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Post by bulltrader on Sept 8, 2019 20:41:04 GMT -6
I got a call from a buyer and shipper this morning saying calves are about to get much cheaper. I thought it was bad enough yesterday.
Slaughter cow buyer told me yesterday that he thought by Thanksgiving a junk thin cow will be very hard to get rid of. Good cows will be cheaper.
What are you hearing in your area?
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Post by highgrit on Sept 9, 2019 19:55:07 GMT -6
We're selling all the cows and keeping the calves and bred heifers through the winter.
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Post by bulltrader on Sept 9, 2019 19:58:02 GMT -6
That may be a decent idea. Even Corbit Wall spoke that calves may be better in the spring. I'm starting to buy some lightweight calves to feed.
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Post by franklinridgefarms on Sept 9, 2019 20:24:28 GMT -6
As usual, I don't know what the right move to make is, and am usually wrong, but I am thinking about holding on to most of bred heifers, and most of our spring 2019 weanling heifers. Never know what the future holds, but I'm thinking in terms of trying to grow our cowherd.
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Post by bulltrader on Sept 9, 2019 20:39:12 GMT -6
I'm not sure anyone is right or wrong. Early this year October feeder futures were 1.62 or so. Today I think they were 1.29
Nobody expected it of course.
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Post by dave on Sept 9, 2019 22:28:09 GMT -6
I am going to start buying light calves in the middle of October. Plan is to winter them and sell just before grass comes on. Neighbor B was talking about having me buy calves for him. As soon as deer season is over I will be hitting the sales.
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Post by angusrancher on Sept 10, 2019 6:22:44 GMT -6
Planning on running everything over as yearlings, and bred heifers. Going to take quite a bit of hay. Expanding the cow herd some more, calving a little later, and getting out of growing wheat. Planted about 500 acres of forage wheat 10 days ago as an experiment, to turn some weaned calves on. Rest of farm ground will be planted to grass, forage, or alfalfa. So very tired of doing both.
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Post by tcranch on Sept 10, 2019 6:32:02 GMT -6
I'm planning on weaning my spring calves mid Oct and generally keep them at least through Dec, letting them graze the brome. Whether I sell at the end of the year or Jan/Fab next year is contingent on prices (hopefully going up) and taxes (but we have the option of selling them this year & delaying the income until next year). And I'll probably hang on to my cull cows.
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Post by backhoeboogie on Sept 10, 2019 13:46:56 GMT -6
A whole lot is going to depend on rain here. You get a good wheat crop, people are going to graze. They are hoping for better prices come spring. So that's what some have said.
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Post by angusrancher on Sept 10, 2019 17:55:41 GMT -6
Heard something about corn silage choppers being in demand. They'll have to feed it to something.
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joe
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Posts: 38
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Post by joe on Sept 11, 2019 6:17:36 GMT -6
Thanks Kenny for the update as it is unbelievable how the cattle prices are going down hill. I bet the lower prices will never be passed on at the stores or restaurants...It appears not a good time to be in the cattle business and just about anything farming. No choice just have to try to adjust and go on and cut everything else too.
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Post by texaspapaw on Sept 11, 2019 6:40:37 GMT -6
Around here, calves were noticeably cheaper while both packer and take home cows some lower. Every year, some time between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, both calves and cows will get cheaper. Not a question of if, just when and how much. This seasonal cycle goes back over 50 years. Got mine sold last month and very glad I did. Don't think have found the bottom yet either. Not sure the bottom has ever come this early in fall.
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Post by jehosofat on Sept 11, 2019 10:43:30 GMT -6
Gonna try and buy some open heifers before Dec, should be able to pick up some quality ones really cheap. Thankfully I have no calves to sell being on a fall calving program, hopefully prices go way up in late spring.
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Post by farmerjan on Sept 11, 2019 19:13:14 GMT -6
Thanks Kenny for the update as it is unbelievable how the cattle prices are going down hill. I bet the lower prices will never be passed on at the stores or restaurants...It appears not a good time to be in the cattle business and just about anything farming. No choice just have to try to adjust and go on and cut everything else too. Of course it won't get passed on to the consumer because most are too far removed to know what is going on. So they will play the card that the one plant had the fire, slaughter numbers are down, there is limited beef available, and it is costing more. Unless they get something serious done with this investigation on the collusion and price fixing, the small farmer is going to go the way of the hog farmers. |
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