Lazy WP Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 I will sell my fat cattle for this!! Not sure how a feeder can make. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 He won't this year. Cattle feeding is a funny business. To keep the banker happy he has to keep calves moving through his lots, even with a negative cash flow. Can't do this for too many years in a row though Not sure what is supporting these prices but there will be a correction, you can count on it. Just glad my calves are owned by someone else and the calf check is in the bank. I have been on the other end where the calf check didn't cover the years expenses and I had another year coming to operate before my next calf check. When you have struggled to keep you head above water, it is nice to have a year like this where you can actually crawl out and dry off a bit🤠 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 I was talking to a friend last night that was asking a sale barn where is the fat cattle market going. He didn’t get an answer. We both do a fair amount of freezer trade and wondering if we’re turning down these feeder prices this fall, are our customers going to pay the price we need come slaughter time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 29 minutes ago, 1256pickett said: I was talking to a friend last night that was asking a sale barn where is the fat cattle market going. He didn’t get an answer. We both do a fair amount of freezer trade and wondering if we’re turning down these feeder prices this fall, are our customers going to pay the price we need come slaughter time. There is a price where the American housewife will bypass beef and go to the cheaper meats. If you are raising and feeding your freezer beef then the price you need will be dependent on your actual costs not the calf market. There is the opportunity cost of selling your calves on this hot market vs the added expense of taking your calves all the way to the freezer. Sharpen your pencil🤠 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazy WP Posted September 14 Author Share Posted September 14 40 minutes ago, sandhiller said: There is a price where the American housewife will bypass beef and go to the cheaper meats. If you are raising and feeding your freezer beef then the price you need will be dependent on your actual costs not the calf market. There is the opportunity cost of selling your calves on this hot market vs the added expense of taking your calves all the way to the freezer. Sharpen your pencil🤠 I’m seriously considering selling my calves and buying back some misfits. I have 3 freezers full of beef, and I just don’t see any reason to feed out any next year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 Just now, Lazy WP said: I’m seriously considering selling my calves and buying back some misfits. I have 3 freezers full of beef, and I just don’t see any reason to feed out any next year. Take the money and don't stress if the market will pay you for feeding them out Buy Lisa something nice 🤠 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike newman Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 ......beef price down , down under ...lamb price way down......compliance cost from the marxist govt way up....but of course with the total population less than the city of Denver Co....we will save the planet....Petrol running at three dollars a litre.....(four litres = US Gallon ...) Let the good times roll... Election in four weeks...Bring it on !! Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy72 Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 Looking to buy cattle for this winter. Usually get 150-160 head. These kind of prices can make person nervous really quick. But they keep saying the demand for beef will remain strong, so who knows?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihrondiesel Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 9 minutes ago, Farmerboy72 said: Looking to buy cattle for this winter. Usually get 150-160 head. These kind of prices can make person nervous really quick. But they keep saying the demand for beef will remain strong, so who knows?!! Might be better off buying older bred cows, fatten them up after calving and sell the calves after weaning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zleinenbach Posted September 14 Share Posted September 14 9 minutes ago, Farmerboy72 said: Looking to buy cattle for this winter. Usually get 150-160 head. These kind of prices can make person nervous really quick. But they keep saying the demand for beef will remain strong, so who knows?!! we should invest in crickets and grasshoppers the way it sounds lol 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobbyfarm Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 8 hours ago, 1256pickett said: I was talking to a friend last night that was asking a sale barn where is the fat cattle market going. He didn’t get an answer. We both do a fair amount of freezer trade and wondering if we’re turning down these feeder prices this fall, are our customers going to pay the price we need come slaughter time. That is a good question. I have the same one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 7 hours ago, sandhiller said: There is a price where the American housewife will bypass beef and go to the cheaper meats. If you are raising and feeding your freezer beef then the price you need will be dependent on your actual costs not the calf market. There is the opportunity cost of selling your calves on this hot market vs the added expense of taking your calves all the way to the freezer. Sharpen your pencil🤠 Exactly. I price my freezer beef based on my costs not the market, it’s the great benefit of direct sales, but the opportunity to sell has to have some influence on my costs. A few years ago I did sell almost all my calves and I was upfront with customers that I couldn’t turn down the price and they understood. Most of my customers have come back and I actually have more wanting beef than what I raise. They are willing to pay for quality. However at my size of operation I can’t feed them as economically as the large feedyards. But when was the last time a large feed yard sold a quarter? I’m sure I can still make a profit on them so I will probably keep on going with it just not as much profit as I could sell them this fall. The big question is two to three years down the road would I loose more customers not having the beef to sell or raising the prices higher on what I have? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 1 hour ago, 1256pickett said: Exactly. I price my freezer beef based on my costs not the market, it’s the great benefit of direct sales, but the opportunity to sell has to have some influence on my costs. A few years ago I did sell almost all my calves and I was upfront with customers that I couldn’t turn down the price and they understood. Most of my customers have come back and I actually have more wanting beef than what I raise. They are willing to pay for quality. However at my size of operation I can’t feed them as economically as the large feedyards. But when was the last time a large feed yard sold a quarter? I’m sure I can still make a profit on them so I will probably keep on going with it just not as much profit as I could sell them this fall. The big question is two to three years down the road would I loose more customers not having the beef to sell or raising the prices higher on what I have? I think you got a good handle on your situation. You have a niche market with loyal customers. I would rather have a steady market with a known profit than these wild swings where you make a ton of money one year and maybe by the skin of your teeth the next. You take care of your customers by offering a great product at a fair price and they reward you by giving you a dependable market for your beef year to year. In my book, perfect! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Beale Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 10 hours ago, zleinenbach said: we should invest in crickets and grasshoppers the way it sounds lol Are you setting up a challenge for your new steed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zleinenbach Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 5 hours ago, Ian Beale said: Are you setting up a challenge for your new steed? i’ll take the cricket or grasshopper and put it on the hook to catch a fish before I eat the dang thing 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawleigh99 Posted September 15 Share Posted September 15 Amen Zach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazy WP Posted September 15 Author Share Posted September 15 We also are selling freezer beef directly. Lisa told all of our customers that we won’t be feeding anything next year. Have 3 that should go on feed in January and 2 weaning calves that I am going to sell. Probably sell my 2 commercial cows also this fall. I think the market is good and the hay market is stupid high so I think we can sell some of that also. I got stupid and bought a steel building the other day. If I can get everything sold for a decent amount, I can get the building done with out borrowing money and that’s the goal. I’m not in love with any of cattle other than my registered cows and even them, if someone offered me stupid money, they would not have a home here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1256pickett Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 23 hours ago, sandhiller said: I think you got a good handle on your situation. You have a niche market with loyal customers. I would rather have a steady market with a known profit than these wild swings where you make a ton of money one year and maybe by the skin of your teeth the next. You take care of your customers by offering a great product at a fair price and they reward you by giving you a dependable market for your beef year to year. In my book, perfect! Best part of doing the freezer beef trade is the response. I just got this from a customer a few minutes ago. It’s very satisfying. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandhiller Posted September 16 Share Posted September 16 56 minutes ago, 1256pickett said: Best part of doing the freezer beef trade is the response. I just got this from a customer a few minutes ago. It’s very satisfying. Should not have looked at that while here unloading. Mouth is watering and two hours before I get home🤤😔😄 Nice pice of meat! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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