Bred Heifer Prices?

[ASRG]

On the Alberta Ag website most are asking around $1600-$1650 for bred heifers.
Brian Butterfield is asking $1400 for black heifers, bred to low weight reputation Angus bulls, 1000 lbs. 400 head.

Now I would guess Brian has a pretty good idea of where the market is at, and probably will get a few extra dollars because of his name? I would think there should be some fairly good bred heifers at the fall sales for $1300-$1350?

[smcgrath76]

That lower price is probably realistic.
A bred heifer now has 200 days to go to
"maybe" have a live calf without
assistance. If you can feed her for $1
per day (not many can) a $1600 bred is
now $1800, and her cull replacement
value has just dropped $200 this week
if she doesn't make it.
Probably better to buy pairs or young
cows for the same money or a little bit
more.
I think we will see these breds come
back a bit yet.

[ALLFARMER]

1300 to 1350 for good bred heifers .....not a
chance.

Who would sell for that price? 1400 sounds like a
deal to me. Come mid November minimum price
1450/1500.

Heard Garth Rogers sayin today 7 weights $1000

[15444]

Bred heifers at this last local sale on Saturday were a high of $925 for 1000 lb Herfs bred Herf, while I saw Hereford steer calves fetch 825-966. Some breds were bought back when they went less than 850.00.

Also saw a nice Black baldy cow with young/fall calf go for 850.00.

Everybody (cow/calf) is selling as fast as they can and almost no one is buying here.

[ASRG]

Sounds like if you want to expand the cow herd.......you should buy in Ontario?
Sounds like if you want to sell calves....you should go to Ontario?

[ALLFARMER]

Ya if I had Hereford's I'd be sellin as fast as I
could too lol

[grassfarmer]

I'm sure Brian would supply you with some $1500
heifers Allfarmer - they'd be a steal.

[grassfarmer]

Like you were telling ASRG "A fool and his money
soon will be apart"

[ALLFARMER]

Why would I need more? As long as I have more
than you I'm happy

[grassfarmer]

Oh yeah I forgot your were a BTO with 85 calves.

[ALLFARMER]

Ya and 123 cows so we've got your quaint little
stump ranch beat. With a little rain next year well
add another 50 or 60. How's you expansion plans
or more like retirement plans?

[grassfarmer]

That's why you'll never make a go in the beef
business Allfarmer - your math aren't good enough.
You are well behind but you think your ahead, maybe
thats what makes you confuse profit and loss and
what's a viable proposition and what isn't?

[ASRG]

Allfarmer: They are bred 1000 lb. hfrs. $1350 is $1.35 lb.?
Feedlot buyers aren't going to pay $1.35 lb. for an obviously bred heifer. They might pay about $1-$1.05? Too much trouble to knock the calf out of her and poor gains? You've seen it, I'm sure? A heifer comes through the auction sale that is obviously in calf and right away she's not worth anything to the feedlot buyers....unless the price is right!....and those old buyers can "preg check" an animal by eye....probably as good as most vets!

[smcgrath76]

There is a difference between asking
price and selling price. With the value
of feed grains right now I don't think a
bred heifer at $1600 is a good deal at
all. There are still a lot of pretty
good cows on the move in the US at a
discounted price. That will put a bit
of a lid on bred prices. Additionally
this XL closure limits the escape plan
if a heifer aborts or otherwise loses a
calf. Until that is cleared up I can't
see breds going through the roof.
A lot of the bred heifers were bought
high and must be sold high, but that
don't necessarily mean the stars will
align. I think a good focus on cost
containment and a long term attitude are
probably still the best strategy.