2012 bottle calf price?

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cpubarn

Well-known member
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
674
Location
Sheffield,IA
I am in Northern Iowa.

I had a set of twins, vet had a heifer lose her calf today in his own herd.

What is a fair rate for bottle calves in this type of a cattle market?

Calf is a heifer from a set of twin heifers simangus breeding...

Thanks!

Mark
 

RyanChandler

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Jul 6, 2011
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3,457
Location
Pottsboro, TX
600!!    :eek: That calf have to not only live but put on another 200lbs just to break even...and that's if prices hold.  I would nvr pay more than Cpl hundred, you don't even know if she'll take it.  You can buy holsteins around here for $80 all day.
 

cpubarn

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Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
674
Location
Sheffield,IA
Thanks for your input, it is always a variable market, but he got a calf out of my favorite cow, so he should be good either way...

Always want to be wise with money, but NEVER want to cheat the vet, or anyone else for that matter....
 

nkotb

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Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
321
Location
Quinter, KS
NW Kansas going for $450-$500.  I would never put a dairy bull on mine, you don't know what diseases they are carrying and aren't worth near as much as beef cattle when it comes time to sell.  As far as bottle calves or twins not making it, we have had really good luck, especially if put on another cow.
 

flyintale

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Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
88
Location
Indiana
Holy Moly!!!  Growing up and working on a dairy and selling bottle calves all my life...I cannot see asking somebody for that kind of money for a bottle calf when milk replacer is as expensive as it is!  Here we buy the good stuff....we pay near $77 for a 50 pound bag!
 

Till-Hill

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Sep 14, 2010
Messages
690
Location
Waterville, Iowa
Selling day to 3 day old Holstein and x-bred dairy calves for $125 picked up off my farm. beef-x calves $250. Everyone is looking to spend a little and get alot back right now with this market. Good luck!
 

r2scott

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Jan 6, 2009
Messages
55
I buy several beef calves and around here central ark 180 to 250 a head.
 

T-Majic

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Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
95
Location
NE Nebraska
2 day old calves sold here through sale ring the other day.  Bull calves went $480 and heifer calf was $430..... 50lb bag of medicated milk replacer $90......I don't know how people can make that work.  If I have twins this year I will have no problem selling a calf for $450. No risk or extra time spent to get a couple hundreds dollars extra for raising it all summer. They are great projects to get youth involved in cattle and 4-H, our local fair has around 50 bucket calves a year and only about 5 market steers show, but it definately isn't a money making proposition in my opionon.
 

Limiman12

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Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
469
Location
SW. Iowa
If it is heifer out of your best cow,    Work something out to get the heifer back if you want her,  Sell her for a little less, or barter, but have the chance to get her back reasonable.
 
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