Fall Run

Things have been really busy here at High Country.  There are the usual every day tasks of running a farm and working off farm as well.  Then there are the seasonal tasks that come into play. 

We were also busy this past weekend with Jon and Crystal home for their engagement party.  It was a great time to get friends and family together to meet Jon and celebrate with them.  We did take some time on Sunday to show him around our place, teach Stacy's friend Dan more about agriculture and to determine which calves we would sell this week.

We have marketed our steer and cull heifer calves a few different ways.   Sometimes we go to the pre-sort sales, or the Simmental influenced feeder calf sales.  But this year we sold privately.  Last Friday we were quoted a price for both the steers and heifers in a weight range.  We loaded them straight from pasture, delivered them an hour away and took a 3% shrink directly off of the truck.

Our steer calves netted us $958 and our heifers $826.  The steers were in the 700 lb range and the heifers 600 lb range.  This is what calves were selling for at the local auction mart the same day.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
929 head
CALF MARKET VERY STRONG

Steers Heifers 900 + $111.00 - $124.00 800 - 900 $122.00 - $134.25 700 - 800 $131.00 - $145.00 600 - 700 $135.00 - $146.50 500 - 600 $145.00 - $155.50 400 - 500 $155.00 - $162.50 300 - 400 $172.00 - $178.00 900 + $110.00 - $117.50 800 - 900 $115.00 - $123.60 700 - 800 $118.50 - $128.00 600 - 700 $120.00 - $129.75 500 - 600 $127.00 - $135.00 400 - 500 $140.00 - $147.00 300 - 400 $160.00 - $166.00

D1 Cows Bulls Bred Cows $60.00 - $72.00 $70.00 - $84.00 $0.00 - $0.00

We also shipped a few open cows that day.  Unfortunately Crystal had to say good bye to one of her old girls - Lil Signature 2N.  She hurt her hip on the ice last winter but still managed to wean off a 750lb bull calf in early August.  2N topped the market that day at $.72 / lb.  bringing in a check for over $1300.00

We have also been working on show cattle, deciding on consignments for the fall sales, updating pictures of the donors and preparing for winter.  Watch in the next couple of weeks for some exciting announcements on what we will be consigning to the NAILE sale and also to Checkers.  Until then enjoy these wonderful fall days we are having.