Pretty decent market?

[cowman]

Finally got some yearlings sold and they came in pretty heavy (1025 avg). Averaged right around $1100 I think...the boy got hold of the check! Still have about thirty left.
I suspect they probably weighed around 600 lb. last fall and doubtful they weighed 700 lb. this spring so they really packed her on!
If you can really have them mean and lean coming to new grass they will gain like crazy...if it is lush!
Sure am glad I followed the plan I had and didn't push them last winter for the spring market...despite all the advice I got to get those winter gains up!
Heres how I see it: 600 lb(50/50 mix of heifers and steers) in November? About $1.03/lb. or $618? Fed them cheap hay at 2 cents a pound X 12 lbs. or 24 cents a day starting Nov. 15 to April 10th for a grand total of 146 days X .24 equals about $35(this isn't real accurate because they were getting better hay from about Feb.)! All the straw they wanted(good straw with a chaff saver). April 10th on they were on banked prairie wool until green grass! April 10th to Sept. 6th at 67 cents a day ($20 month) equals about $100. Throw in $5 for salt/mineral and a few bucks for labor/ interest etc. and it was fairly profitable?
On top of that about 40 of these calves were on "welfare" of $200 from the set aside program.
My son was so impressed he is now looking for a few more cows! He is impressed that I actually knew a thing or two about making money in the cattle business! And yet I probably did everything wrong according to the "experts"...must have been blind luck, right?

[kato]

The best moves we ever made have been the ones that made the neighbours doubt our sanity. If the banker says you need more cows, run the other way...as fast as you can. If he won't lend you money to buy any, then find a way to get it, because you're bound to make money.

That's how you do make the money... do something opposite to what everyone else is. Good for you!!!

[cswilson]

Never be afraid to buy when they are low and sell when they are high.

[PureCountry]

Congrats Cowman and son! You know the old ranchers out in the boonies south of here never sell their calves. They grass everything with four legs and a switch, and they always tell me they make $300 a head average from year to year. Like you said cowman, get 'em through the winter cheap, they hit that grass and eat like their bellies wearin' a blister on their backbone.

I can't wait to try it myself next spring with these Galloways; if we can afford to keep 'em that long.