First bull sale

[Sd1030]

Well i was able to go watch my first registered angus bull sale today in gretna va. I found it to be pretty interesting to watch and i feel i learned some stuff. Im planning on going to another one at knoll crest farms in dec.Was any other ct members at the one in gretna by chance today?

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

My first sale was in late March 2012 and I remember it like it was yesterday.

 

[Sd1030]

I had a good time and found it to be a good learning experience. I learned i aint got deep enough pockets, no seriously i did learn some stuff.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I learned a ton. Of course I still have lots more to learn.

 

[Toad]

I didn't realize there was one down there this weekend. What were the average prices?

 

[Sd1030]

Tt i still have alot to learn as well. Toad i didnt stay for the entire sale but what i did see it seemed the avg was around $6k. One bull sold for 10k, most of these were yearling bulls with a few two year olds. I think it was round 80 bulls in sale and according to them only one had been used as cleanup bull on heifers this spring. The bulls came from Shelton Angus, Dogwood Angus and Locust Level Farms. Shelton and Locust Level actually own two bulls that are in Select Sires.

 

[Toad]

It would be hard for me to justify $6,000 for a bull unless I was able to breed him to more than 50 or 60 cows a year. I've got a local guy where I can buy decent pb angus 2 year olds for $3,000. I may try one of his if I decide to buy a new bull next year.

 

[james coffelt]

The bull is the whole breeding program, and is the last place to skimp.

However, there are many ways to keep bull costs down:

I friend and I have a deal, provided I pick the bulls, we swap his bull for 1 of mine, every 2 years. His bull costs are a one time event

A bulls might be shared between spring and fall calving herds.

A bull can be shared between early and later spring herds.

We leased bulls last year, for $750 per month, to a ranch in Texas.

etc.

 

[skyhightree1]

Glad you had fun and learned something... Be sure to let me use that 10k bull you bought this spring.

 

[jltrent]

The way cattle prices are these high dollar bulls are looking more expensive everyday.

 

[skyhightree1]

The way cattle prices are these high dollar bulls are looking more expensive everyday.

isn't that the truth... and AI is looking better and better

 

[Sd1030]

Funny sky id send him your way just one problem, i didnt buy him lol.

 

[skyhightree1]

Funny sky id send him your way just one problem, i didnt buy him lol.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[james coffelt]

Glad you had fun and learned something... Be sure to let me use that 10k bull you bought this spring.

Not sure what you are referring to;

We bought 2 bulls this year, one for $7500, one for $14K, both top bulls.

Bulls are the breeding program.

 

[james coffelt]

The way cattle prices are these high dollar bulls are looking more expensive everyday.

isn't that the truth... and AI is looking better and better

I herd an analogy which I like, AI is like a dating service: Great pictures, nothing more.

Bulls here need to perform, winter, stay in flesh, cover cows, get the job done.

Nothing pretend.

 

[skyhightree1]

hey since you like telling what you pay for bulls... tell me how much that high horse you are riding on cost... thanks for the bull lesson ... stupid me... I'd also like for you to realize SD is a friend of mine and I was joking with him... so take the stick out your azz... oh yea have a good day to :tiphat:

 

[james coffelt]

I somehow got lost here.

I thought we were discussing cattle, with people with intelligence.

My Mistake.

 

[TexasBred]

The way cattle prices are these high dollar bulls are looking more expensive everyday.

isn't that the truth... and AI is looking better and better

I herd an analogy which I like, AI is like a dating service: Great pictures, nothing more.

Bulls here need to perform, winter, stay in flesh, cover cows, get the job done.

Nothing pretend.

Actually AI gives me the ability to use bulls just as good or better than yours (could care less about the pictures) without a huge investment and not have to worry about feeding or burying them

 

[Sd1030]

Ill second that TB, seems to be the most cost effective way for a small scale guy like me to improve herd genetics.

 

[Ebenezer]

Glad you had fun and learned something... Be sure to let me use that 10k bull you bought this spring.

Not sure what you are referring to;

We bought 2 bulls this year, one for $7500, one for $14K, both top bulls.

Bulls are the breeding program.

These are unproven bulls. Many AI bulls are proven or the duds have been culled after the first few calf crops. It these bulls were top bulls in another environment there is no way to be sure that they will work that way in your environment. When prices are that high there must be a shortage of bulls from the sources that meet sale criteria. If most of the contemporaries were culled then the total breeding program has more failures than successes.