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Corn Fed Beef

F

FarmerDave

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2007
Messages
5
Location
Missouri
Dad bought this ranch over thirty years ago. In those years, I've never had a home grown steak. So in June I went to the sale barn and bought me two young steers, Deep & Freeze.

I bought two because one by itself doesn't work so well. I only need one beef. Anyway the neighbor across the road said he wanted to buy the other one.

No I've pastured these two animals from June until November. Then I tied them up in the barn lot. They've been fed hay and a strong mixture of corn. That's a mix 450 pounds of corn and fifty pound of super beef 40. That's a beef protein supplement that has minerals, vitamins, bovatec and something that fights cocillidosis, I think. It's MFA's best supplement.

They were getting several pounds of range cubes with the rest of the herd when I cut them out. So I think the started on five pounds of mix a day and then they went up a half a pound a day until they got to twenty pounds a day. That's where they are holding now.

So what would a fair price to ask my neighbor for be?
 
Some on here should be able to give you a pretty close figure as they market quite a bit of farm gate beef.

Find out your cutting and wrapping cost and what your cattle weigh and what they would bring on the market.

It's sure not a "get rich quick" deal but if your provide a good product and build a customer base it is a way to supplement your income.
 
Treat them like family and charge them like an inlaw :wink: :)

I was just kidding, but I wouldn't short change yourself on the labor and time.

have a cold one

lazy ace
 
I would recommend that you figure how much you have invested and a fair profit(include 10% deathloss) then if it is more than market price, ask it anyway. In our area, I ask 1.16/live lb for family. I get 1.20/live lb for new customers. I sell 10 -12 hd per year that way. Usually late calves,lightweight, spotted or otherwise dockable at salebarn animals. I want to make it worth my time to do this. I have not had anyone quarrel with the cost, and lots of repeat customers. Some have been with me since 1981 when I got 67 cents.
 
Big Muddy rancher said:
I did a little rough figuring and came up with $2.85/lb for the meat in the box all cut and wrapped.

It was using $1.40.lb hanging wt and the cost of cutting and wrapping.
Click to expand...
is that delivered?? I may be interested!
 
I just got one back from the locker and with all cost included I had $2.69 per pound. This was a really good black steer that graded high choice. We had sirlion steaks on the grill tonight and man o man were they good. Figure the steer at about $95 cwt and shrink him 4% and you'll be pretty close to what he would bring.
 
I have not done this for several years but for about 15 years I sold 20 to 30 head a year that way.

I charged the top price for the week at the Indianapolis Stock yard plus $20.00 to deliver to the packing house and the customer paid all cost at the packing house.

I did not look for this market and finally quit due to the extra hassle. When I fed out the calves myself I was delivering 12 to 15 head every week to the Stockyards and normally got top price there anyway so I was not making any extra money.

I still have people asking me to feed out a few and if I retire or slow down in the gravel business I might do it on a hobby basis but if I get back into the feeding business I will not try to direct market. It seems that when you are 59 you are not willing to do what you did at 29
 
Retail commodity beef(Wal-Mart prices) is in the neighborhood of $3.80/lb. (carcass basis)

A price of $2.40/lb hanging weight of a carcass that will yield 60% retail cuts equates to a consumer price of $4.00/lb of packaged meat. All processing, packaging, transportation, and storage cost paid by the producer(I figure I have over $1.00/lb in these cost on each package of meat).

Short answer to your question...charge him $1.60/lb hanging weight...he pays the processor cost on his animal and picks up his meat at the processor. Percent carcass yield will determine his final cost per pound of retail package meat...lower % yield, higher the price.

Poor performing calves, fattened and sold live weight for meat are the worst deal for the consumer because they don't yield. Final consumer cost can be 25% higher or more per retail package!!!
 
Here in Utah, folks are advertising beef at $2.25 hanging weight with cut and wrap paid for. I have been selling 12 to 15 steers each year as finished beef. They are fer almost like yours and were getting $1200.00 for 1100 lbs steers. I always tell them it's custom beef. If they want beef under plastic, they head to the market, but for great beef call me. We have folks coming back year after year. Once they get a knife and fork in their hands the price dosent matter. Good luck!
 

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