Fifteen years ago, October 2, 1998

[Soapweed]

Fifteen years ago, Peach and I rode horseback 100 miles in one day just to see if we could do it. We rode from Clinton, Nebraska to Valentine, Nebraska on Friday, October 2,1998. We each changed horses five different times, going about twenty miles on each horse. We left Clinton at 6 a.m. MDT on a chilly rainy day. Rain came down most of the day, but we were dressed warm and had slickers and chaps. Peach's mother brought along a pickup and trailer, and kept us supplied with fresh horses. Old West Days in Valentine was happening at the time, so we dedicated our ride to the occasion. The full moon was to be on October 5th, but we were still counting on a big moon to light our way. With the overcast sky and drizzling rain, the moon didn't help at all. We arrived at our destination at 8:15 p.m. MDT, so the ride took fourteen hours and fifteen minutes. We were a bit stiff when we dismounted for the last time. I'm glad we did this when we could, because after West Nile hit me this past month, there is no way I could even get on a horse. It's hard enough getting into a vehicle.

As we traveled that day, Superior Livestock Auction sold a load of red steer calves for us. We had videoed them quite awhile earlier, and had planned to sell them on the previous sale three weeks earlier. The market was so soft that we told them not to even show the video until October 2nd. The weight on the red steers was 600 pounds, and they brought 79 cents per pound, as we found out later. They did top the sale nationwide on that day. The buyer from central Nebraska came to look at them before they were loaded in mid October. He liked them very much, and wanted to see our black steers that were also for sale private treaty. He liked them and made an offer of the same money, same weighing conditions, but I wouldn't have to pay any commission. I took his offer. On the day we delivered, had I taken them to Valentine Livestock on that day, they would have brought 86 cents per pound instead of the 79 cents. Oh well, not the first or the last mistake I ever made. :wink:

 

[littlejoe]

" had I taken them to Valentine Livestock on that day, they would have brought 86 cents per pound instead of the 79 cents. Oh well, not the first or the last mistake I ever made."

Don't know how far of a haul that is or what commission is down there---but, have you ever weighed your calves @ home and compared it to pay weight @ ring? I'm betting you didn't leave all that much on the table---plus, auctions are a gamble---

ps---would still like to hear more commission rates---2.75 here.

 

[gcreekrch]

" had I taken them to Valentine Livestock on that day, they would have brought 86 cents per pound instead of the 79 cents. Oh well, not the first or the last mistake I ever made."

Don't know how far of a haul that is or what commission is down there---but, have you ever weighed your calves @ home and compared it to pay weight @ ring? I'm betting you didn't leave all that much on the table---plus, auctions are a gamble---

ps---would still like to hear more commission rates---2.75 here.

That is awful high considering what cattle are selling for now. The sale barn that we sell at charges $18.50 per head commission on singles down to $12.00 on consignments of 300 head or more.

We try to market the bulk of our cattle privately.

 

[High Plains]

Good story Soapweed. With regard to commission and such, we sold our calves and delivered this week. These were weaned calves eating grain. Loaded them at 8:30, hauled 2 miles and weighed on the truck with a 2% pencil shrink. Then hauled 130 miles and weighed on the ground, just for comparison. Actual shrink was 2.6%. So, if they were hauled to the auction an hour away and then stood overnight what do you suppose the shrink would have been by the time they hit the sale ring? I'm thinking closer to 5% with the stress.

I'm in favor of the auctions, and they get my business too. :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

I think littlejoe meant 2.75%. Not $2.75 cents. Guess he'll come and tell us
himself eventually...

Us, we always chose to sell to an order buyer and sell them right off the cow at home. I think auction barns work well for those like Soapweed, who
have sold at auction barns for several years and have a following. But to just haul your calves to town and
depend on them selling as they came in, I don't think that happens.
They get pushed back til later; among other things. They get sorted a lot of different ways and the buyers always manage to steal a few. IMHO

 

[littlejoe]

I think littlejoe meant 2.75%. Not $2.75 cents. Guess he'll come and tell us
himself eventually...

Us, we always chose to sell to an order buyer and sell them right off the cow at home. I think auction barns work well for those like Soapweed, who
have sold at auction barns for several years and have a following. But to just haul your calves to town and
depend on them selling as they came in, I don't think that happens.
They get pushed back til later; among other things. They get sorted a lot of different ways and the buyers always manage to steal a few. IMHO

HI FH--you think I write vague, oughta spend some time inside my haid~~Yup, I meant 2.75%, which I think is quite high. I've heard it's quite a bit cheaper where's there's more competition. Put freight, yardage, shrink and uncertainty on top of it and selling at home is way to go, for me.

I agree with all you've said---have had too many 'less than optimum' experiences. I sent some cows that had plenty of time to dry up and a mature Hereford bull to billings---6 hours---weren't full when they left here. Weighed on certified scale here, spent the nite there on feed and water---cows shrunk 5, the bull 7%---how the hell do they do that?!

Oh and take "I think littlejoe meant 2.75%. Not $2.75 cents"----2.75% on $1.60 calves---that's like 4 1/2 cents less right there---