Sold some

[elkwc]

We
We sold some on 1-16-25. The 593 lb steers brought $320.00 which topped their weight class. Many expect them to continue too increase. The heavier steers weighed 680 at $2.77.00. In the top of their class. Those under 6 were the highest. Weaning isn’t making much difference right now if they are the desired weight.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Unweaned 400lb steers at $1600 is hard to beat. I don't think they'd have brought any more weaned. It's been good for the cow/calf guys for sure

Wow. 593 at 3.20 is pretty darn nice too!
Okc?

 

[Heronfish]

We
We sold some on 1-16-25. The 593 lb steers brought $320.00 which topped their weight class. Many expect them to continue too increase. The heavier steers weighed 680 at $2.77.00. In the top of their class. Those under 6 were the highest. Weaning isn't making much difference right now if they are the desired weight.

They sure didn't want to pay you to gain 90 pounds, did they?

 

[elkwc]

No. The barn managers are all saying if you are going to have to feed them to get gain and 45 days weaned or longer you might want to sell under 6 when you wean them.

 

[cowman82]

yep. these guys are wanting them light . not worth it to keep them unless you have very cheap feed and time.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I've always done well weaning in the spring then running them on cheap grass until yearlings. Looking at the current sales where I sell in Iowa I'm thinking of weaning this spring for 45-60 days then shipping them. Bale the extra summer grass or something.

 

[Rmc]

So almost an extra 100 pounds paid less gross $!
and I thought the only thing that matters was selling a high weight long weaned calf . That is what I have been told over and over by the experts on this board.

 

[Travlr]

We
We sold some on 1-16-25. The 593 lb steers brought $320.00 which topped their weight class. Many expect them to continue too increase. The heavier steers weighed 680 at $2.77.00. In the top of their class. Those under 6 were the highest. Weaning isn't making much difference right now if they are the desired weight.

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the buyers get together with their employers to talk about what they'll pay and why.
It makes no sense to me that you'll pay more for a lighter calf when you're going to be paying for the feed to get the lighter calf to the higher weight on the way to 1400 pounds.
Someone please explain that logic...

 

[Heronfish]

So almost an extra 100 pounds paid less gross $!
and I thought the only thing that matters was selling a high weight long weaned calf . That is what I have been told over and over by the experts on this board.

More money can be made selling at the right time than gaining weight. But don't let them know that.

 

[Heronfish]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the buyers get together with their employers to talk about what they'll pay and why.
It makes no sense to me that you'll pay more for a lighter calf when you're going to be paying for the feed to get the lighter calf to the higher weight on the way to 1400 pounds.
Someone please explain that logic...

Who cares the logic. It doesn't matter. It is what it is.

 

[Dave]

It depends on where you are and on which day. A sale here that had 3615 head last week said the following in their market report.
WE HAD A GREAT RUN OF FEEDER CATTLE TODAY. DEMAND
FOR FLY WEIGHT CATTLE WAS A LITTLE SOFTER, BUT FEEDERS OVER
550# WERE VERY STRONG

 

[Travlr]

Who cares the logic. It doesn't matter. It is what it is.

There might other people here that are interested. When I play poker I play to win, not just fold and say it doesn't matter. Who knows, maybe someone can teach us something.

 

[GoWyo]

Right now huge demand for calves to go to grass in May. They want to turn out green 600 pounders after roughing them through the rest of the winter. Bigger calves go straight to feed. Have to look at when they will get marketed as fats to try and figure out the what's and whys.

 

[elkwc]

Unweaned 400lb steers at $1600 is hard to beat. I don't think they'd have brought any more weaned. It's been good for the cow/calf guys for sure

Wow. 593 at 3.20 is pretty darn nice too!
Okc?

Woodward. They have been having strong sales. We also took a load Thursday morning. They sold later. Due to my medical issue I had emergency surgery and just in the last 6 weeks getting where I can do much with the cattle. We had a group that got weaned on the cows and were unworked. Got the check today. 630 lb bulls at $2.75. Was pleased considering unworked and technically unweaned.

 

[Mat Man]

I just sold 2 weaned twin heifers for $3.16 @ 403 lbs each

 

[Rmc]

It’s been that way for years. If someone is paying attention you can sell in the early in the fall. And buy a calf bigger for less then you sold for in the fall as long as you buy 45-60 days before green up.
Let some one else take the risk of death , and pay for the expense of the feed for the 150-250 pound gain at a loss.
But the keyboard experts on this board have said it can’t be.
Why make a profit ? Got to keep that ego big. And got to worry about what the neighbors think !

 

[elkwc]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall when the buyers get together with their employers to talk about what they'll pay and why.
It makes no sense to me that you'll pay more for a lighter calf when you're going to be paying for the feed to get the lighter calf to the higher weight on the way to 1400 pounds.
Someone please explain that logic...

I agree. I was always taught to be flexible and willing too change in reaction to current conditions. We usually wean all at least 45 days or longer. Two years ago in the drought we sold many off the cow. This year I can’t justify keeping them and feeding them grain and hay. If we had wheat pasture we would likely keep some.

 

[Travlr]

I agree. I was always taught to be flexible and willing too change in reaction to current conditions. We usually wean all at least 45 days or longer. Two years ago in the drought we sold many off the cow. This year I can't justify keeping them and feeding them grain and hay. If we had wheat pasture we would likely keep some.

What is the difference in the price you get by weaning, medicating, and feeding them for 45 days compared to just trailer weaning them?
I've never weaned before selling. I just never saw a benefit worth the effort but I don't know the numbers.

 

[Heronfish]

There might other people here that are interested. When I play poker I play to win, not just fold and say it doesn't matter. Who knows, maybe someone can teach us something.

You could spend hours and hours getting different opinions of why buyers anything.

The key is knowing what is happening, not why

 

[bird dog]

Its a supply and demand thing. Nothing else. Right now there is a big demand for calves of all sorts but the buyers mostly have orders for wheat calves and as mentioned, calves to go onto grass in two months. They will pay for what they want and they want light weights.
When demand is not as strong and or corn gets expensive, they will have orders for heavier calves where someone else has done the work to put weight on them. Its a cost of gain thing.

Most calves bought at the bigger sales are forward hedged before they leave the barn.

Order buyers will buy what they have orders for. They rarely buy anything for themselves. It doesn't matter to them one bit if a 700 lb steer costs the same as a 600 lb one.