It’s amazing how history repeats itself. For just about forever, calves start getting cheaper in September and October and then get higher after that. This year looks like no exception, with the calf market $10.00 or better different than it was this summer. Many calves that got contracted early for $140.00 are now just bringing $125.00, with the heifer mates even lower.
Opportunities come knocking at our door every day. For the last several years, calves have been sold at an extreme premium to what feeders were bringing or projected to bring. This fall, some calves are selling below current feeder prices and futures prices. The last two years there has been no wheat pasture in central Oklahoma, and now it looks like there is plenty of moisture to get a crop started. It’s frustrating enough to have cattle ready for wheat and no wheat pasture, but it’s far worse to have calves ready and not be able to graze the wheat that’s growing well!
Feed costs are going to have a tremendous impact on our society. The United States has always had cheap food for its citizens, but the high costs of transportation, planting and harvesting, and more competition for the same feed is going to change a lot of things. Since the grade school, the teachers always said people needed food, shelter and clothing, and those were going to be the basic needs. Nowadays, it seems like every one wants more than they need, no matter what the cost.
Bred cows and calves are in plentiful supply right now. The fall calf run is in full swing, and lots of cows and calves are going to town. That’s opportunity knocking! There is more feed in the country than ever, there will be wheat pasture in Oklahoma, and the future looks bright. Why not try to get along? If the majority wants to sell their cows and calves, wouldn’t it make sense to buy at the low rather than the high?
OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP AT WINTER LIVESTOCK:
Tuesday, November 6 Regular sale, great selection of cows/calves
Breckenridge Ranch 60 Ang/Brangx cows, bred to Ang/Brangus
Terrance Ranch 90 Fancy, Angus calves 400-500lbs
Smith Cattle 40 Gelb/Angusx calves, 400-500lbs
Tuesday, November 13 Special weaned and preconditioned calf sale
Tuesday, November 20 Thanksgiving week sale
Tuesday, November 27 End of the month cow sale
Saturday, December 1 Annual Fall Bred Heifer and Cow sale
www.winterlivestock.com
www.cattleusa.com
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS!
