Looking for some opinions here on whether to keep or sell a couple steers... I've got three black angus/holstein cross steers that weigh about 400lbs. More or less. Two are solid black, one has a little bit of (noticable) white on his underside. Little bit of white on the end of his tail too, but I might have to do a little trim job there. :lol:
Anyhow, I don't really want to winter these guys. I figure they'll eat about 2 tons of hay apiece - more or less - from now until spring. Maybe more. Plus grain. I figure $200/head to winter...but I'm estimating on the high end.
They aren't weaned now, they're fat, healthy, look very good (in my biased opinion ;-)) and I'm debating running them through the auction on Tuesday. Auction prices from last week were:
300-400lb (beef) steers $1.30-$1.50
400-500lb (beef) steers $1.25-$1.38
300-400lb (holstein) steers $1.00-$1.15
400-500lb (holstein) steers (diff auction) $1.07-$1.10
No idea where my calves would come out under those prices. :?:
I don't really WANT to winter these guys, but if it makes the most sense to winter them, then I *might*. I have a lot of different size cows/calves and I'm trying to split them into two groups to make it easier for me to feed during the winter - and these angus cross calves don't fit in either group. LOL.
Should I keep or sell them? -or really, what would YOU folks do?
Then I have a holstein steer that's 600lbs. Part of a set on my nurse cow this spring, kept him back to keep another calf company, and finally have decided I don't want to keep him over the winter. Originally had planned to keep and butcher him, but changed my mind.
Holstein steers 500-600lbs are $0.90-$1.05
600-700lbs (diff auction) are $0.86-$97.75.
I figure this steer will cost over $200 to keep until spring. Should I keep or sell him?
The auction prices are the highest I've ever seen them here... No idea what they'll be like come spring..............
suggestions?
Anyhow, I don't really want to winter these guys. I figure they'll eat about 2 tons of hay apiece - more or less - from now until spring. Maybe more. Plus grain. I figure $200/head to winter...but I'm estimating on the high end.
They aren't weaned now, they're fat, healthy, look very good (in my biased opinion ;-)) and I'm debating running them through the auction on Tuesday. Auction prices from last week were:
300-400lb (beef) steers $1.30-$1.50
400-500lb (beef) steers $1.25-$1.38
300-400lb (holstein) steers $1.00-$1.15
400-500lb (holstein) steers (diff auction) $1.07-$1.10
No idea where my calves would come out under those prices. :?:
I don't really WANT to winter these guys, but if it makes the most sense to winter them, then I *might*. I have a lot of different size cows/calves and I'm trying to split them into two groups to make it easier for me to feed during the winter - and these angus cross calves don't fit in either group. LOL.
Should I keep or sell them? -or really, what would YOU folks do?
Then I have a holstein steer that's 600lbs. Part of a set on my nurse cow this spring, kept him back to keep another calf company, and finally have decided I don't want to keep him over the winter. Originally had planned to keep and butcher him, but changed my mind.
Holstein steers 500-600lbs are $0.90-$1.05
600-700lbs (diff auction) are $0.86-$97.75.
I figure this steer will cost over $200 to keep until spring. Should I keep or sell him?
The auction prices are the highest I've ever seen them here... No idea what they'll be like come spring..............
suggestions?