When and where to sell steers?

[Lrj505]

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 !

 

[Son of Butch]

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?

Now cut that out!
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]

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]

$850-900 for 500 lbs = 1.70 - 1.80 I wouldn't be complaining... They're more like 1.35 - 1.50 here

 

[snoopdog]

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]

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 !

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.

 

[Lrj505]

I feed about 20 pounds of hay a day per cow. I have pasture in the winter ten acres for about 4 months.

 

[Dave]

Your location would help. But irregardless of your location if you are breaking even on $900 calves your inputs are way too high.

 

[dieselbeef]

man wish I could get 900 for a 500...id sell em all

 

[backhoeboogie]

I feed about 20 pounds of hay a day per cow. I have pasture in the winter ten acres for about 4 months.

$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.