livestock sale in SC, again

Went to sale at Saluda, SC. Prices have dropped seriously. Big bulls 1100-1600 pounds, low 70s to mid 80s per pound. 2 nice young Gelbveih(sp) in the 1100 pound range, 82 and 83 cents per pound. Some 1100 pound cows with 400 pound calves brought $1300 and $1400 per pair. Cull dairy Holstein cows weighing 1200-1500 pounds brought low 40s to upper 50s per pound.

There was a big(for this area) run of nice stocker calves. 5-600 pound steers brought around $1.20 per pound. Bulls same size brought $.10 less per pound. Heifers same size brought around $1.00. There were not many 3-400 pound heifers and they did not bring much more that the larger heifers, which is unusual.

There is always the calf that for some reason doesn't bring much. Local buyers for some reason don't like calves with a "wooley" coat. A otherwise nice black 485 pound steer only brought $.35 per pound. A very bullish and older looking black white face bull with long horns brought $.35.

I didn't see goats sell but the word was that they are bringing good prices. Also did not see hogs sell, but its been years since I've seen any significant number of hogs there for sale.

KEH

Prices are similar here in southern Ohio.

Got a bunch of hay this year. It's twine tied 5.5 x 5.5, so it's worth more to me than anybody else, selling the hay is not much of an option.

So I'm debating...do I go ahead and sell the calves (30 of them), and not have to worry about them through the winter, or overwinter the calves hoping it will be worth my while in the spring?

Decisions, decisions.

Fred

Fred since you have the feed/hay I think there will be a premium in holding the calves until spring. Everyone is kind of panicking right now. Fat cattle are not $1.50 and corn is not $4-5. So the world is ending to many of them. Well reality is returning to farming. The windfall profits of the last five years are over. It is back to breaking even or making a little bit. Nice singles with few homers in sight.

So keep the calves. I really think after the election and the shock of the grain prices settles the markets will stabilize.

If you wanted to get into the cattle business now is the time not when the suckers did when cow/calf units were bringing $3000,you might be able to buy some cheap equipment at their
auction sale this Winter though.I sold way down so now I'm keeping almost all my heifers.

Election years when there is going to be a definite change in power is always tough. Remember 2008 and 2000? Not to mention 1980. The craziness of a couple of years ago was bound to correct itself and, as usual, the pendulum swung too far. I read an article that said China is considering lifting the ban on US beef that it imposed in 2003. If that happens there may be a big turnaround.

I expect to see steak prices at the store falling to match the decline in cattle prices.

(quoted from post at 11:44:38 09/27/16) I expect to see steak prices at the store falling to match the decline in cattle prices.

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It has come down a little and might some more, but I don't expect much of a change. I'm thinking grocers will try to keep more profit. I'm seeing "sale" prices for strip and t-bone in the 7.99 to 8.99 per lb. range, sirloin a little less than that (Lancaster, OH area).

(quoted from post at 04:59:44 09/27/16)

(quoted from post at 11:44:38 09/27/16) I expect to see steak prices at the store falling to match the decline in cattle prices.

Click to expand...

It has come down a little and might some more, but I don't expect much of a change. I'm thinking grocers will try to keep more profit. I'm seeing "sale" prices for strip and t-bone in the 7.99 to 8.99 per lb. range, sirloin a little less than that (Lancaster, OH area).

Click to expand...

he truth is the extreme high cost of beef in the stores has changed the eating habits of many people including this house, it started as simple economics and now we have a new normal that includes very little beef. We still eat a great deal of meat just very little beef. We do I believe eat less meat in general than say 15 years ago and some is part of a so called healthy life style. That decision was a lot easier when it was apparent that the cost of a good steak was out of reason. This coupled with the fact that a good tender steak is almost as hard to find as a unicorn has driven many people to other things. I also know that the cost of all meats has gone up a great deal in the recent past and that most of the blame is not on the farmer's. Just an opinion but as I see it many time's when people are as they see it, forced to choose a different product based on cost that even when prices return to the previous level they still do not buy the product. Obviously this doesn't hold true in all cases but in many it does. Simply an opinion, if you do not agree it's ok with me as I don't really care anyway.