Local auction action

[Grassfarmer]

Spent a few hours at the local auction today assessing trade and adding a few cheaper feeders to the herd. Feeders were off a good 3-5 cents in my opinion from recent weeks.
There was a small estate sale for a gentleman that passed away recently of around 30 cows, most bred but a proportion calved 2-3 weeks. They were not unusual cows for smaller operators in this area - mainly exotic blood, tan charolais with some limo in the younger cows. The heaviest cows were close to 1800lbs with most over 1500lbs - the pairs topped at $1150. The first pairs under 1500lbs were the first to make under $1000. The bigger the better seems to be the motto. 1680lb breds made around $910 but anything that was due to calf later than April was pounded out and went for slaughter at more money than the bred price (around 55 cents).
They were a good trade maybe helped a little by neighbors bidding them up. I just thought I'd highlight the weights to let those of you living in 1100lb cow country see what my bias on weight is based on. With a lot of hay at 6c/lb this winter I would hate to think what the feed cost on those big cows was.

 

[Silver]

With a lot of hay at 6c/lb this winter I would hate to think what the feed cost on those big cows was.

Sounds to me like the cost of the big cow's feed was more than recouped at the sale, but the little ones lost all the way around.

 

[Big Swede]

If those cows had weighed a ton they might have brought even more. Do I hear 2500? :roll: :roll:

 

[Silver]

Just think, for the same money as one of those cows a guy could have bought two or three of those 'profitable' little devils. :roll: :roll:

 

[Denny]

The sold some 1500# herefords yesterday for $890 a head.

 

[Northern Rancher]

I sold two loads of 1150 weight cows for $1,000 back in November picked up in the yard and he took every one I had even the 15 year olds-na na boo boo lol. He's roped calves at our branding since he was twelve so he kind of was familiar with the program.

 

[Big Swede]

Just a shot in the dark Silver but I'm guessing that you're a fan of big cows.

 

[Big Swede]

By the way I'm not trying to argue with you, my opens all averaged over 1400 pounds this winter. They were in good flesh 5.5 to 6 frame I would guess. Plenty big in my mind.

 

[Silver]

Just a shot in the dark Silver but I'm guessing that you're a fan of big cows.

Nope, but I do respect certain herds that have larger cows. My cows average in the 1450 lb range... some consider that big and some don't.
What I can't abide anymore is the incessant jabbing at larger cattle and the way folks hold up these 1100 lb cows as the only kind to run.... If your herd aint British and small you don't know jack about ranching.

 

[Big Swede]

What breed or breeds do you use in you operation?

 

[Silver]

What breed or breeds do you use in you operation?

Blonde based herd, we use red angus, red angus / simmie cross and blonde bulls. I'm buying some straight simmie bulls this spring, I want to sneak more simmie back into the herd. I think the only time Simmental ever hurts a cow's breeding is when it doesn't have any in it :wink:

Oh ya.... we do something else completely wrong according to the consensus of the board.... we run a mixed breed operation and raise mongrel cattle :shock:

 

[Big Swede]

If you can crossbreed and manage it correctly you are probably ahead of us straight breeders. I quit crossbreeding 20 years ago but am considering it again. Anything to improve fertility and longevity that's free is worth considering. We used to use a little Simmental back when they were red and white, never saw a black one at that time. Then we started getting a few gray rat tail calves and then we went straight Angus.

 

[Soapweed]

What breed or breeds do you use in you operation?

Blonde based herd, we use red angus, red angus / simmie cross and blonde bulls. I'm buying some straight simmie bulls this spring, I want to sneak more simmie back into the herd. I think the only time Simmental ever hurts a cow's breeding is when it doesn't have any in it :wink:

Oh ya.... we do something else completely wrong according to the consensus of the board.... we run a mixed breed operation and raise mongrel cattle :shock:

At least you are smart enough to not calve in the middle of the winter. :wink:

 

[Big Swede]

I keep tellin' you Soap, you're just like my teenage son, you just won't listen. :wink: I'm sure you doing just fine. Hey did you figure out why your heifers are have such big calves?

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I keep tellin' you Soap, you're just like my teenage son, you just won't listen. :wink: I'm sure you doing just fine. Hey did you figure out why your heifers are have such big calves?

I think old Soaps come in around. :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Silver]

What breed or breeds do you use in you operation?

Blonde based herd, we use red angus, red angus / simmie cross and blonde bulls. I'm buying some straight simmie bulls this spring, I want to sneak more simmie back into the herd. I think the only time Simmental ever hurts a cow's breeding is when it doesn't have any in it :wink:

Oh ya.... we do something else completely wrong according to the consensus of the board.... we run a mixed breed operation and raise mongrel cattle :shock:

At least you are smart enough to not calve in the middle of the winter. :wink:

I fail on that count too Soapweed. March is generally middle of winter in this country.

 

[Soapweed]

I keep tellin' you Soap, you're just like my teenage son, you just won't listen. :wink: I'm sure you doing just fine. Hey did you figure out why your heifers are have such big calves?

I think old Soaps come in around. :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

The last couple days have been very pleasant, but there is more weather moving in on Thursday night. :roll:

I guess the reason our heifers are having such big calves is to give our Sparky-made calf puller a good test. Or maybe there is too much vigor in the Vigortone. :wink:

 

[gcreekrch]

What breed or breeds do you use in you operation?

Blonde based herd, we use red angus, red angus / simmie cross and blonde bulls. I'm buying some straight simmie bulls this spring, I want to sneak more simmie back into the herd. I think the only time Simmental ever hurts a cow's breeding is when it doesn't have any in it :wink:

Oh ya.... we do something else completely wrong according to the consensus of the board.... we run a mixed breed operation and raise mongrel cattle :shock:

I like my 3/8 or less Sim x Red angus cows the best. To me they most appealing cattle there are and they fit this area well. Our cows would probably weigh 1250 to 1350 if they ever had the type of grass to make them fat.

Silver, I prefer to call my cowherd "multi-cultural". It is more politically correct. :wink:

 

[RSL]

Blonde based herd, we use red angus, red angus / simmie cross and blonde bulls. I'm buying some straight simmie bulls this spring, I want to sneak more simmie back into the herd. I think the only time Simmental ever hurts a cow's breeding is when it doesn't have any in it :wink:

Oh ya.... we do something else completely wrong according to the consensus of the board.... we run a mixed breed operation and raise mongrel cattle :shock:

At least you are smart enough to not calve in the middle of the winter. :wink:

I fail on that count too Soapweed. March is generally middle of winter in this country.

My thoughts are that slightly smaller cows work for us, but if you are still ranching in Canada after BSE, packer consolidation, poor government, CAIS, drought, 20 cent cull cows, fuel carbon taxes, etc. then you are either insane or you have some idea what you are doing, or a combination of the two.
I hope we are a combination but fear we are insane. :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[Grassfarmer]

The only thing I can't figure out is if the country is full of cows that can turn in calves 55-65% of their bodyweight, is full of 1500lb plus cows, their calves can grow at over 3lbs a day on straight silage and the average calving date is around March 18th - how come more than half the calves going through the auction currently are 5 and 6 weights :?
They are not June calves either because that is still not that common in this area and most that do it sell yearlings in August.