sell heifers or steers?

[cypressfarms]

I've been lucky in that I made a deal with several nursing homes around the area to supply them beef. So normally I would keep heifers to feed out, and sell the steers at the stockyard (because of the higher price for steers at the stockyard). I'm now questioning myself; as always. Would it be more profitable for me to feed out the steers - since they will gain faster - and sell the heifers at the stockyard. Selling heifers at the stockyard will bring less than steers (5 to 10 cents per pound), but that could be offset by the $2.50 hanging weight extra that I would get from a steer. I even gave some thought to not castrating, since a bull will gain the most, but gave that up because the concensus seems to be that bull beef is not as tasty as a heifer or steer due to the male hormones..

Anyone with any comments. Oh, by the way, the feedback from last year's calves that went to the nursing homes was great. They now want beef all year around. Last year they had a mixture of steers and heifers butchered for them.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I've been lucky in that I made a deal with several nursing homes around the area to supply them beef. So normally I would keep heifers to feed out, and sell the steers at the stockyard (because of the higher price for steers at the stockyard). I'm now questioning myself; as always. Would it be more profitable for me to feed out the steers - since they will gain faster - and sell the heifers at the stockyard. Selling heifers at the stockyard will bring less than steers (5 to 10 cents per pound), but that could be offset by the $2.50 hanging weight extra that I would get from a steer. I even gave some thought to not castrating, since a bull will gain the most, but gave that up because the concensus seems to be that bull beef is not as tasty as a heifer or steer due to the male hormones..

Anyone with any comments. Oh, by the way, the feedback from last year's calves that went to the nursing homes was great. They now want beef all year around. Last year they had a mixture of steers and heifers butchered for them.

Back in my puppy days I used to work for a lady she had private treaty sales for all her calves around two thousand a year. She never cut anything and heifer and bull calves a like went to the slaughter plant (she owned) and then to her customers the remaing went to her grocery store. Everyone raved about her beef, she was running Tigers and terminal bulls mostly Hereford and Char.

 

[Angus Cowman]

Cypress
on the bull deal I don't beleive the taste difference is that much
but Bulls are alot harder to handle if you are running a mixed feeding situation or if they are in close proximity of your cow herd
so for convenience and ease of operating I would castrate the steers
as for feeding the hfrs or the steers I really don't think it would matter your feed conversions might be a little less on the hfrs but with the prices you are getting I don't think it would equal the loss you would take at the salebarn on the hfrs

 

[djinwa]

Oh, by the way, the feedback from last year's calves that went to the nursing homes was great. They now want beef all year around.

Well, your beef is tender at least, if they can eat it without any teeth. I know my mom is 87 and can't taste a thing.

 

[cypressfarms]

Well, your beef is tender at least, if they can eat it without any teeth. I know my mom is 87 and can't taste a thing.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I actually was told that the first time the cafeteria at the the largest nursing home made hamburgers, all of the residents said that it was the best burgers that they have had. Most of what they cook is in stews/gravies, and gound meat, but they do occasionally have a bar b q for the residents and the get ribs/steaks, etc.

AC, I had read an article ( and have been widely told) that calves will gain in the following order - bulls the most, steers 2nd, and heifers the least. I know efficiency will obviously play a part, but I'm fairly sure that bulls/steers will reach a higher weight in general when compared to heifers. Since they want beef all year round, the first year will be tough - in that I'll keep this past winter's calves in the pasture and just bring them up and grain them the last 45-60 days before butchering - so this will yield bigger carcasses as the year goes on. I'm trying to determine which is the most advantageous for me. I'm thinking unless the heifers can achieve a weight within 5-10% of the steers counterpart (the difference in price at the stockyard), then I would be better off keeping steers to feed out. There are a lot of variables at work here.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

Heifers will finish faster than the steers. I have a friend who sell alot of freezer beef and butchers nothing but bulls.

 

[longtimelurker]

for convenience and ease of operating I would castrate the steers

Let me know ahead of time when you plan to do this the next time at your ranch I wanna watch ;-)

 

[Angus Cowman]

for convenience and ease of operating I would castrate the steers

Let me know ahead of time when you plan to do this the next time at your ranch I wanna watch ;-)

I will let ya know I am gonna have Jed come up and do it :lol2: :lol2: oops

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Cypress

In order to have a year-round supply you may need a combination of steers & heifers as the heifers usually finish faster and lighter. Have read that some other grass finished operators use this to spread out their supply availability.

Sound like you have developed an excellent market. Best wishes for your endeavor.

 

[Jogeephus]

Sell the steers and keep the heifers. You are adding a minimum a 10 cent to the heifers on top of what you are adding by direct marketing. Be a shame to chunk this money away for no good reason. Of course, knowing you cajuns, you probably won't sleep good at night till you do a test for yourself.

 

[cypressfarms]

Cypress

In order to have a year-round supply you may need a combination of steers & heifers as the heifers usually finish faster and lighter. Have read that some other grass finished operators use this to spread out their supply availability.

Sound like you have developed an excellent market. Best wishes for your endeavor.

I brought a trailer load of calves to the stockyard yesterday. The auction was today and I couldn't even take off from work to go, so I won't know how they did until Wed or Thur. when the check comes in. I wound up taking a mixture, and using the "f" word as my guidance. I looked at the calves that I had that were over 500 pounds now. From those I picked the "fancy" ones that would bring more at a stockyard. You know, the ones with a sparkle in their eye and a nice profile. My reasoning was that these "fancy" calves would bring a premium over normal angus influenced calves and I may just make more per pound on each individual calf. I wound up keeping a mixture of steers and heifers for the nursing home commitments - which will work good when finishing them at different times. I still have a small group of late calvers that I can play with as well if need be later in the year.

But Jo, your right. I had to "test" and see what would happen. Doing it this way seemed to make sense. Hopefully make more money on the nicer looking calves. Keep the "normal" looking ones for butchering. I always hate when people use "fancy" when describing cattle (especially heifers), but I have to admit some calves just look special or better. Well those went to the stockyard, and my "ugly" ones will be fed and packaged for the elderly.

 

[Angus Cowman]

Well those went to the stockyard, and my "ugly" ones will be fed and packaged for the elderly.

Someone taking advantage of the elderly again ;-) ;-) :lol:

 

[Jogeephus]

Hopefully make more money on the nicer looking calves. Keep the "normal" looking ones for butchering. I always hate when people use "fancy" when describing cattle (especially heifers), but I have to admit some calves just look special or better. Well those went to the stockyard, and my "ugly" ones will be fed and packaged for the elderly.

My cousin buys common low end calves from the sale barn and sells "fancy" yearlings. Its amazing what an above average ration will do for those average looking calves. Once they blossom you probably won't recognize them. Some before and after pictures would be interesting. Good luck with it.

 

[BC]

I would sell the steers and feed the heifers. Steers will bring $8 to $12 more per cwt at weaning. The heifers, when fat are worth within $1.50 per cwt. of the steers. I see people all the time take a good steer to the local processor and a good heifer to the sale barn.

By feeding the heifers you add value to them making them worth more.

 

[Stocker Steve]

I would sell the steers and feed the heifers. Steers will bring $8 to $12 more per cwt at weaning. The heifers, when fat are worth within $1.50 per cwt. of the steers. I see people all the time take a good steer to the local processor and a good heifer to the sale barn.

By feeding the heifers you add value to them making them worth more.

Steer premium used to vary during the cattle cycle.
So the best decision may change year to year.
Put a pencil to the value of gain x lbs. of daily gain.