O/T Bucket Calves

Anonymous-0 · Dec 3, 2008

I have a chance to buy some Holstein bucket calves for less than a $100.00 a piece. Is there any money to be made?

sammydwm · Dec 3, 2008

I would hope they were less than 100.

30% of calves sold at the local sales barn were under 49.

And if you turn them around as feeders you get
Holstein Feeder Steers 250# - 650# 40-60
Holstein Feeder Steers 650# - 950# 40-55

Keep em till they're big
High Choice & Prime Grade Holstein Steers 71-74.50
Choice Grade Holstein Steers 62-71
Select Grade Holstein Steers 50-60

pretty depressing actually.

Now if you can raise them cheaply..lots of pasture then sell them as halves to folks who want to know where their meat comes from for 5 bucks a pound you may have something.

Ron in Nebr · Dec 4, 2008

One part of it depends on if you have cows to put them on or if you're gonna be buying milk replacer until they're old enough to eat grain.

Around here anyways, a 40lb bag of milk replacer is close to 100 bucks, and with two calves you'll be going through a bag every couple weeks or so. I've fed lots of 'em that way in the past couple decades(due to twins, cows not claiming, etc.) and it isn't cheap and as SOON as we come across another cow to put 'em on, that's where they go.

NEIADan · Dec 4, 2008

At the last feeder sale
i attended holstein calves at #250-300 were bringing $.55# Now my caculator says it would cost about $225 for feed cost alone to raise them to that range. Why would you pay anything for a calf that won't even make its feed bill.
Use a sharp pencil and look at how you could make money on buying those #300 calves and selling them next spring at #700. You can easily pencil a profit with less risk and labor. My lots are full here with heavy cattle but I have rented aother site to buy more of those money makers. Many of the holstein calves were shot because of no value last year now we are back into that same position. Look for quality black calves to make money.

Jack a · Dec 4, 2008

Selling for $0 to $30 bucks a piece here in SE MN. Make sure they have had their colostrum or you can't win. Try buying some colostrum from a local dairy maybe. They were shooting them a couple weeks ago in Zumbrota Livestock. No bidders.

Bill in IL · Dec 4, 2008

There is no money to be made.

75lbs of milk replacer minimum to get them on feed and that stuff round here last year was 60 bucks for 50 lbs. Feeder market round here is 50 cents for a 500lb holstein steer.

Make some great eating though if you can sell the meat or for your self. Thats about the only way you could have a chance at making a buck cause the market only wants angus even though when it gets to your plate you can't tell the difference.

Formerly PaMike · Dec 4, 2008

I dont understand it. Holstein calves are cheaper tahn I have ever seen, but corn prices have come way down. I thought once corn came down the calf/feeder prices would go back up. Not the case though...

jimva · Dec 4, 2008

You can buy bottle calves all day long around here for 15.00/head. Good calves too.

O/T Bucket Calves

Anonymous-0

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sammydwm

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Ron in Nebr

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NEIADan

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Jack a

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Bill in IL

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Formerly PaMike

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jimva

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