How about bulls?

[kato]

I think that the bulls that are offered for sale next spring are going to probably be the best quality we've seen in years. The incentive to leave them all intact, and only ship the ones that don't sell is definitely reduced.

My off farm job is at a vet clinic, and believe me, when prices are good, there are a lot of bulls being tested for sale that really should be in a feedlot. They may test well for breeding, but that's about all they have going for them.

[15444]

Bruce14:

http://www.buyagro.com/sales03/newcentury03.htm

The bulls calves at this sale averaged $842.00.

[Bruce14]

15444:

Thanks for the update.

While I checked the site you mentioned, I noticed this other one. Have a look.


http://www.buyagro.com/sales03/elm03.htm

Twice as many Hereford bull calves sold at this sale as the one you have highlighted. 4.41 to average $4246.00 to be exact. Add that to the Party of Friends sale results (2 @$1500 each) and the 2 you mention @ 842.00. I come up with average price of $2783.46 on the 8.41 bull calves. I don't think that's all bad for spring baby calves.

Hardly enough information or animals to base one's spring buying decisions on.

I agree that it will be tough for purebred breeders and I'm not trying to enter into debate, rather show there is a bit of a break in the clouds once in a while if you choose to look at the entire picture.

If we spend as much time finding the positive examples as we do the negative it may be easier to deal with the BSE situation.

[cowman]

I would say that is awfully good money for a spring calf! Especially a Hereford calf! Herefords are pretty well extinct around central Alberta! It's all Angus right now red or black! If someone had told me, ten years ago, that the majority of our cattle would be Angus I would have never believed them. How the world does change?
I've used some pretty good angus bulls through A.I.(always chosen for light birthrates/for heifers) and while a lot of the resulting calves made excellent cows they never grew like a Charlais or Simmental! And at the end of the day we do sell pounds! I still believe that big buckskin calf puts the most money in your pocket! It's like Jack Daines(Innisfail Auction Mart) says " I don't know if Charlais are better cattle I just know that they bring the most money when I sell them!"

[Muttley]

I'm a Angus breeder but am sure thinking about a Hereford bull to put on the cows next spring. Can't beat those white faces on blacks.

I do agree that bull prices will be down but I myself have a limit to how low I will sell. I will cut bulls this fall and sell before keeping so many I am forced to sell intact next spring for slaughter.

[cowman]

I was talking to a guy who took in a coming two year old to the mart. They decided to ship him because he was getting mean and they didn't want to sell him to anyone. Got 25 cents. Came to a bit over $400! This was a well fed bull slated for the spring bull sales. Now I suspect he's at the meat counter at Safeway right now and I doubt if they will be discounting him? Why his steaks are probably right in there with the $9 T-bones!

[kato]

One of our big boys hurt his hock in a fight last spring. Much as we like him, he had to go yesterday. (When the other big bulls come home, the first fight will probably finish him)

We got 15 cents a pound, plus apparently will get a slaughter subsidy of about 250 dollars. This comes to $580.00 for a 2200 pound bull.

We replaced him last spring with a younger bull for $2200.00. To make it all really sweet, got a phone call last night from the guy who pastures cows for us that this bull got caught in a rabbit snare, and is walking around the pasture with a wire around his leg. We can only hope the damage is not too bad. We'll find out today.

[kato]

The bull had wire from a snow fence wrapped around his leg. It was dug in really good too. Got it out, and took him home. Looks like he's going to be just fine.

It never fails, with 50 animals in a pasture, the only one that gets hurt is the bull you just paid good money for, who is worth nothing if he goes lame.