OT-Young heifer/cow prices?

Dave from MN · Jun 22, 2011

I have 2 red females, both aborted this past winter due to some bad hay thay I was sold, at least that is the only reason we can figure. Any way, both are about 3.5 years old, one has had one calf, the other,none yet. They are nice thick ladies, pretty tame. I have decided not to keep them another year to get a calf. Have been with a bull about 2 months, appear to not have come in heat this last cycle so should be bred. What would they be worth? Giy that bought a couple bulls from me yesterday said $1500, sales barn guy says $.70-$.80/#. How soon can a vet preg check, or should I do the blood test? Any advice on selling?

Nate V. IA · Jun 22, 2011

Breed the best, eat the rest. Why pass your problems on to someone else, send them to the packer. The least you can do is make the buyer aware of why you are selling them, which is, poor production. I'm not trying to be mean, but I've been on the other side of the transaction more than once. Sellers rarely tell you the whole story, if they did alot more livestock with poor production would be eaten and in theory food in general would be cheaper.
Nate

mb58 · Jun 22, 2011

If I were selling to an individual directly off of my farm I would tell them what you told above. If I took them to a sale barn I would simply sell them as is. Most likely if they are bred they will bring a good price and if not most individual buyers (at the sale barn)will think they "lost" their calf and are being pawned off, hence, they won't bid on them. Which means they will be bought by a cattle buyer for the feeder/slaughter pen probably around the same money per pound you mentioned above.

LAA · Jun 22, 2011

Slaughter cows are at an all time high as are stocker cows, the highest grade of slaughter cow, ""breaker"" is bringing around 85 cents right now. If you have them preg checked at the sale barn that gives the option to sell by the head and have additional bidders who are interested in bred cows, the sale barn management will sell them to bring the most money, they are paid by commission and want to keep there sellers happy. You said they both aborted, I doubt very seriously that bad hay caused this unless there was a toxic weed in the hay, moldy or soured hay won"t cause abortion. You mention they are both red and around the same age, did they come from the same producer? I would want to know the reason those cattle aborted and for sure would get them out of the herd ASAP. If you bought them at a sale barn after they were 1 year old they are supposed to be tested and certified brucellosis free, a reputable private seller of replacement heifers and breeding cattle has his heifer calves nnalert and documented.

Dave from MN · Jun 22, 2011

LAA, cows were all born here, and have been healthy as can be. The one that has had one calf had no issues with the first one. The other didnt stick the first year. They were started after weaning on feed for butcher, but as some time progressed I pulled them out of the feeder pen and put them out to be replacement heifer's. I do know they both had a bout of real bad diarea last winter, and lost quite a bit of weight, assuming that is when they lost the calves. No other issues in the herd with any health or calving problems this spring.

Bruce from Can. · Jun 22, 2011

After 60 days, a good Vet. should be able to preg check.

RodinNS · Jun 22, 2011

A good vet will know at 35 days with a reasonable degree of certainty. 60 days should be quite easy....
Sale barn here will check them and sell them accordingly. If they told you 70-80 cents I would believe them.

Rod

OT-Young heifer/cow prices?

Dave from MN

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Nate V. IA

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mb58

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LAA

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Dave from MN

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Bruce from Can.

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RodinNS

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