Bull sales

[Big Muddy rancher]

Seems like it's been a trying year for bull marketers this spring. Lots of bad weather and poor roads for awhile.

Went to a sale on Monday, They had a pretty good sale with slightly over a $4,000 ave. A couple of PB breeders were in the stands and bought some top end bulls I have been going to this sale for 20 years and I think only 3 bull sold locally. A brother in law usually come with a order from his mother and another fellow and this year a rancher that usually comes but was snowed under. The ring man had a few orders and the sale consultant had orders. Hardy anybody in the stands.I think I knew 9 people in the stands and that was from 5 different ranches locally.

I watched Randy Kaiser's sale on the TEAM auctions last night. I had wanted to get down to see the bulls when I was in Alberta a couple weeks ago but didn't. I watched the videos and the bulls looked good. The sale wasn't so good. It looks like only 6 out of 31 bulls sold. I don't usually watch the computer auctions as our Internet speed is kind of slow. I think it would have been fine for this kind of auction but I hadn't registered to bid. I guess if I had wanted a bull I could have contacted Randy and find out details on delivery or keeping for awhile ect but I didn't find where that info was listed like you would in a paper catalog.

If your in need of a Welsh Black bull I think Randy might still have a few. I bought 2 private treaty back in January with some of Randy's blood lines.

 

[Faster horses]

I noticed the bull sales have softened up here too, from what they were earlier.

I like Mytty Angus cattle and they sold a lot of bulls for $2200-3500.
We were interested in the Welsh Black; there was a breeder over by
Drummond, Mt but he moved and we never knew how to contact him.

Keep us posted on how yours do and the calves you get from them.

 

[Denny]

In my opinion bulls have gotten a bit over priced. I would love to sell bulls for a $4000 average hell a $2200 avearge would get me lovin to no end. But after useing AI for more than 10 years I can see that there's no great one and I've seen plenty of guys wean great calves useing plain bulls no motion commotion promotion. I sold my bulls last year for $1892 a head average If I'm around that this year my bills will all get paid and I'll just go haying sure I'd like more money but you have to start somewhere and these $10,000 bulls in commercial settings are'nt realistic.

 

[Battle T]

Very interesting looking at the sale results N and S of the border. Some good some not so.

I sell off the farm on a Private Treaty open House Day. This allows us to be more personalized and really develop customers without the risks on passing bulls and paying commissions and lots of staff. Not for everyone but it works for us now. Some customers could not make it to the sale due to blizzard but they were back this week and had time to select the right bull.

FYI First bulls that sold were light BW easy fleshing Grandsons of F Answer

Then were Bismarck and Pioneer bulls some hfr bulls, some larger BW performance cow bulls
bulls left are 85-90lb bw bulls that are moderate performance. as well as a couple Apr FA bulls with 80 lb BW


Goes to show that the bull business is not automatic, that $ or pedigree power buys a lot of buyers. I am having the most successful sales season I have ever had this year. Factors that I consider are
• Having lots of contacts and really asking for the business
Having customer satisfaction with previous bulls sold•
• Having the bulls in acceptable condition and really asking what the customer needs are
Having a new, clean facility to host people in.
•
Using some top AI bulls but also having good size herdsire groups so there is some uniformity•
pricing to show the value of the bulls but not taking advantage of the market in the past•
Showing the excitement we have for agriculture and the Angus business in our ads and in our attitude

My sale and market is just getting momentum, as I am finally getting the quality and management/facilities to have a good on farm sale. I had 16 bulls for sale. I have the bulls split into pens with all relevant info and priced right on the pens. I will not move on price, but will not open up to bids either. Seems to work for me. I feel that I have about 100$ per bull into these cattle. I have a chili bun lunch with drinks all day. Repeat buyers get to select a day ahead of new buyers, but each year it is less important as the quality has improved. Minimum bull was 3000$ next cut 3300$ next 3500$ and top cut was 4700$. Kids are there all day to showcase dams and cow families for those interested.

Not one customer asked for scan data or epds.
this setup is a lower cost and stress way to get to a full sale with auction price discovery. I just see too many smaller breeders jump into a sale too quick, and have a lot of expense and grief into a sale, only to have a small crowd sale day and get discouraged. Last year I had to market into early July to get all the bulls sold, but I got my asking price on all of them. Like I have told lots of my discouraged contemporaries, If the purebred business was that easy, there would be no commercial cattle, only purebred herds selling bulls for 5k$ to each other

This Final Answer bull was first to go at 3600$

This a middle of the road final answer bull I sold for 3000$ His mother is awesome, having her nearby completed the sale


FYI

top seller http://abri.une.edu.au/online/cgi-bin/i4.dll?1=20213329&2=2434&3=56&5=2B3C2B3C3A&6=5A5D5A242322252F2F&9=5C525B5A br /

 

[WB]

Lack of moisture having a big impact. Denny If South Dakota gets some moisture in April you will more than surpass last years average. The cow calf business is tetering on the edge and moisture is the biggest hurdle right now.

 

[Anonymous]

Went to bull sale yesterday... Woodland Farms (originally from down south and now moved to Montana) sold a dozen bulls... Average probably around $4000 - sold one bull to ABS for $7750...
Another fella had about a half dozen bulls he brought... New guy- unknown to the area- and his bulls averaged about $1250-- and to me were in better shape than Woodlands butcher fat ones...
Shows a lot of it is still in a name....
Another example of an unknown bull seller being found is Cole Creek... Due to the nasty weather we were unable to make it to that sale this year- but I heard the bulls averaged between 5000-5100. Top was at 37,500.00$ and second was 16,000.00$. Yearling heifers averaged 2400.00+...
The Black Cedar bull has made that program known...

 

[TizHot]

Sales around the area are down for the most part. Heard of $300 up to $700. As a buyer thats great for me. Lots of stock available, maybe more than ever.

 

[High Plains]

In my opinion bulls have gotten a bit over priced. I would love to sell bulls for a $4000 average hell a $2200 avearge would get me lovin to no end. But after useing AI for more than 10 years I can see that there's no great one and I've seen plenty of guys wean great calves useing plain bulls no motion commotion promotion. I sold my bulls last year for $1892 a head average If I'm around that this year my bills will all get paid and I'll just go haying sure I'd like more money but you have to start somewhere and these $10,000 bulls in commercial settings are'nt realistic.

Denny, a fat steer is worth almost $2,000. In my mind if a bull isn't worth at least $2,500 then he probably wouldn't have made an average steer. Your cattle are good and your market out west is not fully developed. Give yourself some credit. Stick around for the end to this drought. Might be some cows left yet!

 

[3words]

Lack of moisture having a big impact. Denny If South Dakota gets some moisture in April you will more than surpass last years average. The cow calf business is tetering on the edge and moisture is the biggest hurdle right now.

Lack of moisture is having a big impact down there,but the biggest hurdle is the younger generation doesn't want cattle.I turn 50 next year,and i know 1 guy under 30 that has cattle.It use to be there was cattle on every farm,now you drive miles without seeing a cow,and when you do see a herd more then likely the owner just hasn't decided to retire yet.Were tetering all right,between once being a profitable cattle industry to being extinct!!

 

[perfecho]

Had a gut feeling that sales were going to be sluggish this year.....producers are down $2-300 on their calves and has stepped up last year.....so I cataloged fewer bulls this year and did well with them. Off yard sales are going well, however most yard sales seem to happen May-June.
This cattle business has not turned like many had hoped....higher fuel costs, higher costs pretty much with everything. Not many new comers if prices stay where they are, and outside jobs as plentiful as they are.
But, we are doing a heck of a lot better than BSE years here in Canada.

 

[Denny]

In my opinion bulls have gotten a bit over priced. I would love to sell bulls for a $4000 average hell a $2200 avearge would get me lovin to no end. But after useing AI for more than 10 years I can see that there's no great one and I've seen plenty of guys wean great calves useing plain bulls no motion commotion promotion. I sold my bulls last year for $1892 a head average If I'm around that this year my bills will all get paid and I'll just go haying sure I'd like more money but you have to start somewhere and these $10,000 bulls in commercial settings are'nt realistic.

Denny, a fat steer is worth almost $2,000. In my mind if a bull isn't worth at least $2,500 then he probably wouldn't have made an average steer. Your cattle are good and your market out west is not fully developed. Give yourself some credit. Stick around for the end to this drought. Might be some cows left yet!

Oh I'll give it time there's no real market in my area to many bulls for the area. I'm about done calveing the AI cows now and were running about 2/3rd AI sired bull calves should make a nice group. Lots of Chisum sons I think 9 to be correct.I sure like those calves only down fault I see is they are a bit slow getting going but being the weather sucked so bad they were in a pen pretty suddenly.They are a bit large on birth weight thou.

 

[Faster horses]

Denny, when is your sale this year and where is it being held?

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

At then Monday sale it was the larger birth wt bulls that were passed. A couple bulls passed just before a bull I like was coming in. He sold about 3rd highest in the sale.

Another sale in Weyburn the week before had to be postponed a day because of weather. I didn't hear an average but I heard it wasn't very good. Tough on people that rely on one good sale day to make their year. :?

 

[Just Ranchin]

Its not easy being in the bull business but if you really like genetics and customer service you really enjoy it. Our sale is in a few weeks and we are doing alot of home work. Contacting customers over the past 6 sales is crucial to success. Any bull that is deferred better be damn good to put in the sale this year.

 

[Denny]

Denny, when is your sale this year and where is it being held?

May 9th Mobridge S.D. have 25 bulls

 

[Anonymous]

Another example of an unknown bull seller being found is Cole Creek... Due to the nasty weather we were unable to make it to that sale this year- but I heard the bulls averaged between 5000-5100. Top was at 37,500.00$ and second was 16,000.00$. Yearling heifers averaged 2400.00+...
The Black Cedar bull has made that program known...

Believed accurate, and I missed a few lots:

107 $11,000
150 7000
201 9000
213 7250 NE
222 7250 NE
224 5500
236 5250
247 35,000
251 5000
257 8000 Jack McNammee Miles City, MT
268 9000
731 16,500
738 6000

Great day for the Goldens. The Black Cedar 1100 were very popular.

John Patterson

This post on another site says the Cole Creek high was $35,000- not $37,500... Still an awful good sale...
Sure wish I could have made it to see lots 150 and 257.... They were my pick..

 

[Anonymous]

Grain Fattening Bulls Lowers Fertility – by Allan Nation


Grain-fattened bulls may top the sale but they are worth far less for breeding purposes than bulls raised on all-forage diets, according to a Canadian study. In a study at the Lethbridge Research Centre, bulls that were grown from weaning to maturity on 100% forage diets had 13% greater efficiency of sperm production, 19% more daily sperm production and 52% greater sperm reserves.
The sperm production of the grain-fattened bulls were all extremely marginal in both total sperm production and total motility. The fatter the bull the less motile the sperm became. The forage- fed bulls had much better testicular tone, which is generally associated with improved seminal quality.

The negative effects of grain feeding on semen quality were most pronounced in straight-bred Angus bulls with a near doubling in the number of secondary defects. The seminal quality of all the bulls declined as body condition increased. In other words, the fatter the bull the less fertile he was.

It appears that the grain-fattened bulls were unable to cool the scrotum due to excessive fat deposits in the neck of the scrotum. The thermoregulatory mechanism maintaining the testes at ideal temperatures may be overwhelmed by increased scrotal insulation. The researchers concluded that for the best fertility, bulls should be grown from weaning to maturity on non- grain, forage diets. This is particularly true for the more easily fattened English breeds.

Cattle nutritionist, Dr. Dick Diven of Tucson, Arizona, said that this study confirms the decline in fertility found in bulls on grain-based gain tests in the USA. He said bull buyers need to be extremely skeptical of semen tests of bulls on gain tests as the semen tested may have been produced before the animal was put on the test. "We have seen instances where bulls were able to pass a semen test but were found to be completely shooting blanks later on in the pasture."

Diven said that fat cells, once formed, are permanent. Any subsequent attempt to put the bull into breeding condition will again result in fat in the scrotum and a subsequent decline in sperm production and motility. "The bottom line is that a bull that has been made fat is for all intents and purposes ruined forever," he said.

NOTE: Allan Nation is editor of The Stockman GrassFarmer. Call 1-800-748-9808 to subscribe.

 

[flyingS]

http://www.angus.org/angusproductions/SaleReportsdtl.aspx?eid=DgAAAJQ1qgBLs8ddHQ59lmH7w1o%3D&il=DgAAAEQrujU5dwVoL18j9OafTcE%3D

It didn't look like Connealy's softened any. They didn't sell them on the top end like I have seen them in the past but they had a heck of an average.

 

[eatbeef]

Sure seems to me that everybody and their dog is selling bulls. Which in one way makes since because anybody can AI but half that calf is the momma cow. Joked with our area salebarn owner to just put me down next spring for a bull sale, i will just quit banding bull calves.

 

[3words]

Sure seems to me that everybody and their dog is selling bulls. Which in one way makes since because anybody can AI but half that calf is the momma cow. Joked with our area salebarn owner to just put me down next spring for a bull sale, i will just quit banding bull calves.

Isn't that the truth!!!Some of the bulls going through these sales,should have went directly into the steer pen.