June calves?

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T-Majic

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May 11, 2011
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NE Nebraska
I have a couple nice late calves that weren't born til  mid June and will be too young for most fairs here in the midwest and was wondering if they fit for any shows and if so what part of the country? Also, how would you go about selling to them, ex. find a trader in that area or ???  Thanks
 

OH Breeder

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Ada, Ohio
I have the same issue here. I have several calves that are late this year. I have a couple Junes and a July. Looks like I am gonna have some August and Septembers. it doesn't work in our immediate area either. I am not sure of the market down south.
 

Freddy

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North central -- Nebraska on highway 183 - 30 mi
I had the same deal this year ,no good ,no traffic and also had on CW with no interest .....DENVER -lOUISVILLE ,AND souix falls ,sounds ike need to raise Holsteins ....

THE fall calves for down south is just as dead ,been about 8 big breeders up here that sold there fall cows out ....A couple of the guys were sellling 20.000 dollar calves about 3 years a ago and quit it because of lack of traffic ...
 

Tallcool1

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Email me pictures!

We would love to see what you have for sale.

Thanks
 

chambero

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Feb 12, 2007
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Texas
That really surprises me that yall are having a hard time getting calves down here.  There are more people showing than ever and prices are higher than ever.

June calves work fine for Denver and Fort Worth.

All I can say is if you have real good one get photos of them out and about.
 

easttex

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Texas
chambero said:
That really surprises me that yall are having a hard time getting calves down here.  There are more people showing than ever and prices are higher than ever.

June calves work fine for Denver and Fort Worth.

All I can say is if you have real good one get photos of them out and about.

I agree I live in east Texas and June's through September is what we look for.
 
C

cedarcurve

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same problem here with getting people from down there in touch...

we'd sell every male calf on the place for reasonable money- just to get them in someone, anyone's hands, instead of market.  Don't care who much the middle man made on them...
 

Freddy

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North central -- Nebraska on highway 183 - 30 mi
aLL THE FALL GUYS UP HERE LAST COMPLAINED ,NO BUYERS, GREAT WEATHER ,NO REASON ...WE WILL HAVE 3-4 CALVES THIS FALL -NONE THE NEXT YEAR .....cHAD THOMPSON  IS ABOUT THE ONLY GUY i KNOW OF THAT REALLY GETS ALONG GOOD ON FALL CALVES ....
 

Sassy2899

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I have a two bull calves, one June one July.  One of them is a Monopoly and the other a Bodacious X Jimmy the Greek X Meyer 734.  I will try to get pictures when I can, but I have the same problem.  Hopefully one of you Texas guys will take an interest. lol
 

DLD

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Apr 15, 2007
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sw Oklahoma
I think maybe the way show steers are being bought (in OK and TX anyway) has changed over the past several years.  A lot of ag teachers and parents used to religously make the trek north every year - some of us several times a year.  Used to be you weren't even serious about showing steers unless you did, but more and more, the average family either counts on the huge proliferation of traders or has one (or a few) local breeders they shop.  Thus, the number of people from down here that shop up there is shrinking, and they have a different mindset - they're not looking for a few nice steers they can afford like the ag teacher/parent did - they're looking for a trailer load that'll make them money.  They tend to go to breeders with numbers and reputation, and not want to bother with driving an hour out of the way to look at a couple of calves.  All I can say is what has already been said - get good pics and post them here or send them to us directly.  I (and many others) will make the trip if it looks like it'll be worth it.

Chambero said there are more people showing now than ever, and in TX that looks to be true.  In OK, I'm not so sure.  I do agree that prices are higher than ever, and I kind of think that, along with feed prices being higher than ever, is going to hurt the club calf market, here in OK anyway.
 

T-Majic

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NE Nebraska
we'd sell every male calf on the place for reasonable money- just to get them in someone, anyone's hands, instead of market.  Don't care who much the middle man made on them...
[/quote

I feel the same way. I just want to help someone who can't afford the high priced calves the oppurtunity to show a calf and not have to sell them at the sale barn come december. I am going to get pics of my calves soon and post or email pics to those down south. I remember when I was younger having and ag teacher and a couple students from TX stop and buy a calf. They were here in Nebraska picking up one or two calves from local sales and then headin back with a trailer load. I haven't been trying to sell any show calves for a few years and just getting back into it and I would like to get calves into someones hands and build connections.
 

chambero

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I honestly didn't realize yall were collectively having this kind of trouble.  My perception was that there were armies of traders pounding the highways of KS/NE/SD and the midwest looking for calves to bring down here to sell.  I would have figured that if I showed up in Feb/Mar at one of your places looking for a fall born calf, some trader willing to take a trailer load would have already been there before me in December and snatched up the ones truly worth having.

I think there are probably several issues affecting this, but some of them might be:

I really am starting to wonder how many calves are actually getting sold on the internet sales.  I think its a much lower number than people might expect.  In my opinion, online sales are glorified advertising, but I think most of those calves are actually sold private treaty.  I know for certain that the "price" a calf brings online is no indication that it actually sold or what it actually sold for.  In reality, I think it is just a simpler method than phone bidding between people that have seen the animals in person. I'm smart enough to never say never, but I have no intentions of buying a calf online that I haven't laid eyes on in person.  If I'm going to drive a 1,000 miles to look at one, I'm ready to make a fair deal with you and bring him home if I find what I want.

Individual families willing to go that far aren't looking for average calves, they are looking for almost perfect ones. Our level of competition is so tough down here that's what it takes to make the sale at a major.  If you get one that good, you've somehow got to figure out how to communicate it.  People will drive to the ends of the earth for the right calf.  But you have to be sure you've got one that good.

Your average 4-H/FFA kid looking for a project is never going to drive that far to look for calves on their own.  County agents/ag teachers often have some incentive (whole other discussion) to deal with the traders/breeders that are already well established down here.  These kids are looking for average, reasonably priced calves.  But they don't have to go that far to find them.  Lots of breeders down here are effectively raising them now.  Everybody and their cousin is raising show cattle down here (or at least trying to).

Traders are notorious for not having the money to pay for calves up front.  Personally, I'm not comfortable with that kind of arrangement and don't mess with them.  However, there must be plenty of breeders willing to take that risk because they never have  a shortage of calves to sell.  If you are, pick up the phone and call them.  You only need one to show up.
 

AAOK

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Jan 30, 2007
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Rogers, Ar
TAU said:
I have a couple nice late calves that weren't born til  mid June and will be too young for most fairs here in the midwest and was wondering if they fit for any shows and if so what part of the country? Also, how would you go about selling to them, ex. find a trader in that area or ???  Thanks

I too am amazed that you can't identify good buyers all over the U.S.  However, I think the ages being too young or too old to sell in your own area is an excuse, not a problem.  For my family, and most we knew, the emphasis on SHOWING CALVES was all about a great activity for the entire family, and the added benefit was how it developed the principles and character of our children.

I may be way off base, but my perception of Showing Calves in the Midwestern States clearly centers around the Fairs, and how much money can be made at those Sales. In OK and Texas it doesn't really matter the age of a calf.  The Show Season in OK is basically August through June, with our Fairs held September and March.  Some Counties have a small payoff at the Fall Fair, but most do not.  I believe all Counties have a Premium Sale in the Spring.  For those who show only locally, this is a Big Deal, and the larger, more mature calves do usually garner the most dollars.

The Big difference I notice in the Southern States is that a much larger percentage show at the State and National events, plus Jackpot Shows.  Size/Age of calves is irrelevant at these events, as there are champions at many levels.  They money may not be too great, but it shouldn't be about the $$$.  It's about doing what you do, the best you can do it, and taking it all to heart! 

So, organize a Show, and Show those young calves more than once or twice a year.  Kids in Texas might show 4-6 times in a weekend.
 
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