Aren’t we lucky?! There has been excellent moisture everywhere compared to last year, there’s already wheat coming out of the ground in places, big feeder steers are bringing over $1000.00, calves bringing from $500.00 to $750.00, wheat is above $6.00, interest rates are low, and we live in the United States of America! What more could a person ask for?
It’s funny sometimes how folks react to a market. It seems like at the very highest levels there is more complaining than at the lowest times. When cattle are bringing $925.00, people seem to think they should have brought $950.00, but when the same cattle only bring $625.00, everyone is ok with it. We are selling cattle at some of the highest levels in history, grains are at or near all time highs, moisture is available to grow a crop, and the futures board clear until next May looks great!
Apparently, all the moisture this summer made the grass fairly washy. There are a lot of cattle showing up in thin condition compared to most years. Compared to those fancy calves coming off the cow with all their milk fat, these calf weight yearlings look plain and sickly, but those same thin cattle will do nothing but go forward! There are probably more good deals than you can shake a stick at this year with the compensatory gain in these summer grass cattle. Even today, it appears like the grass is still growing, and it certainly is staying green!
There are lots of opportunities coming up with the fall calf run! Many of the heifer calves are bringing $50.00 to $150.00 a head less than the steers! Many of the heavier calves are bringing the same or less per hundred than a yearlings weighing 250 pounds more! Not to mention the fact that a person could lay those calves off on the May board for over $110.00! It sure looks like a person ought to take advantage of these opportunities!
There still seems to be a lot of debate on whether to graze wheat pasture or not. It will not matter to the cattle if the wheat is worth $10.00 a bushel or $2.00! They will still gain the same, and the person who has them turned out will still get $100.00 to $200.00 an acre for grazing them! Think about grazing a bred cow! Some of the bred cows selling right now are bringing less than an 800 lb steer! If a guy could calve them out and get $500.00 for the calf that would certainly make for a cheap cow!
COMING TO WINTER LIVESTOCK IN ENID:
Lewis Ranch 200 Fancy, Angus sired heifers, replacement quality, 400-600lb
7-way blackleg, no implants, spring vacc.
TWO SPECIAL CALF SALES----OCTOBER 16 & NOVEMBER 13, 2007
There will be lots of weaned and preconditioned calves, along with many calves off the cow for these two sales. Both sales will have calves selling at 12:00! Please call ahead with your consignments for added value and advertisement!
