Price, live weight - finished beef

[ksmit454]

Hi all,
I have many people wanting finished beef from myself. We are in California and I’m unsure as to what to charge for them. They would be grain finished (unless they specify wanting grass fed), for a few months before butcher. These are excellent quality angus steers. I would be charging live weight. What is ballpark idea for charging for fully finished beef? $3/lb...? Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you!

 

[MurraysMutts]

A friend is selling for 800 a quarter.
So 3200 for one whole animal.
Now that includes slaughter and delivery from the packer....
4 animals sold so far.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

1.25 live weight, they pay for processing.

 

[Dave]

The last I did this I was charging $3.25 hanging with them paying the processing. That was about 6 years ago.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Tyson's live bid two weeks ago was $1.08/lb. We always let the customer pay the possessing, because that varies with the customer.

 

[darcelina4]

People are paying $4- $5 a pound hanging weight with processing included. I've got a date for one in October. That is what I will be charging depending on which one I sell. I'll be processing a shorthorn beefmaster show steer and a red Angus heifer if she doesnt get pregnant.

 

[ksmit454]

Thanks all for the responses! I have been thinking $2.75 live weight is reasonable and customer pays cut and wrap and butcher fees. Each customer so far has agreed with that price I just wanted to be sure I was reasonable.

 

[kenny thomas]

Thanks all for the responses! I have been thinking $2.75 live weight is reasonable and customer pays cut and wrap and butcher fees. Each customer so far has agreed with that price I just wanted to be sure I was reasonable.

You stated that you will finish the beef. Good for you. That's the best taste.
But let's say that the average finished beef weighs 1250, which would be small, do you have customers that will pay $3,400+ for a beef plus processing?

 

[ksmit454]

Thanks all for the responses! I have been thinking $2.75 live weight is reasonable and customer pays cut and wrap and butcher fees. Each customer so far has agreed with that price I just wanted to be sure I was reasonable.

You stated that you will finish the beef. Good for you. That's the best taste.
But let's say that the average finished beef weighs 1250, which would be small, do you have customers that will pay $3,400+ for a beef plus processing?

Thanks! Yes, I will finish out beef for those wanting grain fed. So far my people are willing to pay that price. Some are going for halves, which seems more reasonable for some.

 

[sstterry]

A good friend of mine charges $2.40 hanging weight and the customer pays the butcher charge. Admittedly most of his steers are dairy/beef cross. But he says he makes more money on them.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Locker plant was selling for $2.95 hanging pound including processing, but they are out of beef and putting people on a waiting list.

 

[Dave]

Thanks all for the responses! I have been thinking $2.75 live weight is reasonable and customer pays cut and wrap and butcher fees. Each customer so far has agreed with that price I just wanted to be sure I was reasonable.

I don't know if that is "reasonable". But I have said for years "what ever the market will bear". If you can find people willing to pay that more power to you. I see people quoting what the big boys are offering and that is peanuts. Everyone is losing money at those prices. As a senior in high school I fed a bunch of steers and sold halves of beef. I charged what the market was and made good money. That was 51 years ago and the market was $0.73 hanging.

 

[ksmit454]

Thanks all for the responses! I have been thinking $2.75 live weight is reasonable and customer pays cut and wrap and butcher fees. Each customer so far has agreed with that price I just wanted to be sure I was reasonable.

I don't know if that is "reasonable". But I have said for years "what ever the market will bear". If you can find people willing to pay that more power to you. I see people quoting what the big boys are offering and that is peanuts. Everyone is losing money at those prices. As a senior in high school I fed a bunch of steers and sold halves of beef. I charged what the market was and made good money. That was 51 years ago and the market was $0.73 hanging.

Yes, I agree! Not sure if it’s reasonable but the people wanting meat from me seem happy with that price and really do understand the work that I’ve put into these cattle. I’m a young adult woman and I think that says a lot about my customer and how they want to support home grown beef. Hence they’re willing to pay the price. That’s great though that you made money as a kid doing it.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

You are raping your customers, but, hey, if they are that stupid - go for it.
How much do they weigh now? How old are they now? How many pounds of grain are you or will you be feeding?

 

[ksmit454]

You are raping your customers, but, hey, if they are that stupid - go for it.
How much do they weigh now? How old are they now? How many pounds of grain are you or will you be feeding?

Wow raping huh? Ouch . They are about 1,000lbs, 18mo old. I am graining them for 90 days, there at about 15lbs per day. I have one customer that offered $3.50/lb live weight.

 

[ksmit454]

Also: why do some sell live weight and some hanging weight? Are there pros and cons to either option?

 

[kenny thomas]

Here it's questionable if it's legal to sell beef in any fashion. If you are selling live weight you are selling a living animal and there is no regulations about live animals.

 

[Dave]

You are raping your customers, but, hey, if they are that stupid - go for it.
How much do they weigh now? How old are they now? How many pounds of grain are you or will you be feeding?

Wow raping huh? Ouch . They are about 1,000lbs, 18mo old. I am graining them for 90 days, there at about 15lbs per day. I have one customer that offered $3.50/lb live weight.

Some people are so use to raising them for free that they think sell for anything over what Tyson etc will pay is highway robbery. Talked to a friend who lives mid way between Seattle and Portland a couple days ago. He said that the market there is hot as a pistol. People who have never owned cattle are buying. Anything coming to the auction that even looks close to butcher is selling for $1.75.
ksmit454, if you sell more than you have available let me know. At that price I would even pay the freight.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

You have explained to them that their carcass will weigh 62% of their live weight, and they will get about 2/3 of that weight to put in their freezer??
So, if he gains 100#/mo, he will weigh 1300# X $3.50 = $4550 x 62% dressing weight = 806# less 1/3 = 532# for the freezer.
So, that's $4550 for 532# of meat = $8.55/lb
Out of that 532#, there will be ? about ? 120# of meat that can be made into good steaks. The other 412# also costs $8.55/lb.
https://www.google.com/search?q=beef+cutout+sheet&rlz=1C1JPGB_enUS786US786&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=bXtj-6UoTNLmeM%252ChYUN6Z2vY613bM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kR4-8cSKX9eb-FGpAXKPT-FJCVRMw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjcy8u8-6fqAhXwgnIEHdckAF4Q9QEwDnoECAoQLA&biw=1536&bih=755#imgrc=7JLmPA9JbBZo8M&imgdii=_3PPEyehUBlG2M

If they understand that and are happy at that price, go for it.
Price of carcasses currently by USDA for choice is $1.72 - So, your steer is worth about $1400 on the current market. Like I said, if they know what they are getting and are willing to pay, great for you. Of course, you are in California.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I wouldn't sell my finished steers for $1400 either, and I guess I would be jealous you can get $4550!!! I would get about $2450 for 750# carcass at 13 months of age - choice.