Flash in the Pan Calf Sales

[Stocker Steve]

Light calf market has been up and down again this year. Have been several periods where 4 wt. steers were bringing up to U$S 800. Buying late calvers could have been very profitable this spring if you have above average feed and some windbreaks.

Six weights steers have also been up and down. There was a recent period where they sold up to $1,000. Mine are consigned for next week.

Heifer calves have been the most variable. Steep discounts early, and a few weeks at year end where some 5 wt. heifers went for $750. I think someone is betting on a hot bred market next fall.

 

[mickroos65]

I believe your right on the heifer market here at the end of the year. Heifers going to be grown into cows.

 

[Dave]

The 4 weight steers never hit $800 here but they have consistently been $1.80-1.90. I got some 5 weight heifers for $700 and a little under in early October but they have been $750 ever since then. The only thing cheap here has been straight bred Hereford calves. Probably too cheap but that is more of a gamble at the other end than I want to take.

 

[gcreekrch]

The 4 weight steers never hit $800 here but they have consistently been $1.80-1.90. I got some 5 weight heifers for $700 and a little under in early October but they have been $750 ever since then. The only thing cheap here has been straight bred Hereford calves. Probably too cheap but that is more of a gamble at the other end than I want to take.

I didn’t put any calves in the feedlot this year but was planning on buying a bunch of Hereford calves in. The spread in price between 4 to 500 lbs and 800 lbs is a lot closer on them than non whiteface. The right ones will gain just as well albeit they get fleshy early.
The pen of Hereford steers I had last year did nearly 3 lbs per day and made us big money.

 

[Dave]

I didn’t put any calves in the feedlot this year but was planning on buying a bunch of Hereford calves in. The spread in price between 4 to 500 lbs and 800 lbs is a lot closer on them than non whiteface. The right ones will gain just as well albeit they get fleshy early.
The pen of Hereford steers I had last year did nearly 3 lbs per day and made us big money.

I agree with you that the right ones will grow good. The trouble here is that they just beat you up too much on the price. That is where the gamble comes in

 

[Stocker Steve]

There are a few Certified Hereford feeders around if you can come up with a pot load.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I agree with you that the right ones will grow good. The trouble here is that they just beat you up too much on the price. That is where the gamble comes in

My bottom feeding neighbor buys Hereford heifers for potential replacements. They get beat up much more than the steers here. Farmer feeders will usually buy steers, but not heifers.

 

[Dave]

My bottom feeding neighbor buys Hereford heifers for potential replacements. They get beat up much more than the steers here. Farmer feeders will usually buy steers, but not heifers.

If I were going to get into the long term cow/calf business (that ain't going to happen) I would seriously shop for good growthy Hereford heifers. Breed them to a black Angus bull and sell baldies. But for now I will stick to the one and done, or stockers, or bred heifers when that market comes back.

 

[Ky hills]

If I were going to get into the long term cow/calf business (that ain't going to happen) I would seriously shop for good growthy Hereford heifers. Breed them to a black Angus bull and sell baldies. But for now I will stick to the one and done, or stockers, or bred heifers when that market comes back.

That is what we have been doing to build our cowherd as well. I have found those Herefords to be pretty good cows on average. When bred to Angus bulls we have had some nice BWF calves. Next year we are planning to run a solid black Simmental bull with some of them.

 

[Muletrack]

Herefords are very tough to find in my state. But Probably a good way to start or grow if you can find them. What is meant by the "one and done" system -- is that talking about short term cows?

 

[Dave]

Herefords are very tough to find in my state. But Probably a good way to start or grow if you can find them. What is meant by the "one and done" system -- is that talking about short term cows?

Broken mouth cows, even smooth mouth cows. Bought this time of year for one bid over kill price. Get the calf out of them. Put them on good grass where they will gain weight. Early to mid August the cows go to the kill plant. Calves get sold late September.

 

[elkwc]

Had a friend post a nice set of Hereford heifers yesterday and they sold in 3 hours. I know of several nice sets of black heifers for sale at the same price and they still haven't sold after several weeks. Good Hereford strs will sell on a group of blacks and baldies here. Our Herefords and Angus perform as well or better than any of the other breeds here. Herefords perform well in drought years unlike other breeds. The Hereford cows are the most efficient in our environment.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Had a friend post a nice set of Hereford heifers yesterday and they sold in 3 hours. I know of several nice sets of black heifers for sale at the same price and they still haven't sold after several weeks. Good Hereford strs will sell on a group of blacks and baldies here. Our Herefords and Angus perform as well or better than any of the other breeds here. Herefords perform well in drought years unlike other breeds. The Hereford cows are the most efficient in our environment.

How do F1 baldies sell?

 

[KAstocker]

Had a friend post a nice set of Hereford heifers yesterday and they sold in 3 hours. I know of several nice sets of black heifers for sale at the same price and they still haven't sold after several weeks. Good Hereford strs will sell on a group of blacks and baldies here. Our Herefords and Angus perform as well or better than any of the other breeds here. Herefords perform well in drought years unlike other breeds. The Hereford cows are the most efficient in our environment.

What region?

 

[kenny thomas]

What region?

I will answer for him. He is near the panhandle of Oklahoma

 

[Dave]

Had a friend post a nice set of Hereford heifers yesterday and they sold in 3 hours. I know of several nice sets of black heifers for sale at the same price and they still haven't sold after several weeks. Good Hereford strs will sell on a group of blacks and baldies here. Our Herefords and Angus perform as well or better than any of the other breeds here. Herefords perform well in drought years unlike other breeds. The Hereford cows are the most efficient in our environment.

Here Hereford calves are lucky to get $1.00 when the same blacks or baldies are $1.50. This fall I saw lots of pens of steer and heifers with 30-50 head come into the ring all black except a couple Herefords. The buyers would cut the Herefords off. They would then sell the Herefords separately for a lot less money to a different buyer. Bred cows are off $200-$400 until it gets down to kill price. Might not be right but that is the way it is here.

 

[farmerjan]

The Hereford feeders take a beating here too. Good cows; bred or with calf by side , at a bred cow or dispersal sale, will often do okay, but not great. They can't see past the red/white.... I often will buy a few of the hereford cows since there is always a good chance they are bred black, with a better than average chance of a black/bwf calf.... some of our best cows have been hereford or her x cows.

 

[elkwc]

What region?

These were in North Central OK. But I see the same thing in west central OK. Again I only sell at barns that allow me to state no cuts for color. Our calves still sell well.