Tuesday, December 6, 2016 - Packer Day/Bred Cow Sale


A big run of slaughter cattle sold today before tonight's replacement cow and heifer sale.  The fed cattle trade was lower with a 108.50 top.  Several cattle are being sold that are short on finish.
Over 200 cull cows traded steady to 2.00  lower.  Kill plants are full as numbers have picked up post Thanksgiving!

Slaughter Steers 143 head    
Choice 2-4 104.00-106.75    
  High Yielding 107.00-108.00    
  Low Yielding 102.00-103.50    
Mixed Select/Choice 2-3 99.50-101.50    
  Select 1-2  98.00/down  
       
       
Slaughter Heifers 81head    
   Choice 2-4 104.00-106.75    
    High Yielding  107.25-108.50    
     Low Yielding 102.00-103.50    
  Mixed Select Choice 2-3 99.50-102.00    
   Select 1-2  99.00/down    
Few fed hfretts 82.00-90.00    
       
Slaughter Cows - 218 head High yield Avg. Yield Low Yield
Premium White 59.00-64.50 54.00-58.40 53.00/down
Breakers-1300-1800# 58.50-64.00 52.00-57.50 51.00/down
Boners 1200-1600# 51.00-55.00 48.00-49.50 47.50/down
       
  Fancy Good Rest
Several young cows and feeding 86.00-100.00 68.00-80.00 65.00/down
 returning to farm       
       
Slaughter Bulls - High yield Avg. Yield Low Yield
26 head 85.50-90.00 74.50-80.00 71.50/down
       

Bred Cow Sale December 6, 2016

The bred cow and pair market has definitely been affected by much lower calf and slaughter cow prices. The potential outcome a year ago for a short term cow and with a 400# steer calf was around $1825. That figure has now dropped to about $1400. These figures give reason for the change in marketing prices from last year to now.  

25 Cow/Calf pairs brought from $900 for small, thin and old cows to a top of $1775.00 for a big young pair. The average for all was around $1400.00. Overall quality wasn’t anything to brag about.

55 bred heifers were offered and for the most part faced only moderate demand. The bred heifer market usually doesn’t heat up until after the first of the year. The top end of the heifers weighing over 1000# with eye appeal and some reputation along with the paper to back up their management brought from $1400 to the top of $1800. Several of lesser quality or smaller in size or frame brought less.

297 mature bred cows were sold. There is good demand for top young black cows from herd dispersions and reductions. Buyers are cautious and tend to stay away anything questionable as well as those with attitude problems. Top sellers were a herd of 55 head of 3-yr old spring calving fancy Sim/Ang cows. The top cut brought $2100 and ranged down to $1600. Average for the 55 head was $1766.00.

The rest of the mature cows were a mixed bag with several very good ones ranging down to some older short term cows. Many of the better ones weighing 1150# and up brought in a range of $1200 to $1500. Several older short term thin cows brought less than a thousand dollars.