Its that time of year

[wbvs58]

When I've got to get rid of a few. I sold 22 steers at our annual weaner sale, they did OK but thought I was short changed 20-30 c/kg on my heaviest pen which averaged 343kg and brought $1340/hd, my other pen @289kg $1250 and 3 that would not fit into the other pens brought $1026 for 246kg. These weights were after an overnight curfew. I am not going to sell here again, I am not happy with the conditions, there is no water in the pens, the agents say they take them to water during the night but the sale does not start until 1.00pm the next day and they are hot in the pens. I think it is only a matter of time before they are forced to move the sale location. Our main saleyards about 70km away is owned by the local council and they are spending several million dollars upgrading the facilities so I think I will be taking them there next year even if I take a hit by not selling at the feature sale. Anyhow it is nice to get them off the cow and moved on. I rehomed some of my surplus cows to a family that have taken a few the last couple of years and I have a few more of the older cows going to the sale tomorrow for sale on Tuesday, the processors will be their fate unfortunately. My surplus heifers have been sold locally and will be shipped out as soon as the funds hit my account. This should get me down to 39 cows, 7 heifers and 4 bulls so not too bad, 1 extra cow, 3 fewer heifers and no extras.
Here are some photos of the 2 bull calves I retained and one of a heifer. The bull calves weaned at 413kg and 407kg and the heifer at 364kg, these were born in mid July and were on just grass and mothers milk, no creep feed. I was very happy with all the calves especially the steers. My heavier pen was comparable in weight to neighbours calves who calve in May to get the extra weight, it is either my country has something that they do well on or my theory is they don't get much out of the cow on those extra couple of months.
I've taken some video so I'll post them once I've got them uploaded to youtube.
Ken

 

[farmerjan]

So, my math is approx but I am seeing that the conversion is about 2.2 lbs... so they were bringing about $2/ lb in US dollars/lbs.. that is rough estimate....
What was the age weaning... I am thinking mid-july to now is about 8 months? The weights were quite impressive I think...
They look really nice....
I like the heifer and the closer bull in the picture... hard to tell about the other bull...

I certainly would not shut them out of my cattle.... They would get a big "welcome home" open wide gate, if they showed up here !!!!!!!!

 

[MurraysMutts]

Wow. Those 750lb calves should be close to 2k here. Yall market is down a ways from this side of the world.

 

[wbvs58]

Wow. Those 750lb calves should be close to 2k here. Yall market is down a ways from this side of the world.

Most people are satisfied while we all would like more money most realise these prices are sustainable for both the producer and the processor, we export most of our meat so we are at the mercy of world markets.

Ken

 

[wbvs58]

Here are the videos of the bulls and my heifers I retained. I took a video of the actual sale to give you an idea of how it is done here but have not yet downloaded.




Ken

 

[Travlr]

Wow. Those 750lb calves should be close to 2k here. Yall market is down a ways from this side of the world.

Is there a conversion rate? Even scarier at a $1 Australian only worth $0.63 American.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Here are the videos of the bulls and my heifers I retained. I took a video of the actual sale to give you an idea of how it is done here but have not yet downloaded.




Ken

They are VERY NICE Ken. Top notch I'd say!

Look forward to the sale video as well.

 

[Double R Ranch]

I've been looking for a small group of replacement heifers just like those. Wow! Lovely cattle

 

[farmerjan]

Very Very nice heifers... I especially like the 40, and 25 out your bull, and 5, and 18.... but I'll take any of your culls....
My bull preference is still 15 , but the other one has nice length of body....

 

[GoWyo]

Here are the videos of the bulls and my heifers I retained. I took a video of the actual sale to give you an idea of how it is done here but have not yet downloaded.




Ken

Calves look great. Nice to have green grass at weaning time. We don't get that here.

 

[Travlr]

View attachment 56122

That number 17 is a keeper. I'd take that as a keeper anyday...

 

[wbvs58]

Calves look great. Nice to have green grass at weaning time. We don't get that here.

Thanks, we will get some growth in the grass up until the first frost towards the end of April especially the kikuyu then it shuts down until spring. The clover will tick over during winter. I try and have some cool season grasses growing but they are more spring grasses. Our district is noted for fairly harsh winters though I am embarressed to say that after seeing your winters.

Ken

 

[wbvs58]

Here are the videos of the selling, these saleyards are owned by the Agricultural show society and only get used a few times each year, while being adequate they are falling behind the standards of what is expected of modern saleyards. I went to have a look at a weaner sale at a nearby town which is only about 60km away today but is over the border in a different state, the pens were much larger and had permanent water in each pen plus they sell of a morning which cuts down on the time there. I think this might be my best option for next year.





Ken

 

[Spot & Bubby]

Here are the videos of the bulls and my heifers I retained. I took a video of the actual sale to give you an idea of how it is done here but have not yet downloaded.




Ken

What beautiful animals, Ken! I'm partial to red, but I'd make an exception for any of these. Very nice.

Also nice to hear your commentary. I'll be able to "hear" your posts from now on.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Here are the videos of the selling, these saleyards are owned by the Agricultural show society and only get used a few times each year, while being adequate they are falling behind the standards of what is expected of modern saleyards. I went to have a look at a weaner sale at a nearby town which is only about 60km away today but is over the border in a different state, the pens were much larger and had permanent water in each pen plus they sell of a morning which cuts down on the time there. I think this might be my best option for next year.





Ken

Well that's interesting for sure!
Certainly not like I'm used to. And all outdoors too.

Thanks for posting those.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I enjoyed the auction video. That's interesting they auction them off from a catwalk. The familiar phrases in Australian accents.
"Look at the stretch on these calves, boys". After a pen was sold someone muttering " Oi didn't want it anyway".

 

[Redgully]

Here are the videos of the selling, these saleyards are owned by the Agricultural show society and only get used a few times each year, while being adequate they are falling behind the standards of what is expected of modern saleyards. I went to have a look at a weaner sale at a nearby town which is only about 60km away today but is over the border in a different state, the pens were much larger and had permanent water in each pen plus they sell of a morning which cuts down on the time there. I think this might be my best option for next year.





Ken

Takes me back to the old midland stockyards here. All outdoors and falling apart and a smell that not even burning would get out your clothes! They built us a nice new saleyard an hour up the road and all under cover, water in all pens. Sawdust floors. Its the bees knees but we are not aloud to take any photos or videos while on site.