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What would you pay for heifers ?

J

Judith

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Joined
Dec 29, 2005
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Location
BC
Well I'm really a newbie to the world of purebred cattle. I have raised mixes before but want to try to get some good stock in the spring. What is a reasonable price for quality bred heifers? I'm starting my research now in theory it will give me time to work out the kinks..... I don't want to get soaked purchasing foundation stock.

I can just see it now, newly divorced women walks into a breeders herd. Breeder sees large sucker mark painted on forehead of women. Charges three times going rate. Ex husband falls on floor laughing guts out and says see ranching IS a waste of time ...... ( I swear to G-- that this ranching venture will be successful if it kills me!)Research should keep me from making the gross mistakes.

Forgot I will be purchasing in canada so the rates might be different.

Any help will gladly and greatfully accepted.
My bank manager mentioned leasing a herd and running them for the owner. He says it works rather successfully anyone ever heard of this sort of thing.
 
Judith,

A lot will have to do with breed and quality of the animals. I have seen pure breed Tarentaise heifers for example go for maybe 100-200 over a feeder heifer (Which was also the going rate for some of the nicer commerical Angus replacement heifers). It is going to depend on quality... Yes, their are heifers out there going for 64,000 or 100,000 but who actually buys those? I know someone does but I will tell you it makes me scratch my head. I would think some nice heifer calves could be had for a reasonable price.. I think I was seeing a lot of Red Angus going for 1500 or so but I didn't see them in person.
 
Judith,Some of it depends on where you are. I know you were talking about coming to Sask. The breed would determine the price quite abit . Also depending on whose herd you were picking from. Not saying that smaller or lesser known breeders don't have great cattle but a person does pay for reputation.
 
I will be purchasing primarily from the saskabush area :) I still havent nailed down a breed yet. I might try a few and then cull from there. I think the most important features for me will be calving ease, then temperment and weight gain. I have no idea why people pay crazy prices for cattle that can not calve unassisted. Seems so odd to me. Hardy stock will be important. I've had some pretty delicate flowers in my day, primarily the Holstein cross. No thanks but I will take a Jersey crossed with a meat breed anytime. Wow do they gain!!!! But seriously I will be taking a long hard look at the registered stock this go round. I think paying for reputation is a good thing if the breeder stands by his stock. You can't put a price on experience. :)
 
Sounds like the breed should be angus go to Sask Angus Assc. And hit on
links and visit members web sites need help send an e-mail.
 
Angus are very popular that's for sure! I've seen quite a few bred heifers going for $1500.00. (canuck buck) Is that too cheap? Seems low to me but heck I'm pretty darn happy if that's the going rate. Could have quite a nice herd for that price.
 
Are magazines such as Angus world worth the paper that they are printed on? Good for reference etc.
 
Judith said:
Are magazines such as Angus world worth the paper that they are printed on? Good for reference etc.
Click to expand...

lots of shiny bulls. Saka Angus Assco. Has the Angus Edge mag.

When you get you place lined up let a few of us know. I sold 75 hfrs to a Angus breeder that might be selling some this fall. I don't know the price but I am sure he is a fair honest man. He has treated me right.
 
Judith there are enough purebred and commercial breeders on Ranchers from Canada for you to get a good perspective.

Most of us purebred types here aren't the high falutin' over promoted ones you need to watch for.

The basic thing as you have already alluded to is that your operation has to make it's way pay. That means the price you pay will be based off what feeders and fat cattle are selling for.

Feel free to ask any and all questions.

For the record, the Angus World has some pretty pictures.. that's about all I'll say on that one.
 
Remember the old saying "dont drink down streeam from the herd" This very much applies to the purebred business. I know many a new breeder that has spent a fortune on breeding stock to find out that it takes years to develope a reputation and customer base and that just because you paid a fortune for cattle from a "reputation herd" it does not mean people will be knocking down your door to buy the offspring. Study the demographics of your area when deciding your breed and try not to get caught up with the "flavour of the day". The people that tend to be the most successfull in a breed tend to be the ones that get in before a popularity spike.
 
Judith, you're going to have to consider all the factors when it comes to buying heifers. Every breed has it's good and bad points. But it's not just the breed you have to consider. You have to factor in when you want them to calve, how much time you have or have not to take care of them and calve them out, how easy they'll be for you to handle, and how much money you want to make when you sell calves. Plus a whole lot of other stuff. If you want calving ease and temperament, I'd recommend Herefords (just because I'm partial to them) or Angus. If you want to be paid more per pound per calf, go with Angus :roll: , preferrably black. To the buyers, Black is Beautiful!
 
Judith: As a PB breeder I would have to caution you; building, breeding & successfully marketing a breeding program is a long term project that recquires adequate capital and real determination to succeed! Perhaps a better way would be to start small and use the balance of your resources to manage commercial cattle. You can access premium markets with them(quality replacement heifers, branded meat programs etc.) and this will give you a chance to build a reputation quality identity that will help in the PB market! As well it may give you the chance to examine your options and to decide if the PB business is the direction you need to go!! I haven't seen Can. statistics but I know that several years ago it was reported that the average life of a new PB herd in the states was 2 years; obviously there are some real challenges to overcome that must be addressed.

While there are challenges I would like to point out that there are lots of PB breeders (of all sizes & breeds) that have been and still continue to be successful. Perhaps the best part is that we get to deal with and meet some of the best people that are in any business anywhere.
Take time and identify breeds that you feel can be successful and do contact their breed offices for assisstance. That is part of their mandate!
 
Judith, cowsense talks some good. Its tough to make a go of it in the purebred business, but definitely not impossible.

I just entered the PB business 3 years ago, coming from a commercial background. I selected Shorthorns because my family has used Shorthorn stock since they started raising cattle (history is little fuzzy, but at least 150 years) and, primarily, the Shorthorn breed is making a comeback in most areas of Western Canada.

Having said that, talk to the local ranchers in your area and find out what they want. Your first bulls will likely sell locally. Don't pick a breed that no-one wants because it just makes it that much more of an uphill battle. Not only will you be fighting the lack of a reputation, but also fighting an unaccepted breed.

As for price, its going to depend on what quality you're looking at. I've been paying meat price x 1.5 for what I would consider average to slightly above average Shorthorn bred heifers. I even managed to find a few pairs priced at $1200. Bred BA heifers in my area are selling for around the same bucks. When picking your cows/heifers, try to keep things consistent.

One place you don't want to skimp is on bull power. A great bull will let those average to slightly above average cows turn out calves that are well above average to exceptional. Again, talking Shorthorns, I've seen average 2 year olds selling for $1800. Exceptional Shorthorn bulls will run you between $4000 and $8000.

Hope this helps.

Rod
 
Why not raise some bucking horses or bulls-heck of alot more fun and can be just as profitable-taking those young buckers to rodeos is like taking your kids to hockey practice. By the way if any Angus guy tries to peddle an EXT to you-smack him upside the head-my brahmer cows are half as wild and twice as smart.
 
A huge thanks to all who have replied. Why I am a bit more cautious going in than most is because I come from a "show horse" background. You know the industry where people pay money just because of a name or such and such trainer was involved. Alot of times these animals were no where near the price paid. I've gotten some lovely horses with great pedigrees just by doing things slowly. I intend to approach the cattle with the same caution. Fortunately I have a really great eye for structure. I totally believe that it is some bizarre gentic trait passed on by my grandpa. So I will be OK picking out the animals physically. But the pedigree thing is going to take some doing....I think knowing the market inside, out and backwards will help and of course I will gleen any info what not to do's etc from people who have been doing it for years. Slow and steady... nothing rash and no emotional decisions....
 
Hey Northern is an EXT something like the purebred labradoodle? or the purebred cockapoo? 8) but the came with papers....... LOL

I get to hit people :) Sweet I get too take out some of the pent up aggression. I already like this ranchin business!
 
I already raise bucking horses (snerk, flops on floor laughing butt of) well change the "B" to an "F" if ya get my meaning.... I have some of those tarded TB's. You know the point and shoot type of horse. Ya gotta wonder about an animal that is bred to run super fast in one direction.
my kids...

www.changingstrides.com
 
IL Rancher,
do you think it would be possible to make a profit on a cow that cost 64,000? I have done math ever which way and I cant figure out the benifit of an animal that spendy. Did you see these critters? Did you think they were worth that much? Surely the offspring would never cover the original cost. Really interesting that they are out there though :) Sure like to see one.
 
Judith said:
do you think it would be possible to make a profit on a cow that cost 64,000?
Click to expand...

I used to giggle and snicker at guys that spent this kind of money on breeding stock, but as I've gotten into more and more PB outfits, I've come to realize that _some_ of this ultra-expensive stock can pay off. I can think of 5 PB purebred herds in Saskatchewan that got their start from 2 or 3 exceptional animals who bred true everytime and even 10 generations later you could still see the influence of those animals in the calves dropping on the ground. While the animal herself will likely never pay off directly, even with embryo flushes, how do you put a price on an entire herd of great animals?

Rod
 

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