Our biggest problem selling to folks is more people waiting till the last minute to do decide what they want and than finding a plant that isn't booked for the next 6 months. It is getting harder and harder with more and more of the state level lockers closing down. The ones that are still open are so dang busy that you best call way in advance, gets you good (Or bad) at predicting when your critters are going to be ready. IF you screw up you could end up in with a 350 pound hog :oops: or a steer that can't hang for long because it is too lean..
I think we charge around 1.50 a pound live, which I thinks transfers to around 2.50 a pound hanging+ the processing (.42 cents a pound + a 35 buck kill fee)and such, into the Chicago area and are told by many of our customers that we could probably go higher if we wanted too... Of course, others gasp at the thought amd we have some people who are looking to get a whole steer for 500 bucks it seems.. We do grassfed and grainfed and we just figure to make it worth our time in marketing and such we have to sell for a lot more than sale barn market price. When I take it to the barn it is out of my hair, when I take it to the locker and I am still involved and not to mention all the prework done with customers and follow up stuff. We take downpayments on the animal before we even make an apointment. Half down... Again, no one flinches at doing that except me in asking which is why the wife is in charge of the phone calls and not me.
