How much per part is it worth????

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Show Heifer

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After several discussions about calves and breeds it got me wandering....how much is hair worth? What about big bone-y legs?  How much is black hair worth? Or fuzzy ears?
If you have a calf that is super correct, black but has no hair, what is the calf worth?
The same calf, only with loads of hair? Is it worth $500? $1000? Maybe $10?
Red calf that is as good as the black calf?

I have a super calf that everyone says is the most correct calf they have seen. Super top, super square, etc.....but has no hair (at least not yet). So with no hair, I have had tons of offers to STEAL the calf, but no buyers.  ???

So lets price out a calf....you have the basic model (Ford Tempo), now lets add the extras and make it into a Lexxus or Mercedes.....

 

chambero

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Figure out a way to get him to Texas.  We don't have to have it for our majors.  I would guess he is a spring born.  Would probably work at our state fair in October. 
 

Jill

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Ok, just came in, I'll have to think about the answer to that, but just so you don't kid yourself, if your calf doesn't have hair as a baby he will probably not ever have hair, look at the ears, if they are real hairy he has a chance, if not, no chance.  I don't know how many years we had breeders tell us when looking at calves that they would hair up, we finally learned (we are a little slow) if they didn't have it, they wouldn't.  If your steer is hairless, Texas is by far your best market.  As far as the red thing goes and this is just my opinion from my observations, a black hide will double the cost of a steer, so a really good red 5000.00 steer would be 10+ if he were black, (sorry Red) it's hard to win with a red steer and it is no big secret, just a fact.
 

DLD

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Well another thing about the Texas (slick shear) deal is that it kinda levels the field between blacks and other colors. A really good red (or grey) one that looks like it'll slick well is worth as much as a black one. It kind of spills over into the hair shows as well, as there are more colored ones being produced, plus we've just come to accept them a little more. I realize that might not be the case up north, though. 

It'd be pretty tough for me to price out each piece individually, but it could be kinda fun... I'll think on that one.

David
 

Show Dad

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I know it may seem like we are getting off on to hair color. But the ol' pendulum swung way to far into the black and we are probably seeing the beginning of it swinging back the other way. I base this on the over saturation of the color black. Almost all breeds are going black. Heck even Herefords have gone the way of the AA's. If you have a judge that makes any mention of the blacks being better take your lumps in the ring. Then approach him afterwards and make the point that under the hide they are all red.

I have done this to one judge we kept running into all the time. Though polite I finally got him to ask me as he saw me approaching, why I made the point since we show blacks too. I told him as judge I expect him to be color blind. Because if we won based on color then what does that say about our ability at raising cattle?

This is another example why there needs to be a rating system (a judging epd) that gives a grade or rating on how well the judge does (most definitely in the market class).
 

gocanes719

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Show Heifer said:
After several discussions about calves and breeds it got me wandering....how much is hair worth? What about big bone-y legs?  How much is black hair worth? Or fuzzy ears?
If you have a calf that is super correct, black but has no hair, what is the calf worth?
The same calf, only with loads of hair? Is it worth $500? $1000? Maybe $10?
Red calf that is as good as the black calf?

I have a super calf that everyone says is the most correct calf they have seen. Super top, super square, etc.....but has no hair (at least not yet). So with no hair, I have had tons of offers to STEAL the calf, but no buyers.  ???

So lets price out a calf....you have the basic model (Ford Tempo), now lets add the extras and make it into a Lexxus or Mercedes.....

Let's see a picture of this bad boy.  You will get an idea really quick.
 

Show Heifer

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I will try and get a picture of him soon. He was hairy as a calf, but 90 degree weather and in the pasture hasn't help his beauty hair!!!
But my question was really general, not just on MY calf, but others.
In a discussion about shorties, it seemed to be "hairy bloodlines" vs. "slick hided".  I know feeder calf buyers won't buy hairy cattle. Although evening out, blacks sell higher than spotted.

So heres my take:  Basic model calf:        $700.
                              Black:                        $1500
                              Big Boned:                $500
                              Hairy:                        $2000
                              Fluffy Hair:                $1000
                              Gentle:                      $250
                              AI'd sired:                  $500
                              "Super Jocks" hands : $2500
                              Toes pointing forward: $750

So there is my list and what I think people are willing to pay for it. (Maybe not what it is "worth".)
                             
 

red

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This is Jen's hairlesss wonder!
 

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OH Breeder

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Jen,
Nice calf. My thought its worth a penny. I think when we look at our stock everday we miss things good and bad. This is one reason I enjoy this site. Becuz, you can have other folks view your stock and get an opinon. I base my calves depending on the calf between 700 and 1000 then go from there. I have a mix of hair and little hair. In our area, color is not as much an issue as it use to be. Colored calves, baldies,smokes and shorthorns are doing well. Location Location Location- I think that is greatly important. June calves in ohio are just breeding stock not really for market steers. Now in other states they are desired. But rarely here do you see a June that is a fat steer in Ohio in August state fair. I say rarely becuz someone some where probably had one make it.
I think hair is unfortunately a part of the business. It is kind of like getting in a car without power windows or seats or no CD player. Those things are nice, but aren't necesarily a feature you have to have in all areas of the country.
 
This is how I see it, let me say this is NOT how I do it, but how I "think" some folks would see it

Basic Model: 700
Hair 1000
JOCKEY: 1000 to 2000
they do all kinds of things with trimming on feet so, 100 bucks for all north
Sire 500
crazies are drugged 75 for calm
bones - once was a saying- Ass Mass so, 500 for bone
in our area if its a good one the color is kind of non issue- a private sale last year the high sellers was between a red calf and a holstein looking calf the blacks did not top the sale.
 

ROAD WARRIOR

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Basic model - $700.00
hair -              $1000.00
good feet and legs - PRICELESS
 

Jill

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I am giving you my opinion based on a picture and please remember, pictures are not 3 dimensional, he may look way different in person.  You  have a nice county fair project, you don't have a high dollar steer.  In the picture he appears to round off in the rear is not really level from hooks to pins and he appears to have some neck for this age.  He appears to be more of a breed type steer, the calves that are going to be in that higher dollar range (with or without hair) are the clubbier prospect looking calves or at least that is what the guys that are coming through here are looking for. 
 

chambero

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Every once in a while that old time Chi look still shows up in em.  How's he bred?

He looks to have some potential for Texas. He looks a little rough in the shoulders and he will need a sweat collar on quick, but he does look to have enough muscle shape for a slick shear calf in Texas, but would probably have to be at our state fair which doesn't pay much.  So that would hurt you on price.  But, he should still be a sellable calf.  Price depends  on so many factors, but on the conservative side he looks like a $1500 to $2500 calf down here.  For one to bring more than that, there are so many variables that come into play and you really can't tell (at least I can't) without looking at one in person.
 

gocanes719

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He looks like he has some Braunvieh in him to me.  He is thck but with that he is far from ideal appearing in his neck and shoulder and I don't care for the way he looks in his underline.  That is a big deal with a slick one.  Either he is pinched in his heart or he has too much chest which is what I think based on the amiunt of leather in his neck.  He is a nice county steer for Texas, his color won't do him any favors.  I say $1500 is a more accurate price than $2500 unless he looks way different on a halter. 
 

Show Heifer

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I truely appreciate all the feed back! Isn't it funny how barn blindness works!!!! ::)
And for the most part agree with everyone. His weakness IS his front end. A bit heavy, but not as bad as the photos show.  Not sure on what "underline" problem is....maybe too straight in his underline? I don't THINK he is pinched in his heart....
And believe me, I realize he is not a "big time, drag all over the country" steer! ;D  But think more as a county and small open jr show type calf. As he is really calm and would make a nice first timer.

His breeding: your all wrong!! ;)  His dam is a red gelv X Angus and he is sired by KaBoom (shorthorn). Bet he gets his front end from the gelv huh?...

Anyway, have a few folks looking at him this weekend, I priced him at $1750.....and will take $1500.  Heck, if it goes to this certain family, I would take $1200!!!! Nice family, hard workers, and show for the fun of it.

Again, thanks everyone and I welcome more opinions!
 

OH Breeder

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Note on Kaboom, he does at times throw some shoulder. The gelbv's I have seen also tend to have some leather and a bit of shoulder. That could be the source. Sonny his sire had some shoulder to him and it sneaks through.
I think it is always good to get alot of opinions. I am like you, sometimes we stare at them too long and miss parts. Goodluck!
 

chambero

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I thought sure some old time Chi genetics showed through on him.  Would have never guessed shorthorn.  Huh.
 
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