No competition for available supplies.

[whiteface]

rsomer, you are exactly right. There is no competition. This weeks lack of packer offering in Canada was based solely on an increase in the American Market. Our pirates saw an opportunity to market some of their own cattle this week into an even more lucrative American boxed beef price. Let the producers sit on their cattle for a while, we'll get them at whatever price we choose to be fair later. Anarchy.

I say, don't sell them any more cattle.
I realise how hard this would be, with bank payments etc., but it might make them sqirm a bit if we found ways to sell and buy cattle amongst each other, and only offer them our fats. The feedlot boys tried to get together and hold back last fall, and we all know how soon the liners started rolling in from Ontario. Maybe we have an opportunity to unite with the Canadian feedlot owners, and pull something like this off. Let them bid, and then sit in the Auction and refuse the sale. Then sell the heavy feeders, or whatever, to the local guy who missed the bid by part of a cent.
The government isn't going to help us out, time to get innovative and help ourselves.

[whiteface]

Thanks rpkaiser for another suggestion on how we, as producers, might "help ourselves" out of this mess. I've been all push for more packing plants, testing and marketing but while many sympathize, not much is happening in the way of making it happen. The selling amongst ourselves idea is one I like, especially for the immediate future and doesn't require "permission" from Ottawa. I haven't put an animal through the auction since BSE was discovered and while I like Jack Daines ( where I usually sell ) I can't stomach the see-saw of prices that the packers are creating. Sold my feeders privately, our cull cows went as "cut and wrapped" privately and this spring a long time buyer in Saskatchewan took some real nice young pairs. Maybe if cswilsons Okalahoma buyer likes whitefaced calves to cross on his blacks, might be selling privatly again this fall:-)

[rusty1]

rpkaiser - bang on. It has never ceased to amaze me the cow calf producers that still go to the gouging market controlling auction marts. The only producers that have a reason to go there are the ones that have cattle that are below average. One trip through the country and you can collect a large list of feedlot owners.
Sit and have coffee with them, take a video along of you cattle, build a relationship with them. And for Pete sake go back several months later and see how the calves are doing. And ask him to let you know if he was happy with their close out.
Auction marts are capable of selling you’re cattle, but will never, can not market you’re calves. (unless their below average).
I used to market calves direct from the ranch to the feedlot. That scenario is always better in the long run.
Save you $15 per head, shrink, (often 7 – 10%) or more. Put that money in a “vertically integrated” marketing plan.

[kato]

Last week our local auction marts were selling between 1500 and 2000 head. This week, it was 600 on Tuesday and 280 today. I think somebody is thinking, because the prices on calves did improve this week.

I think those of us who still have our calves have probably all figured out a way to finish them. Otherwise they would be gone by now.

We're sitting on ours for a while yet. No point in letting a middleman in on it. (Not that he would make any money, anyway! LOL)

Maybe we're crazy, and maybe we're not. Only time will tell.