Making money feeding out calves

[Stocker Steve]

Is it profitable to feed out 300 weight calves

I used to buy a lot of those.
Usually made very little limit feeding them in a MN winter.
Usually made good money once they hit grass.

It seems to me that there is more demand now for calves under 400# than there was a few years back. Do you see this?

[Stocker Steve]

With a 70¢ cost of gain the first equation should make $13 and the second equation should make $22.

How much death loss and LRP is included?

[RanchMan90]

With a 70¢ cost of gain the first equation should make $13 and the second equation should make $22.

How much death loss and LRP is included?

I didn't. That would negate any profits on those little fellers Would have to turn them out on some unimproved grass lease for a chance of profit.

[Dave]

Thats no good. Might be better to get 800# heifers, let my jersey heifer bull go to work, take them back and sell them as bred. Skinny cows only going for $.50 right now.

I wouldn't breed heifers to a Jersey if you are planning to sell them. Announce that they are bred that way and the price will drop considerably. Don't let it be known are bred to a Jersey and your reputation will be damaged. Do whatever you want on heifers you keep. But that won't work so well on ones you plan to sell.

[BK9954]

Thats no good. Might be better to get 800# heifers, let my jersey heifer bull go to work, take them back and sell them as bred. Skinny cows only going for $.50 right now.

I wouldn't breed heifers to a Jersey if you are planning to sell them. Announce that they are bred that way and the price will drop considerably. Don't let it be known are bred to a Jersey and your reputation will be damaged. Do whatever you want on heifers you keep. But that won't work so well on ones you plan to sell.

Not sure if the auction ask, but they never announce what bred cattle being sold are bred to. I have a black brangus bull but dont like running new cattle straight from anywhere with him. Never know if they are bring the gift that keeps on giving like trich. If my jersey got it I wouldnt be hurt. He goes to slaughter anyways. Heck you cant even tell the jersey crosses are hardly jersey. My angus jersey/brangus jersey calves just look like brangus or angus lacking a beefy butt. My little hereford jersey cross heifer looks more hereford then anything. Just super small when she was born.

[No Rest Farm]

The best way to make money selling bred heifers is to build up your reputation. If you are looking to randomly drop a few need heifers at a sale here and there you might get away with it. But you also aren't going to make nearly as money as being able to sell a good group of bred heifers every year.

[BK9954]

The best way to make money selling bred heifers is to build up your reputation. If you are looking to randomly drop a few need heifers at a sale here and there you might get away with it. But you also aren't going to make nearly as money as being able to sell a good group of bred heifers every year.

Anything I take to the auction is not not premium. stock. Might be for the feed lot. Calves are the end product I am after. Wouldnt sell any of my good girls at the auction. I have sold higher on craigs list. Private treaty for anything I am giving a reputation or guarantee on.

[BK9954]

...........

[ddd75]

all look like jerseys to me.

[BK9954]

Auction didnt think so. I got $1.45 a pound this morning. Jersey steers bringing .50 a pound. I got docked about .10 cents. I can live with that.

[ddd75]

good deal!

what'd they end up weighing?

[littletom]

You left a lot of money on the table weaning a small calf

[BK9954]

Yes, just wasnt sure how much they were going to beef up being half jersey, plus figured sell while market is up. Most guys around here said sell those half breeds young. They weighed 180 and 220.

[RanchMan90]

Yes, just wasnt sure how much they were going to beef up being half jersey, plus figured sell while market is up. Most guys around here said sell those half breeds young. They weighed 180 and 220.

You did fair. They must've sold as roping calves at that price. Thats the same dollar amount they would've brought at 500 lbs when they get peaky in the hip.

[True Grit Farms]

Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 1
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
200 200 172.00 172.00
255-290 264 165.00-175.00 167.13
300-340 323 160.00-167.00 162.60
365-395 386 158.00-162.00 160.06
400-430 417 146.00-154.00 149.24
450-480 461 139.00-149.00 145.26
500-540 523 133.00-140.00 135.72
550-585 564 124.00-132.00 128.60
600-645 614 121.00-126.00 123.01

Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 2
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
350-390 367 149.00-155.00 151.77
405-445 425 138.00-145.00 141.08
470-495 487 135.00-139.00 137.59
500-535 520 125.00-133.00 128.66

Feeder Bulls Medium and Large 3
Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price
340-345 342 145.00-150.00 147.52
360-395 382 138.00-146.00 142.59
450-490 470 124.00-126.00 125.04
750-790 770 85.00-91.00 88.08

This was the prices at our local sale barn last week. I think the buyers knew exactly what they were buying, and the prices reflects as much.