrington?
GoWyo
Well-known member
Yes. Sold bawlers. Weaned Saturday and Sunday and hauled Sunday afternoon after we weighed and sorted them. Fleshy calves were below $3.00 and more green and skinny calves were over $3.00. Weaned 45 days and fleshy at all doesn't pay, although the extra weight on the heavier end of the steers more than made up the difference. Saved a lot of hay this year and money be in the bank tomorrow.
Dave
Well-known member
They sold the bred cows and pairs first so I only watched the first ring load of calves sell today. 20 (?) Black steers weighing about 650 sold for $2.55. $1,657 a head isn't a bad ticket.
beefgirl
Well-known member
Sold a small group of calves last week. Steers averaged 509# at 2.60. Double round of shots poured and weaned 40+ days. Barn bought those. Bought some of my calves a year or two ago too so they must like them. Also sold a nice large framed bf heifer with attitude that weighed 570 for 2.45 a pound. Usually sell afterJanuary but not much hay around for sale so decided to sell early. Looks like prices are a bit higher in other areas.
Fort Payne Tuesday 
Calhoun last Thursday 
Silver
Well-known member
VJV Dawson Creek Tuesday, on 2953 head,
Dave
Well-known member
Today I sold calves off last year's class of BM cows. Too many late calves. They averaged weighing 451 if I subtract the 3 dinks and averaged selling for $2.72. Steers weighing 412 brought $3.10. And heifers weighing 418 sold for $2.90. That is the light end. Eight steers weighing 468 got $2.82. The 2 biggest steers weighed 575 brought $2.52. The 3 biggest heifers weighed in at 496 and sold for $2.46. 8 heifers weighed 458 and brought $2.82. I was happy. Expensive hay caused me to buy cows later to shorten feeding time. The result was too many April and even May calves which ended up smaller than normal. Hopefully I am correcting that problem.
Last edited:
MurraysMutts
Well-known member
Pretty sure ya come out ok!
What's wrong with selling younger calves if they make money like that?
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
This has not been a normal sale price year!
Heifers averaged $2.10/lb; steers averaged $2.24/lb; the three cows (1 barren, 1 old, & 1 crazy) 0.81/lb on average…not a bad pay day given the totality of the circumstances
