1300 to 1600 for top young cows??

[ALLFARMER]

http://www.triplejlivestock.com/MarketCurrent.aspx

Thanks to the guys on here who said cow prices were going to jump!

I didn't figure they would but decided I better buy early to be on the safe side. I am sure glad I did.

Bought a couple weeks back for $1140/for delivered bred black angus heifers.

Looks like people are ready to get back into cows.

[grassfarmer]

Just like the stock market the smart money was made by the guys buying on the bottom not the top. Some of these $600 cows bought a year ago must have made some real money for their new owners. It's nice to see some of the guys selling now reclaiming some of the equity they have lost in recent years.

[kato]

Good news. I like the way they put last year's prices on the page.

Under the Industry Comments part of the page, there's some interesting things to read.

[riders2010]

Is there going to be young people get in at 1300 to 1600 a cow? or are the bigger operators taking on more? Is it wise for someone starting out to pay that much, we have seen how fast it can go to shit, you need the calf grow it and then sell it, lots of time for just that one cycle. How many would it take to pay for the 1600 cow?

[brian99]

Prices down for whatever reason this week. $1300 for the young stuff at the top. Saw a friend of mine buy 4 2nd calvers right at the end of the sale for just over $1100. i'm thinking it's just high volume. Lots of cows yet to come.

[kato]

I'd be interested to know how many of these sale cows are from dispersals. According to the local marts, most of the bred cows in this province that are for sale are being dispersed.

BTW, the marts are all booked up for the year.

[wd40]

Woopee the banks will open up their pockets and beg us to buy cows at $1600.

[greybeard]

Some of the lucky grain guys have big tax problems.

[ALLFARMER]

Ya the bankers are so smart, when I wanted money to buy $800 cows I got told there is no money in cattle. Now when the price is up a third no problem. Good thing I was persistant.

[smcgrath76]

Should read Alan Nation's column in SGF
this month. Basically he draws a
parallel to the sheep industry in the SW
US. He is saying that we have not
brought very many young people into the
industry, so as prices rise, instead of
triggering retention of heifers it may
trigger a faster exodus > larger
shortage > higher prices > faster exodus
> etc.
When you look at the last several years,
the current herd size and infrastructure
(packing/processing) and the
demographics he might be right.