Selling club calves?

Question

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I am just getting started with raising cattle & found that I like to train club calves. I don't have purebreds, but they are an angus mix. Even though they are not purebreds, they do have a good look to them. I have had serveral people interested in them. I would like to start selling calves as county fair beginner calves. Not sure what kind of price to put on them. They are also very tame, halter broke and lead readily. I would think that the training will bring a better price. What do you guys think?

P.S. - located in mid-Missouri

Answer 1

Talk to local ag teachers and county extension agents- where the calf is to be shown

Here in Texas the range is anywhere from market price to tens of thousands of dollars !!!!

Good Luck

Answer 2

I would not encourage you to proceed in this way.  You are in a very narrow marketing niche, without a very differentiated product.  I would encourage you to feed the calves out yourself and take them to the butcher.  Then go to local people and sell specialized beef.  Grass fed, Organic, Hormone free,  Antibiotic free, Locally grown , are all good selling points.  It takes generations to build a differentiated club calf that is worth much more that market price.

Answer 3

I raised 4H and FFA calves both.  You buy your calves for their conformation and breeding, not because they are gentle and broke to lead.  Breaking the calf to lead and gentling it are part of the project.  I don't think that teaching them to lead will help you much, it might help you some if all of things are there as well.

Answer 4

Check with your County Extension Agent as to what price show calves are going for in your area. My guess (not knowing the age or s*x) around 1000.00 -1500.00 each. That is what I have paid at a purebred auction for weanlings that were halter broke. (in Missiouri)

Answer 5

1st - Heifer or steers? age or weightnow?

2nd - Do you have any info on their pedigrees?

3rd - Are you offering your services as the fitter or as a feed consultant after the sale?

After answering this question it is hard to say how much with out seeing the calves, but if you think they could be competive county fair cattle don't take less than $750 for them but start at what you think is fair say put $1200 on the table and your buyers will let you know if that is way to much or if they jump on the deal you know that it is way to little.  I know people in my home state that spend more than $4000 on their steers and heifers.  But they buy from the big names so don't expect that.

As you get more experience you will learn more about quality and price.