sale barn pricing

[LeeB]

Can somebody explain this price sheet to me?


Feeder Bulls                Medium and Large 1
Head   Wt Range   Avg Wt    Price Range   Avg Price
    3    325-340    332    330.00-345.00     340.03
    7    350-397    390    316.00-324.00     317.67
    8    411-445    420    285.00-294.00     291.61
    5    455-495    474    270.00-275.00     270.96
   11    509-544    530    252.00-272.00     261.79
    8    555-584    571    244.00-253.00     247.12
   10    600-645    619    224.00-243.00     234.27
    3    650-655    652    226.00-231.00     229.00
    4    750-790    760    193.00-196.00     195.22
                             Medium and Large 2
    2    315-320    318    265.00-275.00     270.04
    2    375-385    380    285.00-296.00     290.43
   10    400-442    416    264.00-295.00     277.37
    7    450-495    475    253.00-268.00     263.41
   11    505-548    526    226.00-256.50     243.95
    6    555-590    571    225.00-239.00     231.29
    2    610-615    613    214.00-232.00     223.04

[roadhunter]

I'm no expert but I think the pricing you are seeing is per hundred weight.  Essentially you are looking at somewhere between $3.40 - $1.95 per pound.  Small calves are worth the most per pound.

[fishpharmer]

The first number is how many head sold in that weight/frame category.
Weight range is highest and lowest weight of that frame type and weight category.
Average weight is average of above number for each line, its in 50lb increments.
Price range doesn't necessarily correspond to highest and lowest weights.  It depends on individual animal.
Average price, for that weight and frame category.

Medium Large 1 or 2 is a frame score.  Has to do with bone size and muscle.  So a holstien will score low.  A charlais typically scores higher.  Its been my experience thinner high frame score calves bring highest price.  Because they gain the most and the feed lot or next person owning that calf gets paid for the pounds they add. 

But I am a rank amatuer, so take this with a grain of salt. A small grain. ;)

[fishpharmer]

Yes, as roadhunter stated that is per hundred weight.
So the average price per calf on first line was $1128 or so. 

See why beef is so expensive?

Also, the buyers look at other things like if calf is sick and or hollering for its mama (not weaned).  Those are deducts per pound.

[LeeB]

Hmm, looks like I should thin out my little herd. Get a little money back on all that feed.

[Roxie]

Let's take that first line this way...

There were 3 head in the 325 to 340 weight range.  The average weight would be 332.

The Medium and Large Price Range is $330 to $340 each calf. 

Those 3 calves sold for an average price of $340.03 each. 

The owner of those three calves can expect to receive $1020, which works out to about $1/lb.   pc_smiley

[roadhunter]

Let's take that first line this way...

There were 3 head in the 325 to 340 weight range.  The average weight would be 332.

The Medium and Large Price Range is $330 to $340 each calf. 

Those 3 calves sold for an average price of $340.03 each. 

The owner of those three calves can expect to receive $1020, which works out to about $1/lb.   pc_smiley

Unfortunately calves have not been that cheap in a long time.  Calves are going for over $1,000 these days.  FishPharmer had it right.  $1,100+ each for the calves on the first line.  Over $3 a pound.   

My neighbor sold 32 calves recently for around $50,000.  Look for John Stewart at the top. 
http://www.crawfordlivestock.com/images/mkt/2015/april102015mktrep.pdf

We had a huge die off in Oct of 2012 so prices are ridiculous in this area. Nearly $4 a pound for calves in some cases.

[Roxie]

The steers in your attachment sold for $3.84 to $1.98/lb.  $3.84 for a finished steer is a good price, but not outrageously high.  What your attachment doesn't show is individual weights (or finish) on the steers.  18 sold over $3.00/lb, and 36 sold in the $2.00/lb range.  It's possible (but not clear on your list) that the $1.98/lb group were calves.

I'd be real interested to know how much the individual steers weighed that brought $3.84 from your friend John.   

[brianJ]

@ Roxie   Those are live weights not hanging weights.  Beef prices are still near historical highs.   

Also these are calf weights.   Finished weights are near 1100 pounds give or take.

[roadhunter]

The steers in your attachment sold for $3.84 to $1.98/lb.  $3.84 for a finished steer is a good price, but not outrageously high.  What your attachment doesn't show is individual weights (or finish) on the steers.  18 sold over $3.00/lb, and 36 sold in the $2.00/lb range.  It's possible (but not clear on your list) that the $1.98/lb group were calves.

I'd be real interested to know how much the individual steers weighed that brought $3.84 from your friend John.   

The weight is listed right next to the price. Smaller weight brought more $ per pound as a general rule.  The $1.98 group weighed over 900 pounds. 

7 steers averaged 431# and sold at $364 per hundred weight.  4.31 x 364 = $1,569 each x 7 = $10,983
25 steers averaged 494 #and sold for $320 per hundred weight.  4.94 x 320 = $1,581 each x 25 = $39,525
Total for 32 steers= $50,508

[fishpharmer]

Its certainly confusing.  I have seen different sale barns use different inhouse and local reports.  Maybe the South is different from other regions in that respect.

[Roxie]

That could be fishpharmer   

I know that Cowboy Bob said six months ago, you couldn't give calves away, and now they are through the roof. 

BrianJ, you are correct that lower weight animals sell higher per pound.   

roadhunter, thank you for explaining that 431# is the weight, and not the buyer number. 

[LeeB]

Thank you all for educating me.

[red oaks lumber]

100 lb calves are bringing $500 have been for 18 months or so.
if you notice small to mediium frame animals sell for more$ ,the buyer knows a smaller frame takes less groceries to reach finish condition.

[LeeB]

Next question, somebody tell me what frame means.

[fishpharmer]

http://www.angus.org/performance/ahir/perfframescore.aspx

Of all the buyers I have seen, I have never seen one holding a frame score chart.

It sort of a way to grade the growth potential of a calf.   

[fishpharmer]

This link has photos that make it easier for me to understand...

http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/ag/other/cl775.pdf

[NWP]

Let's take that first line this way...

There were 3 head in the 325 to 340 weight range.  The average weight would be 332.

The Medium and Large Price Range is $330 to $340 each calf. 

Those 3 calves sold for an average price of $340.03 each. 

The owner of those three calves can expect to receive $1020, which works out to about $1/lb.   pc_smiley

How many semi loads can I get at this price?   ;D

[Roxie]

All you want in Pennsylvania.  Yesterday's top selling bull weighed 1503 lbs. and brought $2060.00. 

[roadhunter]

All you want in Pennsylvania.  Yesterday's top selling bull weighed 1503 lbs. and brought $2060.00.

I'll buy as many truckloads as you can supply. Ship them directly to the sale barn and I'll make about $750 per calf off of you. 

I don't think that you are understanding this yet.  Cows in PA are not selling for 33% of the value elsewhere.  Here is a recent example from a sale barn in PA.  It is slightly lower than other places we looked at but calves are still about $1,000, not $300 like you are claiming is the case. 

Recent sale in PA.
http://www.middleburglivestock.com/

Feeder Cattle:
   
Feeder Steers:

   Medium and Large 1
           300-400 lbs  245.00-305.00
           400-500 lbs  250.00-257.00
           500-600 lbs  225.00-255.00
           600-700 lbs  207.00-250.00
           700-800 lbs  195.00-225.00
           800-900 lbs  170.00-170.00
                                          
   Medium and Large 2
           300-500 lbs  170.00-225.00
           500-600 lbs  197.00-210.00
           600-700 lbs  175.00-205.00
           700-800 lbs  150.00-185.00
                                   
   Large 3 Holsteins
           200-400 lbs  190.00-250.00, fancy 327.00
           400-600 lbs  150.00-205.00
           600-800 lbs  142.00-190.00
                                                                            
Feeder Heifers:

   Medium and Large 1 
           300-400 lbs  245.00-250.00
           400-500 lbs  215.00-230.00
           500-600 lbs  195.00-222.00
           600-700 lbs  185.00-207.00
           700-800 lbs  157.00-170.00
           800-900 lbs  160.00-160.00
                      
   Medium and Large 2
                     200-300 lbs  180.00-245.00
           300-400 lbs  190.00-222.00
           400-500 lbs  170.00-200.00
           500-600 lbs  160.00-210.00
           600-700 lbs  150.00-180.00
                700-900 lbs  140.00-152.00

[fishpharmer]

Roadhunter, Miss Roxie is likely talking about the local Amish sale barn, and a dairy type bull.  They probably don't have to report to USDA.  Thanks

[Roxie]

No, I am understanding you, roadhunter, and I was ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT.  Please accept my sincerest apologies.  Sale information from the auction we deliver: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/qa_ls183.txt

It was so freakishly busy, that I took a picture of the trucks lined up, and my best friend. 



  

  

 

[fishpharmer]

No biggie.  Like I said, those reports are confusing.  Full grown animals I think are reported whole weight.   

Tell Cowboy Bob hello for me!

[Roxie]

I do like the format of our report better than the one LeeB was trying to decipher.   :P

[sandhills]

I'd like to show you how our reports go but after working Wednesday's sale I don't even want to look at it anymore, it was a nightmare and the first time in the however many years I've worked there I pulled the pin on one group of heifers and called the boss to say they're all coming at once or not at all.  The seller said he'd take them back home, he brought 73 head total but told us to sell 15 separate because they were just plain nuts, he was right, 5 head of steers were all the same size but the 10 heifers needed sized, didn't happen.  We even got to load one calf in a semi grain trailer  :, thought I'd seen it all until then, tell Cowboy Bob about that Roxie  :D.  To get back on track though, things are selling stupidly high here, people looking for replacement baby calves are still paying upwards of $500 to 550.