price on a 800 lb steer

[Central Fl Cracker]

I sold old my cows and Bulls 2 years ago because of a layoff and finally I am back to work and decided about gom stocker instead of cow/calf. I know what I can buy a 4 wt. for but I can not find what a 800 lb steer avg. price would be. Our sales barn do not have any steers at that weight run through their sale. Any idea on I could except to sell a 8 wt. for I know it is a broad question but if you could give me an idea it would help.

 

[Isomade]

In Oklahoma City last week they were bringing 1.45 to 1.48/lb for 8 weights.

Edit: my apologies, I was thinking of 6 weights. 8 weights were 1.20 - 1.28

 

[Anonymous]

Where in C FL are you at? Both Webster and Ocala run all weights and types. 8 wt steers black hides are running about 8-900 bucks right now. Prices are nuts.

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

I pulled webster last week and saw no 800 lb steers. I live in Umatilla and have about 135 ac. that I am considering stockers. What I would like to do is buy 4 wts. and take them to 8 wts even though I read somewhere it is better to take a 6 wt. to a 8 wt. supposedly more money to be made per head. Check this weeks reports and see if there is any 8 wts.

Feeder Steers and Bulls Medium and Large 1-2
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
187-195 190 175.00-215.00 201.39
200-235 218 174.00-210.00 187.04
255-295 276 162.00-186.00 170.78
315-340 326 150.00-168.00 158.01
350-395 371 146.00-164.00 151.58
400-432 426 144.00-166.00 157.70
450-490 464 138.00-154.00 144.41
555-590 575 120.00-128.00 124.59
600-625 618 120.00-130.00 123.98

Feeder Steers and Bulls Medium and Large 2-3
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
200-225 211 150.00-168.00 159.62
255-295 282 140.00-160.00 149.25
300-325 313 130.00-150.00 146.07
350-380 365 140.00-144.00 142.03
405-447 432 128.00-138.00 133.99
450-498 475 118.00-132.00 124.03
550-595 583 100.00-116.00 104.29
600-605 602 102.00-106.00 103.99
675-690 685 98.00-107.00 102.64

Feeder Steers and Bulls Small 1-2
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
215-235 227 120.00-142.00 134.37
250-275 263 116.00-132.00 122.41
305 305 100.00-104.00 102.00
420-440 430 110.00-112.00 111.02
480-495 490 100.00-112.00 108.08

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe they didn't have any last week. Call em up and see if anyone is expected to bring any in. I'm right down the road from you in Geneva.I prefer webster over ocala fwiw

 

[HEREFORD ROADHOG]

I can bet you one thing if you buy 400's & take them to 800, prices may have changed drastically from now till then. Be careful , some of these guys need to take a drug test after paying some of these prices.... good luck.

 

[Howdyjabo]

In the southeast there is not a good market for 8 wts at local sales.
If they show up they are calves that couldn't get caught by farmers to sell earlier- or they are a cull or extra calf from a load someone else put together- occasionally you will see bulls(some fresh cut) people thought they could sell as breeding stock, but couldn't.

At your local sale by the head--My guess you might get $1.08 for a good one IF there were several buyers interested.
Need to sell eight weights by the load to get decent money-- and you can still take .10 to .20 off from prices quoted from out west.
Somebody has to pay for the long haul and its going to be you

 

[dun]

USDA report:

At the Florida Livestock Auctions; Cattle receipts at 9 markets;
Okeechobee, Lakeland, Webster, Ellisville, Arcadia, Wauchula, Ocala,
Madison and Lake City, receipts totaled 6,117 compared to 6,526 last
week, and 5,800 last year. According to the Florida Federal-State
Livestock Market News Service: Compared to one week ago, slaughter cows 1.00 to 3.00
lower, bulls 1.00 to 2.00 lower, feeder steers 6.00 to 8.00 higher, heifers 5.00 to
7.00 higher, replacement cows 1.00 to 2.00 lower.

Feeder Steers and Bulls Medium and Large 1-2
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
200-249 226 170.00-220.00 189.22
250-299 271 158.00-200.00 176.95
300-345 321 150.00-185.00 166.48
350-395 370 140.00-175.00 158.76
400-445 421 138.00-166.00 153.00
450-499 469 134.00-162.50 147.34
500-545 521 125.00-153.00 140.10
550-595 568 118.00-150.00 132.87
600-635 619 115.00-134.00 124.28
655-690 672 110.00-129.00 122.17
700-745 721 114.00-125.00 118.63
800-805 803 115.00-117.00 116.00
850-895 871 106.00-108.00 106.75

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

Thanks Dun

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

Ok now a tougher question cost to get them to that weight.
1. 4WT. feed and wean for 30 days
2. Shots
3. I was going to put them on good grass April 1st
4. First frost usually in first week in Dec. but ranchers start putting out Hay Nov 1st
5. Cost to ship a pot load when they are 800 wt.
6. What am I missing

Avg. cost of 4 Wt. $575
cost of 8 Wt. $928

Gross profit $353 per head

 

[LRTX1]

Have you considered taking 2-3 wts to 5-6 wts? Probably be able to run quite a few more and turn them over quicker.

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

Not a bad idea. One problem weaning them at that age could be difficult in regards to sickness.

 

[LRTX1]

you might miss on a couple here and there. I just bought 12 this past Jan. for $225 avg a peice. Fixing to sell them in a couple weeks. There are some traders down in Bartow that sell quite a few weaned 2-3wts.

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

if i prefered to buy precondioned calves due to man power etc. what can I excpect to pay if someone sold me a calf that had it,s shots, castrated, dehorned etc., on feed, weaned for 45 days and weigh around 400 lb steer?

 

[Anonymous]

you can find tem for 300-425/head if you look around. But your wanting numbers too,so you'll end up at the auction I'm sure. Those prices. Are above and looks like 1.38/lb

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

on the precondioned side how often do you feed them the first 45 days if they are on grass. I have been told 3% of their weight but not how often and how many days. What Vacinations are absolutely required if i by 2 or 3 wt.?

 

[Anonymous]

Round here even with grass growing we suppliment with cubes. 4lbs/day/head. Once you start finishing its a whole different ballgame.
On the vac side, the ones I buy have had their vac, but if not I would do a 5way, main one would be for blackleg

 

[LRTX1]

I feed twice daily, totals about 3% of their weight. They graze rye and pasture between feedings.

 

[Howdyjabo]

First time out I would buy them off a preconditioned sale in larger groups.
It will cost you more up front than buying individuals
But it could save you BIG time in reducing potential trainwrecks.
I would also revaccinate all calves again.

There are video sales where you can buy loads ready to graze-
MAC Video
Southeast Exchange
And theres a few more around

Contracting to have someone start a turn key load for you would start around $150/hd .Less if you assumed the risks and financing.
Its not a bad idea to spend some money upfront to reduce risk- think of it as buying insurance .
And someone in the business could probably start them cheaper with less losses than you could.
It would eliminate most of the losses and headaches.

Heres some basic AVERAGES for starting a calf

$30 workup and meds
20% morbidity
2% deathloss
2% culls (failure to thrives, odd ball things(ie #### happens)
Feed-- if you are buying it by the bag think :LOTS of money (where contracting could actually MAKE you money)
Labor- can shoot thru the roof with a problem load.

And if you are starting little individual calves right off the mommas you better have a fence that would hold a goat.

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

thanks
i had no idea you can buy them on the video sales. my 135 ac is divided into 4 gated lots 30 + or - traps that i had set up for rotational grazing.