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Pairs worth anything?

Cowpuncher

Well-known member
It is rapidly getting past the point of no return with our drought here. No meaningful moisture since October of last year.

In 2000, the last real dry year, we bought hay and feed and pretty much kept our herd intact. All it got us was and audit by the IRS.

This time, we are planning on selling most or all of our cows - about 725 head. The dry cows (mainly gummers who had their calves stolen) will be gone shortly.

Any ideas of what these cows are worth. They are 2, 3, 4, 5, and running age cows mostly angus and BWF with Limousin calves at side.

Looks like they will have to go in July if the clouds don't show up real soon.

We have 1200 acres of wheat which has already passed the point of no return.

I need to be reminded of how much fun this business is again.
 

Manitoba_Rancher

Well-known member
I feel for you and hope you get rain in the near future... Im not sure of the value of pairs down there but up here a real good pair will fetch between $800-$1000
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Short term pairs have been selling for around $900-$1000- Young and running age have been in the $1300-1500 area with most around $1400....

Sorry to hear of the dry conditions- Been there, but its been a few years now.....We had fairly good early moisture so got a good start on the pastures and hayfields--But getting dry here too and this 90 weather is not going to help.....Forecast for up here shows no moisture predicted in next two weeks...
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
I'd agree with OT's post...on everything...including the weather.

Our friends that live near Drummond, Mt. said it was in the 80's
there on Sunday. That is pretty extreme for that location and the time
of year it is.

It can rain anytime!
 

Brad S

Well-known member
I'd call Pratt sale barn and visit with Wilky. Pratt is doable from so Colorado yet in a better moisture situation. You need to craft a plan with a market pro. Nothing wrong with selling some and keeping some - diversity.

Cows with any defect like mouth or bag or anything are always a good ship and high yielding are still $53 +/-, If they're a little thin like drought and no teeth will do, $45

After the 4th of July light weaners will sell great. If you can grass til then and early wean 4cwts and let the cows come back, you'll maximize income.

Its a tough deal you face, but you'll be able to buy back better for less soon enough. Be glad prices are still pretty good.
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
With prices like that -I'd be selling cows if I'd had a four inch rain and grass was stirrup high-best be getting your ducks in a row girls-they ain't going to be high forever-border open or closed. Your actually sitting pretty good -being droughted out at the high end of the market. One thing about cows is they make more every day.
 

Rowdy Ranch

Well-known member
Same of OT stated. Here in central KS.Sold some 4 wks ago. The old gummers w/ 6-8 wk old good calves would bring 950 and the ones with a tooth or two w/6-8 wk old calves would bring 1050. Now the younger prs. are bringing 1300-1500 or little more in some cases. Good idea from Brad. There has been some moisture in our area.Hope all works for you-/Cowpuncher-know that things will work out for the best! :)
 

Denny

Well-known member
I have grass for 25 more pairs but no money to buy any.You could bring them here but with our newly aquired TB status you could'nt get them home again.
 

Team1roper

Well-known member
I feel your pain we have been hurting down here for the moisture.
We have sold most everything and probably selling more in july or August.
I hope you get the moisture you need.

Cow and calf pairs here in South Texas are running 800 to 1000
 

Tap

Well-known member
I am trying to put our April blizzard in the past, but you guys in the dry areas are making me think maybe that was better than having to sell our stock. We have turned dry again, but have a good start on grass. Last spring if it hadn't finally grew some grass we were in the same boat. Just too many dry years in a row sure makes the country, cattle, and caretakers suffer.

Here's hoping you get some rain soon.
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Ohh not even going to start on what the BSE and drought together was like-like I said before-even guys with grass should be selling at the price your cows are at now.
 

Brad S

Well-known member
NR

I sympathize with the $hit sandwich you Canadians had to choke down. Drought for several years forced low priced cattle liquidation then as we got some get well prices, you got screwed over by a mad cow and really got nothinhg for cattle for another 3 years. If you're still in the cow biz after that you're sure tough enough - probubly a little stuborn too.
 

Jason

Well-known member
I found the drought worse than the BSE (even thought that was a kick in the crotch).

If you have cheap grass you can wait out cheap prices.

I have stepped out and bought 70 more pairs this spring, and have 2 deals in the works for starting new herds with the prospect of combining resources and working together to sell bulls.

There is always a way, or maybe just stubborn :wink:
 

Brad S

Well-known member
Jason, cool to see you still fighting the fight. You're due for some good luck, but don''t hold your breath.

Are the new cows purebreds?
 

WB

Well-known member
Cowpuncher: I agree with Brad S. I would sell some and keep some if I was wanting to stay on the cow business longterm. We don't have hardly any grass and at this rate the winter wheat is going to heck in a hurry. I plan on selling some pairs just to lighten the load a little and put some money in the bank. I will keep the cows with heifer calves and sell mostly cows with bull calves. Heres to gettin some rain real soon.
 

Jason

Well-known member
Brad, the new pairs are evry color under the sun. Not purebreds in the least....makes me appreciate the blacks though.

I've dealt with bad bags and 2 stitched vaginas, quite a few that would eat you as soon as look at you, but they came in at around $650 on the average. It just takes a calm attitude and a steady pace to work them...(something I usually keep :wink: )

Anyhow, about half these girls will end up culls this fall, they are big framed and will average 1500 pounds at 40 cents I'm at $600. The calf will be mine for $50 plus summer pasture. The plan is to feed them over and try to get $800 for them next spring.

The cashflow will allow me to keep some extra bull calves born in April from the purebreds over for 2's. Those will be worth a lot more than a steer next spring.

I have barely started work on my house(if it rains we get wetter inside than out)...my field tractor blew the engine and there will be other surprizes along the way, but they all take money. At least the grass is green and the markets are moving. I can deal with the rest. As long as my old body holds up I will be ok. I almost have the physio and chiropractor on speed dial :D
 

Cowpuncher

Well-known member
Just had to rejuvenate this thread.

Monday evening we had the first decent rain since October. Got just over an inch. The moisture from the October storm was just about gone, this will probably get us well into the summer.

Wheat crop will still be a total loss, though.

We took a few cows to the sale Tuesday. Dry, cripple and gummers that got their calves stolen.

An inch of rain sure is good for your outlook.
 

Brad S

Well-known member
Puncher, you're right its all about outlook. The way Jason can keep getting up after the Canadian knockdowns gives good guidance for all of us.


Anytime is a good time to swap a bagger/cripple/gummer, congrats on the rain.
 
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