Bred cow prices

[ALLFARMER]

Anyone been to the sales lately? Sure would like
to add some more now but limited feed. Wouldn't
be all that hard though to buy more pellets. What
can good younger bred cows be bought for?

[ag-boy]

at team auction, bred cows $ 1200
this came down to be interested ,
winter is close to be over ,
today most of the cattle passed out

[ALLFARMER]

Thanks I heard NBI Clyde advertising a sale
tomorrow. Maybe I should call and check er out.
What's another 20 or 30?

[ALLFARMER]

So if good bred cows can fetch 1200$ is the
industry really rebuilding???

[15444]

I saw sales for Keady Livestock Auction in Southern Ontario, 8 and 9 month bred cows selling for $600 to $800 dollars. I have no idea on quality, but I think no matter what they would be a good deal. Calve them out, and ship both after 3 months.

[WiltonRanch]

Think these breds are soft in the West because of
the winter and the shortage of feed. Guys woke up
the first of February, counted their bales, and figured
she was nip and tuck ith what they had let alone
buying anymore.
I think this industry is contracting and expanding at
the same time. The more traditional winter calving,
200 day a year tractor feeding, high expense outfits
are disappearing. However, those who took bse as
an opportunity to become least cost producers are
doing alright and expanding.
Maybe One Earth will fill the cattle shortage in years
to come.

[ASRG]

If you have the feed $1200 looks pretty cheap.....translates back to an Oct/12 price of about $1050? I don't think you would have got much of a cow for $1050 last October?
If calf prices this fall match last falls prices it looks like a winner.
I truly doubt cow numbers will build (unless the One Earth types are the new model). Not enough young guys willing to raise cattle.....too many old guys packing it in!
Over the last several years most of the cattle people in my area have quit and they are never going back in. You see these guys and ask them if they miss the cows....and they look at you like you are crazy!
Overall I'm not so sure we even need more cattle? People are generally eating less beef and other than hamburger it is pricing itself out of the market. If they ever get rid of supply mangement for poultry in this country I can't see any cost senstive housewife buying beef...chicken will be so dirt cheap!

[ALLFARMER]

Checked with the mart their saying 1300 to 1500
for decent stuff.

Going to count bales today and see if we have the
straw for more girls.

[WiltonRanch]

I wasnt being serious about OneEarth. But aside
from that their isnt many young guys coming up
theranks to raise cows. Cow production is being
relegated to the crappy land. Is this the new norm?
Who knows but I think you are right about less beef
around is probably okay for the time being. Let the
grain guys sell their cows off. Why would they mess
with em if they have a lot of good land. Outfits like
mine need cows because we would go broke if we
relied on grain alone.
Probably where meat production should increase is
goats. Look at all the immigrants coming in from
countries that eat lots of the stuff. I seriously think
we as an industry should seriously look at
supplying this market.

[ASRG]

Wilton: You might be right. Most of the world eats goats.
Allfarmer....are you listening? You might make a fine goat herder! LOL (don't get bent out of shape....that is supposed to be funny)

[ALLFARMER]

Never raised goats .... and never will.

[grassfarmer]

Allfarmer, I really think your time would be better
spent figuring out how to graze for 8 months and
feed for 4 rather than feed for 8 and graze for 4.
That's where the money is. I think you have to build
your herd around your land-base and it's forage
production capacity not build it around a winter feed
program if you want to make money.

[WiltonRanch]

Yeah the old days of penning up the critters for
most of the winter is on the way out with disco,
discers, and box drills. Cows cant afford too much
green paint or diesel. We are figuring this out finally.

Later calving, more bale grazing, less reliance on
equipment and less labour. My work force is either
on the wrong side of 70 or under 5. Soon will be a 1
man show and 300 cows. Gotta love a good horse
and dog.

[ASRG]

Just wondering if there has ever been a study done on actual costs (not feed...one way or other they have to have a certain level of feed)? Mechanical costs per cow per day?

[grassfarmer]

That's a good point ASRG. An Alberta AG "average
yardage" cost is often quoted in articles promoting
alternate systems of feeding but I don't know how
recent or what the research was to establish that.
Average is one thing - the range of variation interests
me more - but at the end of the day you have to
know your own cost, thats the only one that matters.