Steer Price

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cowboybecoachin

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2009
Messages
198
It depends on your goals. We attempt to keep our steers and heifers reasonably priced. But you will not get our best calf for sale barn prices.
However, you can get a very good calf in the $2000-3500 if you know what to look for and where to look. And it can be fun and rewarding  to take a 'steal" and beat the high-dollar calves.
Had some calves we sold in the $1750-3500 range beat some calves costing $25,000 this spring.
Someone made a good point that sometimes the high-cost calf also comes with a lotta extras, as in halter-breaking,  fitting, breeding, etc.
What most people spend also depends on their pocketbooks. If  a rancher whose primary business is not the ranch, and he had a good year financially, the calf can be a tax write-off.
Another good point is how bad do you want to win? Sometimes winning trumps the other points, especially if you have deep pockets.
Probably the saddest thing I see is families not properly caring for the calf, regardless of price.
i will close with this statement:  If anyone wants to pay us MORE for a calf, we will TAKE IT!  (Ha Ha)
 

irh

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
340
I'll tell you what it takes more to win our county fair, the average first 5 is $5000 to probably $10000.  We have a very competive fair, plus knowing all the judges also helps win a show. 
 

shortyjock89

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
4,465
Location
IL
forbes family farms said:
Well i like just to go out and have fun when showing cattle we raise good cattle but its more about going out and having fun then winning all the time, i mean it is nice to win but its more of going out and having fun that's how i was brought up. I have had champions through my years but we don't spend lots of money on steers we pay more for heifers. Again this is how i was brought up and anyway we raise some very good steers and heifers, i don't care what anybody says.

I can totally understand wanting to have a good time, and not spending a ton of money to do it, but I kind of look at our show string like cars: Heifers can be like minivans or a nice sedan...maybe not the fastest or the fanciest but they'll getcha where you need to go and look nice....a steer is like a Hot Rod...win or lose, it's gonna be a heck of a ride!
 

herefordfootball

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2009
Messages
1,912
Location
Northern, Indiana
I've got news for you on the whole making money thing on a steer selling at county fair. ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. You are going to get at least 1000$/per year/per calf in feed and hay. This doesnt include vet bills. Spend what you want on your steers, but you can find just as good as quality in a 600$ steer as you can a 2500$ steer.  We paid 600$ for a simmi bull calf right out of the pasture, never been touched or worked with. Then paid $1400 for a chianina steer with clubby bloodlines. The simmi was out of just a plain sim cow and clean up bull. The Simmi was Champion Simmental steer and the Chi just won his class. It takes a good eye to pick one out that will grow right and finish at the right time, we got more luck than skill in that situation I think. lol

Overall it just depends on how much you can lose while still getting the best calf possible and staying in you're given price range.
 

HT

Well-known member
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
217
Location
Florida
I bought a county fair steer for $600.00 this past year he was a Kadabra and he was amazing. he ended up winning res champion steer and i won showmanship with him. I bought a calf last year, I paid $1,100 for him he didn't do crap at the show but he was grand champion carcass and weight gain. Then i bought a state calf this year for $550.00 and he got third in his class and 9th overall carcass.. this is just my last two years. I have bought calves from $500-2000 and i have always found that our cheeper calves do better for some reason, shop around and get the best deal!!
Hope this helps
 

afhm

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2007
Messages
1,621
Location
parts unknown
Spend a little bit of money and buy a good one to start with and you've got half the battle won before the fair ever rolls around.
 
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