A 500 pound steer brings about $850-$900 at sale barn. But hay is $120-$150 a ton. So to feed a cow and calf til 205 days cost pretty much what your going to make from the sale of the steer? So my question is. How do I sell my steers to actually make money ? I have heard restaurants, feedlots at 900 pounds, or slaughter plants at 1,200 pounds. Seems it would be more profitable to buy $300 weaned Calves and feed them til 500 - 600 pounds and take them to sale barn opposed to cow calf operation. Advice experience thanks !
When and where to sell steers?
- Thread starter Lrj505
- Start date
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Son of Butch
Well-known member
Now cut that out!Lrj505":3iozt8o9 said:
If you're going to go thinking about it in a practical rational manner you'll never do it.
Just get started and figure it out later, otherwise the next thing you'll be asking is why would any choose to farm.
Dave
Well-known member
If the steer brings $900 and hay cost $150 and you are breaking even? That would mean with the cost you list you are feeding 6 tons of hay? Get them out to pasture and don't feed as much.
Son of Butch
Well-known member
$850-900 for 500 lbs = 1.70 - 1.80 I wouldn't be complaining... They're more like 1.35 - 1.50 here
snoopdog
Well-known member
Avg cost to keep a cow is around 500 a year , pasture inputs are generally cheaper than buying hay . Sell after weaning and vaccination is generally .10 more per pound around here, contact your barn for special sales . Don't be afraid to shop the barns for free hauling /lower yardage and commission . We have 4 local barns within 40 miles , and 3 major ones within 100.
callmefence
Hobby rancher
Lrj505":127anjs6 said:
Reduce inputs.. it's the cows job to harvest forage and put pounds on the calf. If your feeding 150dollar hay 6-7 months of year your cattle are on welfare.
Dave
Well-known member
Your location would help. But irregardless of your location if you are breaking even on $900 calves your inputs are way too high.
dieselbeef
Well-known member
man wish I could get 900 for a 500...id sell em all
backhoeboogie
Well-known member
Lrj505":iij61v2b said:
$150 a ton at 20 lbs a day puts you at $1.50 a day for 8 months if they are on pasture for 4 months. I get $361 and change. You have meds and wormer. Fertilizer and seed on the 4 months? Lease expenses? Taxes ? Tractor maintenance or fence maintenance and fuel. There's simply not enough information on expenses.
None of us want to judge. $900 per cow would put a lot of folks out of business.
Volume to spread the cost of a new rear tractor tire helps. If you don't have volume, you have to spread the cost across fewer cows. Many of us have been there.
A win/win situation is providing prime beef to friends. Many of my peers at work are still asking to buy half a steer and I no longer have them for sale. My problem was always odd numbers. 9 people would want a steer so that meant selling 4 1/2. So process 5 and trying to find someone else to take 1/2. Take your cull steers to the sale barn. Sell some quality steers to other markets.
Lots of ideas here in the forum.
