Winds of change?

[Ky hills]

I mentioned in a post in the cattle sales board that I had talked to some yesterday that were saying that the non black hided feeder calves were taking a big dock, more than usual, and that black ones were selling significantly better.
However at a bred heifer sale, which was down considerably overall as well, those previous statements did not come to be. Typically since I have been following the local bred heifer sales, black heifers have been consistently at or near the top of the sale. Over the last 3-4 years maybe a bit longer BWF heifers have been at the top end of the sales slightly edging out the solid black heifers. The black heifers have typically however always sold solid depending on quality of course. Most of the heifers year after year are black, with an increasing number of BWF each year. There are typically a few Charolais cross which most times vary in price usually around or slightly below average unless they are real big then they go for more. Last night there were several Charolais cross and they consistently went well above most of the black and BWF.
On a side note most times there are very few red cattle there, last night the few that were there mostly sold at or above sale average, instead of below. We had two Hereford cross heifers that had some frame and were what we thought good enough to put a floor on. The sale manager told us we would definitely be taking them home if that was our price, which we were fine with doing. To our surprise they ended up being the 2nd or 3rd high selling lots. In all honesty I cant say that if there were many more red heifers there if the interest would have held out or not, but sure wasn't expecting them to be our highest selling group even though they were as good as any. The consistent demand for the Charolais cross heifers was very interesting in light of current trends.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Seed stock sales, and feeder calf..big difference in buyers..those crossbreds will always be the big sellers.to commercial producers..won't see folks looking to buy a new Cadillac at a ford dealership...you can't sling a dead cat and not hit a black heifer,, but those crossbred ""hybrids""don't grow on trees..

 

[Bright Raven]

Bill

I would not read much into seedstock sales. There are always peripheral players who want to breed something that is not mainstream.

I think sticking with black or black with some white on the head is still what will sell best as feeders.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

the buyers like to keep us guessing. LOL

 

[callmefence]

Good Charolais cross stocker calves consistently beat black calves. It's a fact.

 

[Muddy]

Good Charolais cross stocker calves consistently beat black calves. It's a fact.

Maybe in some areas, but not here this year or last year. Seems like the buyers are not interested in Charolais x feeders.

 

[elkwc]

Good Charolais cross stocker calves consistently beat black calves. It's a fact.

Maybe in some areas, but not here this year or last year. Seems like the buyers are not interested in Charolais x feeders.

Muddy that has been true here for a few years and I've posted it before. I've talked to a few feeders and lot managers about it. They say the Chars are like several other breeds and have went away from their drawing card and although still good cattle they don't bring to the table what they once did. Said that a Char X used to feed as good as if not better than anything. Not so now. I've had several long term feeders tell me that their cost of gain isn't as good as it used to be and therefor if they buy one they will give less money for them. I have been told that about most of the exotic crosses and why most don't want anymore than 1/4 Simmi, limmi, ect in them. I've been considering trying a Simmi so have been asking my friends in the feeder business their thoughts on it. Again this is just opinions I hear around here and also what I see and hear from the salebarn owners/managers. I know it varies. As for replacement heifers the black baldies still draw the top premium and the same with the steer side. Hereford heifers have had a strong market for the last 3-4 years and still is. That is if they are good quality. It took me 3 years to get some good ones bought. Now wish I had bought the whole bunch when I did. I plan to buy at least one more from the same herd in a week unless she goes clear out of my range. The calves in our group of heifers out of the Herefords are by far the best calves in that group.

 

[Ky hills]

I still intend to have mostly Angus and BWF, for any heifer projects that I do, so far this year they are all Angus and 1 BWF. My thinking for sale purposes have always been centered on the cows having a black calf. That can be accomplished also with Herefords as well bred to an Angus bull.
The thing that got my attention the other night at the sale was the fact that the reports are showing more dock for non black feeder calves than previously. Yet the Charolais heifers were in higher demand than I have seen in many years. Those sales do have anomalies but by and large they do seem to reflect market trends of both seed stock and commercial markets. I know from past experience that those Charolais cross will make some nice calf raising cows but will not all have black calves. There will be a percentage black then also a range of mouse colored and tans depending on the breeding of the cow.

 

[elkwc]

I still intend to have mostly Angus and BWF, for any heifer projects that I do, so far this year they are all Angus and 1 BWF. My thinking for sale purposes have always been centered on the cows having a black calf. That can be accomplished also with Herefords as well bred to an Angus bull.
The thing that got my attention the other night at the sale was the fact that the reports are showing more dock for non black feeder calves than previously. Yet the Charolais heifers were in higher demand than I have seen in many years. Those sales do have anomalies but by and large they do seem to reflect market trends of both seed stock and commercial markets. I know from past experience that those Charolais cross will make some nice calf raising cows but will not all have black calves. There will be a percentage black then also a range of mouse colored and tans depending on the breeding of the cow.

I've been told and read where it seems the dock for non black calves has decreased in this area for some. What I do know is now at the large sale in this area they will leave a few Herefords on a group of baldies and blacks and the buyers say nothing and they seem to sell just as well. At least that was the case last spring. Have watched some this fall but not as much yet.

 

[Muddy]

The dockage is still hard on Shorthorn influenced feeders. I do get docked for the belted calves but it's a small dockage like few cents less so I don't complain about a good paycheck from them. I don't know why the buyers are very fussy with the Charolais x feeders every year. In some years, the Char x will sells good but in other years the black feeders dominate them in every weight classes. Hence we are hesitated to trying Charolais on our cows because of that and we are avoiding to buying any CharX females. Nothing's wrong with the Charolais, just not very strong demand for them in this area. Hereford steers in the mixed groups will do alright at the sales. However they usually sort off Hereford heifers from the mixed group and these Hereford heifers sell good.

 

[Silver]

Where I am at feather necks feeders get sorted out separately and sell for a little less. Black hides do not sell at a premium anymore. Quality red / yellow and white Simmental does seem to continue to demand top prices. One thing that is very obvious this year is that pounds sell. Good 500 lb calves get $2.15 per pound, good 650 lb calves get $2.15 per pound. Buyers tell me that it's because the heavy calves are considered "short keep" and because of the feed prices this year there is more chance of a profit.
Year after year it becomes obvious that it is important to demand more than just a live calf out of your cows. Commercial cows need to raise a good heavy calf every year to be profitable.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

I still intend to have mostly Angus and BWF, for any heifer projects that I do, so far this year they are all Angus and 1 BWF. My thinking for sale purposes have always been centered on the cows having a black calf. That can be accomplished also with Herefords as well bred to an Angus bull.
The thing that got my attention the other night at the sale was the fact that the reports are showing more dock for non black feeder calves than previously. Yet the Charolais heifers were in higher demand than I have seen in many years. Those sales do have anomalies but by and large they do seem to reflect market trends of both seed stock and commercial markets. I know from past experience that those Charolais cross will make some nice calf raising cows but will not all have black calves. There will be a percentage black then also a range of mouse colored and tans depending on the breeding of the cow.

Some good momas I've seen crossed with Charolais,is BeefMaster... in my opinion only. But I think one of the crosses with char. Needs to be a maternal type. and I don't want a resulting elephant

 

[Stocker Steve]

Good red breds will top the sale at some barns here, and sell $50 back at other barns...
Red Simmental are the hot ticket here for private party sales.