What to do

[Dave]

Plan A is to gather the one and done cows on Wednesday and split them and sell the cows on Thursday. Now I see that Vale (Wednesday sale) has a complete dispersal of 500 cows on Wednesday and 200 weigh cows from another ranch. They plan to preg all the 500 head herd but I am pretty certain a lot of them will go to kill. What is that going to do to the kill cow market on Thursday? I can't imagine they will have buyers for 500 bred cows so a lot of them will go to kill. If a person wanted bred cows for one bid over kill price this will be an opportunity.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Idk about there, but here it would just be another regular ol sale. Didn't seem to effect dollars last Thursday with 600 cows.

That being said, I've kinda loosely modeled my operation around your @Dave
I've been buying and selling after they've raised the calves. Only difference is, I've been trying to buy younger cows that'll definitely (hopefully) go back home somewhere when I sell em.

With the higher than giraffes arse prices right now, I'm considering keeping the cows for another year. They're all bred to my schedule this time around. And what am I gonna buy back after I sell. Hmmmmmmm

 

[kenny thomas]

Sell when there is a good profit.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Sell when there is a good profit.

That makes sense!
I think the more profit would be to sell em heavy bred!
As long as nothing dies etc.

 

[Dave]

I just got a little nervous because a guy I know was saying how much it was going to drop the price. I looked up the closest cow kill plant. They kill 1,700 a day. This isn't enough to plug them. And there are 3 men buying kill cows doe different plants at the sale. Those bigger runs wont start here for another month.

 

[Silver]

A drop in the bucket.

 

[Dave]

A drop in the bucket.

I agree. Clint was going on that the sky was falling.

 

[greybeard]

I agree. Clint was going on that the sky was falling.

But, if it's anything like the stock market's other commodities (and live cattle are definitely a necessary commodity, even if they may not be officially on the commodity exchanges), , 'rumors' can turn a market.
A case of belief becomes reality just because someone(s) said it was.

 

[Dave]

Just watched some of the Vale sale on line. They were selling kill cows in groups of 3 to 6 head at a whack. They are 1,200 lb +/- range cows in their work cloths. Getting $1.50 to $1.55. That will work for me tomorrow.

 

[Dave]

I went to Vale and watched about 600 bred cows sell. I conserved energy by not waving my hand anytime. Cows were about $2,800 to $3,300. The top price was 20 heifers bred 2-3 months weighing 883 which sold for $3,700. I only wrote down a few. 10 broken mouth cows 4 - 5 months bred weighing 1,126 sold for $2675. That is the kind I bought last winter for about $1,100 less. B said a buyer we both know sent him a picture of the board 25 steers weighing 490 sold for $5.40. That is $2646 a head. They started into feeder calves after the bred cows and that is when I left.

 

[GoWyo]

I went to Vale and watched about 600 bred cows sell. I conserved energy by not waving my hand anytime. Cows were about $2,800 to $3,300. The top price was 20 heifers bred 2-3 months weighing 883 which sold for $3,700. I only wrote down a few. 10 broken mouth cows 4 - 5 months bred weighing 1,126 sold for $2675. That is the kind I bought last winter for about $1,100 less. B said a buyer we both know sent him a picture of the board 25 steers weighing 490 sold for $5.40. That is $2646 a head. They started into feeder calves after the bred cows and that is when I left.

Are you going to restock this fall or take your profits and sit out for a year or two?

 

[Dave]

Are you going to restock this fall or take your profits and sit out for a year or two?

I don't know what I will do. But I will do something.. I rarely get much bought at the big well advertised bred cow sales. I get more at feeder calf sale with a dozen bred cows at the end. One thing is hay is real cheap this year.

 

[1982vett]

I'm on the schedule to have 30 palpated October 2. 24 of them are 10 years and older. The bull I had with them went lame last September. I was on the fence then about selling everything or get a new bull. Finally in December I bought a bull and dropped him out on December 16th. Sold the old one on the Dec 13th. As of yesterday afternoon, I have 2 new calves on the ground. Pretty save to say another 3 will calve in a week or so. Either that 19 month old bull went to work right away or the old limping bull managed 2 more before he became burger. Anyway, if they are open and without a calf on October 2 they will be gone. At least that is the plan today....right now...

 

[Mrcopier]

Just watched some of the Vale sale on line. They were selling kill cows in groups of 3 to 6 head at a whack. They are 1,200 lb +/- range cows in their work cloths. Getting $1.50 to $1.55. That will work for me tomorrow.

Ok I gotta ask what does “with their work clothes on” mean?

 

[Dave]

Ok I gotta ask what does "with their work clothes on" mean?

Range cows here are about a BCS 5. Rarely heavier. Some at a 4.5 or 4. You will also see cows who have been living in the irrigated meadows. They will be much heavier. Probably a BCS 7. You can't buy a 1,400-1,500 lb cow feed her for the winter, calf her out, and kick her up on the mountain expecting her to come back weighing 1,400-1,500 lbs. Grass might be a step or two between bites and water holes are often several miles apart.

 

[bird dog]

"with their work clothes on"

Fresh out of the pasture. Muddy, manure splattered, cockle burrs in tail, that sort of thing. Not quite ready for the show ring.

 

[farmerjan]

Fresh out of the pasture. Muddy, manure splattered, cockle burrs in tail, that sort of thing. Not quite ready for the show ring.

And usually not carrying too much extra weight... meaning they are ready to start gaining some weight and condition... doesn't mean skinny, but leaner rather than fatter...

 

[Brute 23]

Same with bulls. Picture a bull post-breeding season (work clothes on) vs pre-breeding season (looking fancy).