Tone is set for very strong Bred Heifer sales into December

[grassfarmer]

Cull cows have been at historic highs, simmy crosses make big cows and the occasional one might raise 10 calves (most are burnt out by 8 though). Most ranchers are pretty proud of their herds.

Still doesn't explain the reason that of two pens of heifers at a show and sale one can make $2700 and one $5000. How can one pen be worth nearly twice as much money in the commercial cattle business assuming the lower priced weren't complete garbage? I'd assume they weren't or they wouldn't have been there.

[SADIE]

Genetics in those animals. Also reputation of those consigners that topped the sale.

The bottom end group calves will be 1/2 the size and growth potential of the top group end.

Also some consigners at the top end have more at home to purchase from. By buying their pens at this sale gives you the right to come to the Ranch.

There is only so many good ones produced each year.

Sean help me out here with Grassy. It is a tough school here.

[burnt]

Don't worry Sadie, a slow-learning class may say more about the student than the teacher. Just sayin'

[WiltonRanch]

Simmental cows burnt out by 8? What kind of junk simmies have spoiled your taste buds? These herds are top notch outfits. I know all the aforementioned outfits very well, run cattle right beside and with them. In fact have a number of Simmental cross cows from them running with r and s tags with no burnout. To start making generalizations about a particular breed is pushing it. Think you should rag on breeders raising garbage and selling for inflated prices. Every breed has crap. Try and find a black angus with good feet that don't go to hell after a couple years. Find a Hereford that don't prolapse. Or find a simmie with a good bag. These are the stereotypical problems associated with these breeds but it doesn't mean they're all like that. These herds have some damn good genetics that last.

[perfecho]

Because 2 people wanted them....
Only bought from auction mart once...and when you take them back, they seem to know them by name ;-)

[grassfarmer]

Sorry WR maybe wasn't clear but I meant burnt out by 8 calves, not 8 years old. As I said most are gone by then and I'd stand by that assertion. I raised purebred Simmentals for 15 years and have had many crossbred daughters over the years so I know the potential of the breed. You have a few R's running around - they would only be on their ninth calf by now?

Don't know these guys cattle, not saying there is anything wrong with them just asking Sadie to justify the price differential. I'd be happy to bet with him that if he buys a pen of the $2700 heifers from this show along with a pen of the $5000 ones and raises them side by side that the one lot won't raise calves twice the size of the others as he suggests. I'd bet $5000 on that, as would anyone with a knowledge of cattle genetics.

I can see how the marketing scheme works though - take a few to a show and sell them for an inflated price then sell the rest behind closed doors presumably still at a price that is inflated above the commercial value they would achieve if they were all sold by public auction. Similar trick to what many of the purebred guys do with inflated bull prices in their (unofficially pre-sold) lead off bull pen to boost their average.

[WiltonRanch]

Agree with you there grass. Lots of that stuff happens. I prefer buying most of my stuff privately. I hate auction sales unless I'm getting a deal.

[SADIE]

Thanks for the support. The bred heifers that I have had the privilege to purchase every year for now 15 years are very moderate framed animals. I just checked the weight of those entered at agribition as breds 1168 lbs.

Why are these pens so valuable? The full brothers of these F1 are what the feeders want in feedlots, what the packers want. When steers used to compete at Canadian Western Agribition they were many times champion or reserve champion pen and when sold brought the premium prices.

If I could not source my F1 bred order from someone within 100 miles from me He would let me know an help me get into one of those great herd programs in the Vermillion area.

1/2 the calf crop is female and those red blaze face, good spring of rib, full confirmation in the backend looking at the Hook to Pin ratios gives me added value in selling open replacement in the spring or now since my 2015 calf crop heifers is 3/4 Simmental (moderate) start keeping my own to breed and maybe get in the bred heifer game as well.

We live in central Saskatchewan around lots of grain land. When I only have enough grass for 110 to 120 head I would not want to bring any off type, off color or off confirmation into my herd.

Uniformity is a cattlemens dream if the string of cows meet good confirmation, good temperament and same color.

Black herds like I believe Happy Trails runs is great for his area and his size and I know he has a great set of cows.

Cross bred animals, young and Dark red with some carrying crome and some not is a dream for our family to achieve.

These good programs that are out there---As a veterinarian and a cattlemen it is a privilege to network and be able to purchase from their yearly production.

[SADIE]

I see you made another post grassy.

Like I said I have been once a consigner at CWA and a bidder now for the last 15 years.

The top pen and the champion pen of Breds $5000.00 and $4500 respectively were bought and I know the 3 bidder ups also.

They are a very well established Charolais breeder that run a commercial cow herd as well.

These animals could handle the high power Charolais bulls they run. They were bred early and that fit their program with Calving barns, cameras etc.

They just got more grass land a rare find and needed an extra 30 cows for this spring season.

The runner upers have bought from this outfit before also. one now will need two years supply at the next sale.

When Westmans from Vermillion come into Regina with 45 head of Bred heifers to compete and sell and advertise their 450 Bred heifer sale this next week at VERMILLION they also have to buy open replacement Semi X Angus for the 2016 game.

Westmans just came out of Northlands and won and sold about 35 head there.

When the open heifers sell first and you have 45 Breds in the same sale are you going to be active and be willing to push the open heifers that fit your program game.

They were on the Sim REd Angus open heifer pen like I was that reached $2900.00. for 750 weight calves. This pen is rarely sold as calves because they supply me with Breds the next year.

Westmans know my cattle. They know I have all my open heifers and I have their email.

When would I be better to contact them. Before their 450 head Bred Sale or maybe a month or two later?

The $2700.00 Breds have no spring of rib, pencil gut, pin assed off color stuff.

Isn't selling cattle all about packaging in to bigger groups?

The $2700 Breds. First time contributors. Did they use a good bull?
What help is it in anyone program that has been building for 15 to 20 years.

The first time present at the Sale it is overwhelming but now am known by most people and very comfortable being there.

The next couple of days will be bringing my order of breds home to our ranch. He is sold out again to his regular two clients both who supported his pens at the sale.

[grassfarmer]

Depends what you call moderate frame - 1168lbs presumably at 20 months, are bigger cows than I'd want. I guess your mature cows will be 1500lbs plus? More cow than I'd want to support for efficient beef production.