The power of time is amazing! A few months ago calves dropped from $140.00 to $120.00, while feeders went from $115.00 to $95.00. Now some grazing type feeders are getting right back up to where they were! Calves have sure jumped in the last few weeks, especially with the excellent moisture we’ve been getting!
Just a little bit of time can make cattle go from losers to winners, or vice versa. During the month of January, cattle were coming to the auctions extremely green and the wheat didn’t look very good, yet in just the last few weeks, the wheat has turned a healthy green and cattle coming to town now are starting to show some flesh! Just a month ago there were several bred cows showing up, now there are not very many available, and many of those will be pairs if they aren’t already.
In just one year, we’ve gone from having no feed, no hay, and no water, to people advertising hay for sale, ponds running over, and the prospect of $10.00 wheat! With all the available hay in the area, it’s amazing that there would be any thin cattle around. Opportunities come and go with time, but it sure looks like there would be plenty of ways to handle cattle this year!
Weather always has and always will have an effect on the agriculture industry. As they say, if you don’t like the weather now, just wait a little bit and it will change! Timing has also been a major player in the scheme of things. It’s amazing how over the years the value of a fat animal has changed. Years ago they didn’t change very much in a week’s time; nowadays it might change dramatically in a day!
With the advent of the futures board, agriculture has also changed dramatically. Grains and cattle are now more intertwined than ever. Looking at the futures board, it appears like a person might just wait to sell cattle, but the grain futures may change that any day. We have a fantastic market right now, especially considering the fact that costs of gain are running near $100.00 and fats are only bringing either side of $90.00. With all the moisture, abundant hay and time, the future looks very bright!
GREAT SALE COMING NEXT WEEK!
END OF THE MONTH COW SALE ALONG WITH WHEAT PASTURE RUN!
Bar Box Ranch 40 Angus cross cows and pairs, bred to Ang/Char, 4-7 yrs
20 Angus cross heifers, bred to Ang/Char
S & R Cattle Co 25 Ang/Red Ang cows, 3-8 yrs old, bred Ang/Red Ang
Jimmy Stitt 1 Reg. Angus bull, low birth wt, good epd’s
D & G Farms 6 Angus/Braunvieh composite bulls, 2-4 yrs old
Larry Miller 200 Fancy, Ang/Red Angus strs, one raising, 750-900 lbs
G Brinkman 100 Home raised, Angusx strs, 700-850 lbs
J.P. Farms Inc 80 Ang/Charx strs, green, 650-750 lbs
L Butler 100 Ang/Limo x hfrs, open, 700-800 lbs
Gall Cattle Co 110 Blk/Bwf strs, green, off wheat, 650-750 lbs
Boyer & Sparks 140 Fancy, Angus x strs/hfrs, 700-850, home raised
