Cow prices

Help Support CattleToday:

Dave said:
I am buying early this year because I believe come January bred cows will be too high to pencil out for a one and done program. Last year late winter early spring I was a hair under $1,200 a cow into buying them. This year I am a hair over $1,200 ($1,229 right now). Last year hay was real expensive. It cost $252 a head for the shorter time feeding costs. This year feed is much cheaper. My projected wintering cost is $352 a head. With the big calf checks people are getting I think that the big December stock cow sales will see the prices soar. People will have money to spend and need to spend to keep the government from taking too big of a piece of it. Also by buying early I will have calves born much earlier than last year resulting in bigger calves at sale time. Had one pair that went walk about this year. The neighbor caught the pair 6 weeks after the others were weaned. That calf turned out to be one of the two biggest steers. 6 weeks longer on the cow makes a difference. We are locked in to selling the cows when we do so the way to make calves older at weaning is to have them born earlier.
Click to expand...
I had some early calves that weaned older and heavier and have often wondered if leaving them on the cow an extra month would pencil out. Especially if the cow is in good condition, I see no real reason that a calf can't be carried into 8 months for the extra pounds. Of course yours are one and done so perhaps the cow weight is a factor there too.

I like your thinking on the early buys too.
 
Travlr said:
I had some early calves that weaned older and heavier and have often wondered if leaving them on the cow an extra month would pencil out. Especially if the cow is in good condition, I see no real reason that a calf can't be carried into 8 months for the extra pounds. Of course yours are one and done so perhaps the cow weight is a factor there too.
Click to expand...
The leased ground that they summer on the landowner wants all the cows gone by Sept 1. It is in the lease agreement. That works for one and done cows. Get them to town before the fall glut of cows comes out of the hills. If you put younger cows on this pasture one would need to have a place for them to go to the end of August. Good luck finding a pasture to fit that.
 
Dave said:
The leased ground that they summer on the landowner wants all the cows gone by Sept 1. It is in the lease agreement. That works for one and done cows. Get them to town before the fall glut of cows comes out of the hills. If you put younger cows on this pasture one would need to have a place for them to go to the end of August. Good luck finding a pasture to fit that.
Click to expand...
You said in your prior post that "Also by buying early I will have calves born much earlier than last year resulting in bigger calves at sale time." and that was what I was commenting on. Early calves, bigger weights. I guess that also fits your pasture situation.
 
Travlr said:
You said in your prior post that "Also by buying early I will have calves born much earlier than last year resulting in bigger calves at sale time." and that was what I was commenting on. Early calves, bigger weights. I guess that also fits your pasture situation.
Click to expand...
I had earlier said we are locked in to our cow selling time. So I was just giving the explanation of why that is.
 
gcreekrch said:
You cleaned one house.
Click to expand...
Some from each really.
I kept some crossbreds that will calve this spring. No bull needed. Taking a break!

I've got a LOT going on right now. Time is of the utmost importance unfortunately. Estate stuff, finances, etc etc.

I out hay out this evening, and went on autopilot. Won't have to hay again til next month! 🤣
 
MurraysMutts said:
Some from each really.
I kept some crossbreds that will calve this spring. No bull needed. Taking a break!

I've got a LOT going on right now. Time is of the utmost importance unfortunately. Estate stuff, finances, etc etc.

I out hay out this evening, and went on autopilot. Won't have to hay again til next month! 🤣
Click to expand...
Did you keep the brindle Holstein? Wondering what colour her calf will be.
 
MurraysMutts said:
Some from each really.
I kept some crossbreds that will calve this spring. No bull needed. Taking a break!

I've got a LOT going on right now. Time is of the utmost importance unfortunately. Estate stuff, finances, etc etc.

I out hay out this evening, and went on autopilot. Won't have to hay again til next month! 🤣
Click to expand...
Did you sell off all the nurse cows?
 
gcreekrch said:
Did you keep the brindle Holstein? Wondering what colour her calf will be.
Click to expand...
I did! Didn't figure she would bring much. But after seeing prices....
She is a pretty lil thing!
Kept the 2 other crossbred w/ ear as well. March calvers. Brindle should be along soon!
20231214_162905.jpg

Jeanne - Simme Valley said:
Murry - we're here if you need to vent.
Click to expand...
Thanks gal! Been a fun ride. I OWN all seven of my cows that are left. And have a chunk in the bank now. It's a relief honestly. Debt is something I don't mind to a point, but I'd like to keep my money! Rather than work for the bank.
Pastures could use a rest anyway....
Travlr said:
Did you sell off all the nurse cows?
Click to expand...
Only one I had left was Bessie.
And u KNOW the answer to that question!
🙂
 
MurraysMutts said:
Oodles and gobs went to slaughter here too.

I'm happy to say, all my girls went good homes. Only one that MAY have went to feed was little sister, the open/replacement heifer.
Click to expand...
I'm leaning the same direction to cut significantly on our place but want to wait till early January for tax reasons. I planted winter grazing late and with lack of rain it just hasn't come up. Been watching noble foundation and other regenerative grazing seminar and want to redo my small operation to grazing more and haying less. There are so many options out there
 

Similar threads

Ky hills
Baby calf prices
Replies
8
Views
540
MurraysMutts
MurraysMutts
S
Commercial Bull prices.
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
gcreekrch
G
F
Lasting cattle prices
Replies
16
Views
1K
Peace
P
Ky hills
Cow sale tonight.
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
MurraysMutts
MurraysMutts
G
Bred cow sale tomorrow
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
blackladies
B

Latest posts

Top