calf prices

[Horse]

Stoped in westlock today and 500# calves $1.45 and they dont figure on any better when run starts cows mostly 77 some to 81 otm 81/83 not real good but not much for numbers.

[smcgrath76]

We are thinking they will come down and
then strengthen into the spring. We are
figuring that if we have a cheap source of
gain we can add a lot of value with extra
pounds that don't have to be put on with
grain by a buyer.

[ASRG]

I wonder what the yearling run, coming soon, will show? Some of those grassers had a pretty fair price tag this spring? Might be some slim margins?
If the calf price is so-so this fall will that put a lot of pressure on bred cows/heifers? What do you guys see as a probable bred heifer price, for quality hfrs by Nov/Dec.?

[grassfarmer]

Slim margins is being optimistic ASRG - un-
contracted yearlings will be deep in the red by the
looks of things. US feedyard cattle margins were $200
in the red last week.

[T.N.T.]

If 500 lb pound steers are only bringing $700 this fall,thats going to put a lot of pressure on breds.There will be some guys yet,that still won't be making much of a profit at those prices,and there will be old ranchers saying to hell with it and retiring.Our guess is and how we plan on reacting to this market.We will be holding a lot of heifers back for our own herd,and will probably be buying in the bred cow market.

[15444]

Just came back from our local auction with almost 1000 head on offer, 800 being yearlings. It attracts a good number of western and eastern buyers being in the center of the country. Yearling and calf prices outstanding. Anything 700 lbs and up going for $1000 and up. 1000 lbers up to $1250.

A few calves on offer. High 5-weights just shy of $1000. Low 5-weights just shy of $900.

Lots of smiles and a lot of people wishing they had brought theirs or brought more of them.

Took a pretty sad cow to be under 60 cents. Bulls 70 and up to 95.

But buyers very discerning. Any limp or lump and the price plummeted up to 1/2 price.

[kato]

That's a bigger run than any sale around here has seen so far. Encouraging.

We're thinking there will be some games played in the beginning to try and drive the price down, and how it turns out in the long run will be based on how successful that was.

If low cattle numbers (availability) trump high feed costs on the priority list, then it could be a good year.

[15444]

As far as margins go, I know one fellow who bought black baldy steers this spring for $900 across the board and sold now for $975 to $1050 (7-8 weights).

I sold 5-weight Hereford steers last fall to an uncle for $775, gains were a little better than 300 lbs on some. Returns on those were $336 on the better ones and $250 on the smaller ones.

So in closing, guys who bought last fall, happy; guys who bought this spring, not so happy.