Timing the sale of a cow

[denoginnizer]

I have a cow that lost her calf and I have decided to sell her. If I sell her now I think she will bring about 600-700 but if I rebreed and sell her in 6-8 months I am thinking she will bring 1200-1400, maybe higher the way cow prices are going.
Would I be, monetarily , better off to sell her and buy another cow/calf or keep her to sell later when she is bred?

 

[toby]

What is the cost of feeding her for the 6-8 months - will prices stay up if Canadian cattle are allowed back in to the US.

 

[Craig-TX]

It sounds like you might be a little wide on the prices. Fat slaughter cows are bringing in the 50s so your number there should work assuming she’s big and fat. But around here even young preg tested cows are bringing $850 on the low side to maybe $1,200 tops. Even good young pairs aren’t averaging in the $1,200 to $1,400 range. At the spread you’re talking it would pay to keep till she is bred – if she’s young. But based on today’s prices you’re only looking at a premium of a couple hundred dollars or so.

Craig-TX

 

[denoginnizer]

She weighs about 1400 pds and is a brahman cross. In my area these type cows bred, fancy, will bring 1100 - 1200 . Brahman cross cows are in high demand here and there seems to be a shortage.
Due to the high cost of cows in my area a friend and I just bought 40 cows with calves out of Florida. We paid 1200 for the pairs . The shipping will be around a 1000 split two ways.
If you have brahmas cross cows and want a premium for them ship them to Alabama.

 

[denoginnizer]

O , I forgot to mention last sat, in Letohatchee Al. pairs of brahman cross cows were bringing between 1400-1700.

 

[9 ER]

If you keep her and sale her as a when she is bred, I hope I'm not the one who buys her. Selling your culls as quality cattle is a little shadey. Wont do much for your reputation. jmo

 

[9 ER]

oops, I should have proof read

 

[jt]

If you keep her and sale her as a when she is bred, I hope I'm not the one who buys her. Selling your culls as quality cattle is a little shadey. Wont do much for your reputation. jmo

the way i view it, just about every cow that goes thru the sale barn is a cull, unless someone is selling out his whole herd.,..

but... one mans cull might be another mans gem.

jt

 

[9 ER]

yes, most are. But you are selling a "bred" cow. I think there is a difference. If I buy your bred cow, I expect her to throw a calf and If she doesnt, then I wont buy anymore of your cows. I'm a character guy who wouldnt want to do anything to hurt my reputation. Just my point of view. I might be the only one who thinks this way. I'm a rookie with little experience.

 

[G&L Cattle]

Sell her

 

[eric]

$1700 bucks a pair?? Why would you breed her and then sell her in 6-8 mos? Why not just let her have the calf and then sell her?
Have you actually seen pairs sell for $1700 or are you relying on what someone has told you? Not sure where you are located, but your grass should be coming on in the next few months, so why would you raise her for 8 mos then sell her right before she calves?

 

[denoginnizer]

Her calf died. I suspect her next calf will die. I called the barn and they said 1700 a pair.

 

[mwj]

Her calf died. I suspect her next calf will die. I called the barn and they said 1700 a pair.

go to the home page for this board,click on market report on the left side when it opens click on livestock. If you go down the list of sales in Al. it is the sixth listing. scroll to the bottom of the page to cow calf pairs this week they b
sold2-3 year old cows with 1-300 lb. calfs for $600!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think you better call the man back and tell him to sober up :shock:
your friend
Mike

 

[Scotty]

If you know her calf is going to die the time was yesterday. :stop: More to point , it was the time that it hit you, Her calve is going to die. :idea: Any that don't live, don't make you money. :idea: Keep her around and then apply for some grants.



Scotty

 

[denoginnizer]

Her calf died. I suspect her next calf will die. I called the barn and they said 1700 a pair.

go to the home page for this board,click on market report on the left side when it opens click on livestock. If you go down the list of sales in Al. it is the sixth listing. scroll to the bottom of the page to cow calf pairs this week they b
sold2-3 year old cows with 1-300 lb. calfs for $600!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think you better call the man back and tell him to sober up :shock:
your friend
Mike

Mike , This sale was on saturday and they dont report satuday sales. I have been to numerous sales in the last few months ,in alabama and miss. where good pairs were bringing 1400-1500.

 

[Jake]

Her calf died. I suspect her next calf will die. I called the barn and they said 1700 a pair.

go to the home page for this board,click on market report on the left side when it opens click on livestock. If you go down the list of sales in Al. it is the sixth listing. scroll to the bottom of the page to cow calf pairs this week they b
sold2-3 year old cows with 1-300 lb. calfs for $600!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think you better call the man back and tell him to sober up :shock:
your friend
Mike

yeah mike but those could have been 900# raily, skinny crappy cows. Most good cows right now are at least around a $1000, some up to $1400

 

[denoginnizer]

If you know her calf is going to die the time was yesterday. :stop: More to point , it was the time that it hit you, Her calve is going to die. :idea: Any that don't live, don't make you money. :idea: Keep her around and then apply for some grants.


Scotty,
I am only considering keeping her around until I get her re-bred and then selling her as a bred cow instead of selling her as a slaughter cow. There is a difference in the price if you have not noticed. I dont know for sure her calf will die but the last one she had did. I dont think I want to chance it myself but there are many people at the stockyard who dont care. I dont know why you said something about a grant but I pay for everything I have with money I earned from working.
Scotty

 

[denoginnizer]

Mike,
Take a gander at the prices of pairs reported for FEb 17 in livingston Alabama. The only thing really nice about these cows were they had all there teath.

 

[Rookie]

yes, most are. But you are selling a "bred" cow. I think there is a difference. If I buy your bred cow, I expect her to throw a calf and If she doesnt, then I wont buy anymore of your cows. I'm a character guy who wouldnt want to do anything to hurt my reputation. Just my point of view. I might be the only one who thinks this way. I'm a rookie with little experience.

I gotta throw in with ya here, 9er. I got burned on a cow that won't breed myself. Luckily I didn't pay a ton for her but probably more than I will get from sale if I disclose that she is a no breeder. But I just wouldn't like myself too much if I didn't disclose the info. As Billy Graham said, "when character is lost, all is lost".

george

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Just my 2 cents here, sell her now as "open", get what you can and put it towards a pair.

Katherine