Season affact the price of cattle.

[Auburn_Ag]

I just read a thread on how someone thought the prices were down for this time of year and I remember a conversation that a older gentleman back about this time last year. He referred to this time of year (Oct, Nov. Dec.) as Ham and Turkey season. Then he and I got to talking some more and how certain time were better to sale than others. He asked me if I had ever noticed a slight drop in price in the months of April and May. (LET ME JUST SAY THIS IS TRUE IN MY AREA, IT MIGHT NOT HOLD TRUE ANY WHERE ELSE) Then he asked me who was the largest buy of ground beef in the US. After he told me it made. sense.

So can you tell me who buys the most ground beef in the US? I will try to answer at the end of the day.

 

[MikeC]

Mickey D's

 

[Brute 23]

Mickey D's

That is actuall beef? :shock:

 

[cfpinz]

Don't know if this is where you're going, but I've heard the old folks around here attribute those swings to the public school system lunch program.

cfpinz

 

[ArrowHBrand]

Hamburgers for the grilling season is why I have always thought that beef prices went up in the spring. IMO they go down in the fall because people are unloading their feeder calves and any cattle they don't want to feed all winter long.

 

[Hippie Rancher]

Isn't it rooted in an older and more natural cycle? Calves born in the spring, then weaned and traditionally shipped in the fall? Glut of those weaners plus the cull cows. I always thought that was boloney season cause of the culls?

 

[Auburn_Ag]

Don't know if this is where you're going, but I've heard the old folks around here attribute those swings to the public school system lunch program.

cfpinz

cfpinz you are correct! sorry no prize to give out.

In the U.S. the school systems are the largest buyer of ground beef. Therefor just before the time for school to be out they buy less and there is slight dip in demand. I was kinda shocked when I found out because I was thinking more on the lines of a company. Now world wide McDonalds may be the largest, that I do not know.

 

[Central Fl Cracker]

Auburn_Ag
Do you know of a site that shows the monthly average of calf prices for a given year? By the way I built the College apartments in Auburn a few years back.

 

[MikeC]

The prices may not be the same each year but the monthly swing in price trends will be most likely year in and year out.

 

[MissouriExile]

The prices may not be the same each year but the monthly swing in price trends will be most likely year in and year out.

Mike (or anyone)

Question shows my ignorance but I will chance it.

Why do equal weight Steer calves sell for more than heifer calves?

Is the meat better? Intuitively it seems that heifer calves provide value as potential replacements as well as meat.
Obviously that isn't the case. How come?

Thanks
Jon

 

[dun]

The prices may not be the same each year but the monthly swing in price trends will be most likely year in and year out.

Mike (or anyone)

Question shows my ignorance but I will chance it.

Why do equal weight Steer calves sell for more than heifer calves?

Is the meat better? Intuitively it seems that heifer calves provide value as potential replacements as well as meat.
Obviously that isn't the case. How come?

Thanks
Jon

Heifer feeder calves aren;t sold as replacements, they're sold as potential meat. Heifers typically don;t convert feed as efficiently or gain as fast as steers. They will also usually finish at a lighter weight then steers.

 

[somn]

I sent a pm to someone about the discount of feeder hiefers compared to steers if anyone remebers getting that maybe they could post it otherwise I can try digging it up.