Author Topic: What % of calves will sell?? (Read 4706 times)

shufly · « **on:** February 23, 2010, 06:59:40 PM »

Just really getting started in the club calf business. Been raising just a few off of the small 20 cow herd I have, but am looking at buying more good cows and was trying to pencil it all out. What % of the calf crop can you usually plan on selling as good club calves? Any info or help would be appreciated.

Blake · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:13:17 PM »

how good are your cows?

forbes family farms · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:23:40 PM »

It all depends on what the quality of calves you have

outspoken · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:28:16 PM »

I'd say its more

who you know,
promotion/ marketing
and supply/demand...

shufly · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:33:19 PM »

The cows I have now are pretty good MainexAng cows. I am looking at purchasing some well bred Meyer and Ice Pick cows. Just wanting to make sure that they can pay for themselves. Didn't know what others experiences were so thought it couldn't hurt to ask all of you that have been doing this longer than me. I know that this business is who you know & marketing but just thought I would see is you all could tell me how your numbers have come out that last couple of years.

outspoken · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2010, 07:44:51 PM »

wth that said, I'd say don't invest more than u can afford to lose. At our place, I could likely sell every heifer calf born... and I'd say I could sellmost of my bull calves... I'd say if you're going to try and use 3 way cross bulls, you're likely to miss more than hit... but if you hit, you'll likely hit big.

cdncowboy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2010, 08:11:55 PM »

I always look at realistically being able to market 30% as steers. We used to use the same number when we were selling bulls as well. If you figure half and half bulls to heifers, its more than half as saleable steers. Knew a couple purebred outfits that retained very close to all of their bulls and sold them as such, it was good for a few years then all of sudden they couldn't sell the bottom end anymore. They began culling out that bottom and once again could sell all of the bulls. Same goes for steers, they ain't all gonna make it as show quality.

simtal · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2010, 08:19:46 PM »

depends on how you breed too, most people try to hit a home run rather than leg out a double

Show Heifer · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2010, 09:03:27 PM »

If you're looking for a number, I would say plan on selling about 10% as show calves, and that is if you do all the work involved and promote them, and haul them to sales and let them sell.

I'll repeat what kfacres said "Don't invest more than you can afford to lose".

Olson Family Shorthorns · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2010, 09:08:41 PM »

Quote from: Show Heifer on February 23, 2010, 09:03:27 PM

If you're looking for a number, I would say plan on selling about 10% as show calves, and that is if you do all the work involved and promote them, and haul them to sales and let them sell.

I'll repeat what kfacres said "Don't invest more than you can afford to lose".

You'd have to have some sorry cows to only sell 10% of the offspring as show calves. Heck, we've sold plenty of calves to kids out of cows and bulls with pedigrees no one has heard of, and maybe I'm WAY off here, but if you can't sell at least 30-40% as show calves, you aren't putting in the time and effort that is necessary to make the herd work for you.

Just think, a $1250 calf at 5 months is right at double what you'd get at the sale barn at the same time...if you can't raise more than 2 $1250 calves out of 20 solid Maine/Angus cows, you're almost trying to fail.

shufly · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2010, 10:32:17 PM »

That's close to what I have put together. I figure 70-75% AI conception rate. 50% of those AI calves being steers. Of thoses AI steers roughly 30-40% turn out sellable as club calves at an average price of $1250 (starting with local 4-H & FFA kids). So if I can put together a solid herd of 80 head of cows be able to sell around 10-12 show steers. I think that is a good goal to start with. After the first year or so with the new cows I will know more of what they can produce but thanks for everyone's opinions and experiences.

Jill · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2010, 08:29:55 AM »

I know you will find this amazing, but I'm going to have to agree with Show Heifer on this one, plan on selling 10% above market and you will have a better chance of not going broke, then if you sell 30-40% it will be icing on the cake. Logic of what you put down on paper never really equates to what you have on the ground, 75% conception rate is great, but what happens if only 20% are steers and only 50% of those are sellabe as club calves, plan for the worst and you'll be much better off.
Selling club calves all comes down to promotion and unless you have a name or wins behind your calf crop it is really hard to sell into a serious clubby market.

chambero · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2010, 10:21:45 AM »

I completely agree on the 10% number if you are in a competetive area.

If you are doing one-time AI, it's safer planning on 50% conception. You're gonna lose a few here and there (whether clubby or commercial) - calving, sick, etc. We figure we'll get a weaned calf at about 50% rate on timed AI.

shufly · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2010, 10:26:52 AM »

Most of the last 4 years ( all but 1 yr) we have gotten between 65-75% AI conception rate. So that is what I am using as a basis. I have lost an average of 1 calf a year out of the 20 cows I currently own so not too bad. After using the formula I shared earlier I am figuring on about 15% of my total herd being saleable as club calves. The 30% I mentioned is of the AI calves that are weaned.

CAB · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2010, 10:32:46 AM »

We also use that 10% # here. My cows aren't good enough IMO to get any higher than that. Watching the Ia Expo Jr shows is an eye opener every year. There are some very good calves towards the bottom end in all classes.
In our area also if you are breeding hard for clubby steers, you had better expect a lower price for what you can't get placed in hands for the showring. Depending on how much hair and if they are what I call slow doing puds you can expect anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars a hundred less & was told last week that a clubby breeder couldn't get a bid on some clubby looking cattle

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Author Topic: What % of calves will sell?? (Read 4706 times)

shufly

What % of calves will sell??

Blake

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forbes family farms

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outspoken

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shufly

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outspoken

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cdncowboy

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simtal

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Show Heifer

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Olson Family Shorthorns

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shufly

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Jill

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chambero

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shufly

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CAB

Re: What % of calves will sell??

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