Types of calves, weaning status can impact what producers receive
It’s no coincidence that producers who do their homework, build relationships with local sale barn representatives and manage their animals well make more money when they take their animals to market. Yet no matter the current market prices, there are numerous factors that can impact how much or how little animals bring in the sale ring.
Length of Weaning: How long a calf has been weaned can make a significant difference in sale price. “I saw this past spring and winter, at least up in our area (Northern Missouri), these cattle that are 60 to 90 days weaned and have had two rounds of shots, those cattle were bringing a premium. The cattle weaned 30 days or less, up in our area, get discounted significantly,” Jim Humphrey, field specialist in livestock with the University of Missouri Extension said.
For many years, 30- to 45-day weaned calves were considered the norm at sale barns. That is no longer always the case. “They want you to take care of those calves at home, wean them a long time and hopefully if they have a second illness break, that is taken care of before they ever get to the sale barn, feed yards or stocker operation,” Humphrey explained.
Additional Factors: Other factors that will cause an animal to fetch a lesser price on sale day include long, rough hair, horns that haven’t at least been tipped, poor temperament, thin and sickly appearance, swollen joints, lameness and active pinkeye. One of the most significant factors are bulls that haven’t been castrated. “Intact bulls, as a general rule, get docked pretty significantly. Especially when we are talking about weaned 400-, 500-, 600-pound calves. If you can castrate the animals on the farm either yourself or with the veterinarian’s help, that helps a lot,” Humphrey added.
Additionally, producers may want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of implanting heifers. “As far as heifers, most buyers would prefer they not be implanted before they are sold. If they want to try to go back to replacing heifers sometimes there are some issues,” Humphrey said.
Dairy Crosses: Dairy crosses may be discounted. “One of the things that’s really changing in the dairy industry is they are starting to use a lot of high-end beef cattle genetics and breeding their females to them,” Humphrey explained. The result from these crosses are animals with more muscle and bone. Though they will still garner a lesser price than a traditional beef animal, the discount will be less severe.
Location Matters: The region where the animals are sold determines how much, if any, of a discount animals of certain breed influences will take. For example, in some areas of Southern Missouri eared cattle with some Brahman influence may not take too much of a price cut, but if the same cattle were sold in Northern Missouri, the animals likely would receive a significant price reduction. Buyers in the northern regions aren’t interested in purchasing thinner hided cattle, such as Brahman, Longhorn or Corriente.
Build Relationships: Producers who take the time to assess what buyers in their area want and when they will want it, set themselves up to make the most profit. One of the best ways to know the market is to build relationships with local sale barn representatives. “These men and women know the buyers and their orders and what they are looking for. Unless you ask and work with the auction facility and have a relationship you will not know that,” Humphrey said. Developing those relationships will allow producers to understand what type, weight, breed influence, etc. buyers in their area are looking for and the best time of year to sell their particular group of animals.
