Feeder Steer/Heifer prices plunging....?
- Thread starter OklaBrangusBreeder
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
Stocker Steve
Well-known member
Sold our yearling steers this week. Market was better than I expected. Our top was $1.44 for some 757# blacks. Overall average was $1.36 for 811#.
Light calves went for almost the same $ per cwt. so the current value of gain is high. Quick calculation came to $1.18/lb...
Some calf producers are talking about back grounding theirs on "hay", but that seems to only get you to 0.5 to 1.0 lb/day in winter, and our local hay prices are going up. On the way to the auction barn I passed by a 4 semi convoy of Iowa trucks loaded with round bales.
Light calves went for almost the same $ per cwt. so the current value of gain is high. Quick calculation came to $1.18/lb...
Some calf producers are talking about back grounding theirs on "hay", but that seems to only get you to 0.5 to 1.0 lb/day in winter, and our local hay prices are going up. On the way to the auction barn I passed by a 4 semi convoy of Iowa trucks loaded with round bales.
I was reading in one of our state farm papers(the Agriview) in the market column of the livestock section where the columnist was making the comparison between housing and the auto industry in 07/08 and the beef industry in 12/13. Some scary stuff. I know my cows and heifer calves will be eating lots of corn stalks and 1st and 2nd crop reed canary grass marsh hay this winter.
Stocker Steve
Well-known member
Could be worse. Diary heifers have been cheaper than beef heifers here for the last year.
