We've got 8 heifers that have all calved, 3 of them were pulled--1 of them could have made I think but my older friend doesn't like to wait for anything when it comes to calving. I was thinking of getting them bred back and selling them as 3 in 1 to make some money and buy some more young bred cows. I guess the ones we pulled won't make as much money but I'll just be honest and tell the seller. I've seen 3 in 1 in my area going for $2500 each.
selling 3 in 1 for profit?
- Thread starter tncattle
- Start date
LauraleesFarm
Well-known member
My first thought is that it is usually slow for first calf heifers to breed back. So you might be waiting a while and when they do, it won't generally be all at the same time. I don't think that pulling a calf on a heifer is a deal breaker, if the calf lived and she mothered up alright. Next time she will probably do fine on her own. I personally wouldn't pay $2500 for a 3 in 1 unless it was something really special.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
For years I figured I could give what 2 calves brought for a good cow. I had several calves bring $1150 this week but I sure aint gonna give $2300 for bred cows. There has got to be a stopping point. Too much money to risk for me.
Red Bull Breeder
Well-known member
Just why is it you want to sell them?
tnwalkingred
Well-known member
Tncattle,
With the prices of bred cows right now being so high I'm sure there is some money to made by selling 3 n 1 cows. With that being said however I would keep the heifers as long as you felt comfortable that they will calf unassisted next time. Do you know what kind of bull they were bred to this past year? It's possible he was not a good bull to breed heifers to and that if bred to a proper bull this year they would not have any issues. If you were not strapped for cash I would keep them. The price of cattle looks to be high over the next two years and they should be some money makers for you. You can always price them high and be firm with that price. If you get what you're asking great and if not then you are bound to make money on them over the next few years.
Kyle
With the prices of bred cows right now being so high I'm sure there is some money to made by selling 3 n 1 cows. With that being said however I would keep the heifers as long as you felt comfortable that they will calf unassisted next time. Do you know what kind of bull they were bred to this past year? It's possible he was not a good bull to breed heifers to and that if bred to a proper bull this year they would not have any issues. If you were not strapped for cash I would keep them. The price of cattle looks to be high over the next two years and they should be some money makers for you. You can always price them high and be firm with that price. If you get what you're asking great and if not then you are bound to make money on them over the next few years.
Kyle
Stocker Steve
Well-known member
kenny thomas":25xty9y9 said:
How about a $1200 calf from a $600 cow ?
kenny thomas
Well-known member
I have doubled a few times. Have had several longhorn cows raise calves worth double what i gave for them.Stocker Steve":xwsou1xo said:
Grandpa always told me "you'll never go broke taking a profit when it's in front of you"...
I am kind of in the same situation, and asking myself the same question. I calved out a set of heifers last spring - weaned the calves, backgrounded them for ~60 days or so and sold them. I paid $1060 for the heifers as open replacements, and got right around that for the calves. So here I sit with paid for 3 yr old second calvers - that are worth ~$2000 - $2500 a piece around here. Like KT, I am not going to pay that for a bred heifer - it's going to take her too long to pay for herself.
In my simple mind, the math works like this...we might see $1000+ calves for the next couple years. I doubt it goes too much higher, certainly could go lower (some type of black swan event in world economics, etc.). So you get $1000/yr for the calves, it takes you AT LEAST $1/day to carry that cow all year (certainly could be more). So you'll net somewhere around $650-700/year on that cow, possibly less.
It's going to take the new owner three years to re-coup the initial investment on the $2000-2500 heifer. I am not willing to hold on to that heifer/cow to generate the same dollar amount over the next three years. I really think that there is nothing wrong with taking the money, and doubling down on something at half the price (older cows, open replacement heifers, etc.). It's all about risk tolerance and where you think the market is headed.
In your scenario, where you are at right now, and what I have done. I would breed them back, sell the calves after weaning (hopefully you'll get your initial $1050 back when they calves are ~ 7 months old) and then see where the bred market is - it's usually higher for 2nd calvers, if it is where you need it to be - sell the cows; you will have grossed 3x the initial investment in ~2 years. If the bred market is not where you need it, you are still "own the factory". The risk in this scenario is the cows not breeding back, or the market tanking in the mean time.
What do I know, I am just a rambling multiplier...
I am kind of in the same situation, and asking myself the same question. I calved out a set of heifers last spring - weaned the calves, backgrounded them for ~60 days or so and sold them. I paid $1060 for the heifers as open replacements, and got right around that for the calves. So here I sit with paid for 3 yr old second calvers - that are worth ~$2000 - $2500 a piece around here. Like KT, I am not going to pay that for a bred heifer - it's going to take her too long to pay for herself.
In my simple mind, the math works like this...we might see $1000+ calves for the next couple years. I doubt it goes too much higher, certainly could go lower (some type of black swan event in world economics, etc.). So you get $1000/yr for the calves, it takes you AT LEAST $1/day to carry that cow all year (certainly could be more). So you'll net somewhere around $650-700/year on that cow, possibly less.
It's going to take the new owner three years to re-coup the initial investment on the $2000-2500 heifer. I am not willing to hold on to that heifer/cow to generate the same dollar amount over the next three years. I really think that there is nothing wrong with taking the money, and doubling down on something at half the price (older cows, open replacement heifers, etc.). It's all about risk tolerance and where you think the market is headed.
In your scenario, where you are at right now, and what I have done. I would breed them back, sell the calves after weaning (hopefully you'll get your initial $1050 back when they calves are ~ 7 months old) and then see where the bred market is - it's usually higher for 2nd calvers, if it is where you need it to be - sell the cows; you will have grossed 3x the initial investment in ~2 years. If the bred market is not where you need it, you are still "own the factory". The risk in this scenario is the cows not breeding back, or the market tanking in the mean time.
What do I know, I am just a rambling multiplier...
TennesseeTuxedo
Well-known member
You might be a rambling multiplier H and H but you are making good sense to me.
bigbull338
Well-known member
if you are smart youll breed the heifers back an keep them.if you sold them as pairs/3 in1s you could make money loose money or break even.an with heifers youd prolly loose money.now then i would not give $1500 or $2500 for comm cows.i can get reg bred heifers for $2500 to $3000.an with 1 reg heifer calf almost pay for their mommas.an if it was a herd bull calf pay for the cow in 1 calf.i know this because i bought some cattle from a friend years ago.an his at the farm price for them was 1 cow he gave $1020 for he wanted $1150.well i bought her out of the sale for $1020 he broke even.2nd cow he wanted $1350 an i know he prolly gave $1100 for her.an i bought her for $1150.talk about cussing madd.my old buddy cussed me for 15mins while i was laughing at him.tncattle":koxy05f4 said:
