selling heifers?

[justindabney]

i was just trying to see what everyones opinion on selling heifers is.we usually have about 30 heifers born very year with that being a mix of hereford and black baldy.in the past the owners have just been sending them to our local market at weaning,the same time every year in the spring and fall except the ones we keep for replacements.what would be a better way to market them.should we grow them out and sell them as yearlings,bred or keep them and calve them out and sell them as a cow/calf pair.we have more pasture than cattle at the moment so our cost would stay relativily low in that respect.what are your thoughts?thanks,justin

 

[LauraleesFarm]

I am a small producer so my opinion may not count for much but....

In my area, lots of smaller farms are interested in buying a few heifers that are gentle and healthy. These can easily be advertised on craigslist. However, most smaller farms are not going to buy a whole set of 30 at a time. So you might take that into consideration on your price.

That being said, I will pay a little more than salebarn / market price for heifers that are gentle and already been worked.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I would grow them to 850lbs and sell them. Around here heifers bred for there first calf don't sell. And even with plenty of grass keeping them until they calve and then trying to sell seems like having to much time in them, for probably only an extra 200$ I would rather get them moved faster and be growing the next bunch.

 

[justindabney]

thanks for the info.