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soapweed's bulls

mn said:
soapweed- how did your bulls sell that you rounded up?
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The resale value on bulls isn't quite as rosy as it has been in the past. On August 10th, I hauled five yearlings and four 2-year-olds to the sale. These were all light birthweight bulls that I used on yearling heifers. The yearlings weighed 911 pounds each and only brought $72.25 per cwt. This made the yearling bulls bring $658.20 each, and I had paid $1125 per bull when I bought them. The cost of using these bulls came to $467 per bull, not counting about $20 commision each and transportation costs to get them to the sale. I guess they ended up costing me about $500 per bull for "rent," which is considerably more than has been the case.

The 2-year-olds sold that day weighed 1326 pounds each and brought $55.75 per cwt, or $740 per head. I got two seasons use from them and had 15 months feed cost into them. Original purchase price was $1225 laid in a year ago last May. My "rent" on them was $485 for the two seasons.

The eight yearling bulls I hauled to another sale on the evening of August 18th, to sell the next day, ended up weighing 1002 pounds each. They brought $73.50 per cwt, and dollared out at $736.50 each. Original purchase price on them this spring was $1206, so the "rent" on them came to $470 each.

For comparison's sake, the yearling bulls I sold in early August last year brought $92 per cwt, and a month later they still brought $82 per cwt. On the bright side, I still have all the better bulls left and might keep them for one more year if need be.
 
Grassfarmer said:
You obviously have a good handle on the costs Soapweed - how many cows did each yearling cover on average just to put the cost in context?
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One bull for every 25 cows. We will preg check in October and November to see those results. It has worked quite well in the past.
 
how many ranches do you pick your bulls from? are they commerical ranches, have you followed the calves from these bull to see how they have done?
 
mn said:
how many ranches do you pick your bulls from? are they commerical ranches, have you followed the calves from these bull to see how they have done?
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This year I bought bulls from five different ranches, ranging from 30 head from one source down to four head from one source. We also carried over nine bulls from last year, and five of these were from a different source, also. They are all commercial bulls, with nary a pedigree or EPD in the pile. :wink: We sell calves at weaning time, and no, we haven't followed the results nearly as well as we should. Not keeping very good records on which bulls were used with which cows, and not usually keeping bulls for a second season, there is probably not too much point in following the outcome. The buyers have seemed to be happy, and I guess that is all that really matters.
 
What is the reason you dont use the bulls for more years, if they are good they are good and would that not be less expencive?
 
jopie said:
What is the reason you dont use the bulls for more years, if they are good they are good and would that not be less expencive?
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They are a nuisance, and they eat a lot of feed the nine months out of the year when we don't need them. They tend to stand around and dig, and tear up stuff. Life is just easier without them. :wink:
 
Sounds like a good deal on your end Soapweed, but I don't think I could sell a bull for $1,125 and want to stay in the bull business. Several years back it seemed at most sales they "no saled" them if they couldn't get $1,250, now its seems alot of them "no sale" them at $1,400 to $1,500.

Otherwise I like your thinking on your program there. Pretty cheap breeding and less hassle.
 
Horseless said:
Sounds like a good deal on your end Soapweed, but I don't think I could sell a bull for $1,125 and want to stay in the bull business. Several years back it seemed at most sales they "no saled" them if they couldn't get $1,250, now its seems alot of them "no sale" them at $1,400 to $1,500.

Otherwise I like your thinking on your program there. Pretty cheap breeding and less hassle.
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With our cattle, I try to make up in nutrition what they lack in genetics. :wink:
 

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