This place is looking mighty bare...


Griz

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Welp, for the past 3 weeks we have been culling our cows and selling off the calves.Out of 2500 head we will have close to 300 head of cows here on 5000 acres.

Hay is so high this year that people are just getting carried away with it. For example...Last year we were paying $24.00 to $28.00 a bale for grass hay delivered and stacked in the barn...This year the hay that we have found, is going for $80.00 to $90.00 a bale for grass hay and that's just in the field. By the time we pay for having it shipped it would cost somewhere around $150.00 a bale. It is just crazy. In our county here in Oklahoma we are hurting really bad for rain. We have several ponds that are dry. There are several trees that are dieing, the creeks here are either dry are super low. I have never seen it this bad in my life...

Anyway it is going to be an easy winter for me to say the less. It's kinda sad to see the cows gone though.

I sure hope this crazy weather changes and soon...

I was told last week that if things don't change by the time winter is over. There is a good chance this ranch will shut down, putting me out of a job...

Not a good deal...

Is there ever going to be any kind of relief here...I sure hope so...And quick...

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Re: This place is looking mighty bare...

Wow Dale, I paid $12 for 6 X 6 ft rolls to have my neighbor roll my clover and mixed grass fields for me, only reason so high was because fuel prices were so high then. Still going to need another 25 or so bails to get me through, need to talk to my other neighbor, paid $15 a bail from him last year and used his hay wagon and he loaded it for me at his house just up the road. Hope his prices have not gone up too much. He has been bringing hay in the past week or so, so I guess he is done bailing for the year. Luckily my side pasture I kept the cows and horses off of for about a month is in really good shape now.

Looking to sell some calves and yearlings soon and pick up a couple more heifers this fall.

Been a dry year here too, sure hope you guys get some rain over that way soon.

How much are cow calf pairs going for over your way Dale?

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Guest IL_HuNtIn_KiD

Re: This place is looking mighty bare...

wow..thats 10 times the amount we pay for 6x6 bails here..they are down around $9-10 a piece....sorry to hear that...i know how awesome it is to sit and look over thousands of acres with that many head on it...it sure is a beautiful sight on a nice day with a sunset....hope it all works out for ya

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Re: This place is looking mighty bare...

I know what you mean about the cows. We have been culling my grandma's herd. We have been weaning and selling the majority of the calves, but we have kept a select few as replacements for a few older cows that are going to market. We have been trying to get the hay in as well. Good luck I hope that things get better for you.

Archerjg

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Re: This place is looking mighty bare...

[ QUOTE ]

How much are cow calf pairs going for over your way Dale?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go William.

Here's what we go by.

Sent 8 full pots yesterday to the sale.

I have 1 more group next week of 250 head of cows and calves to go through and then I'm done.

------------------------

KO_LS757

Oklahoma City, OK Fri Sep 29, 2006 USDA-OK Dept Ag Mkt News

Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction

Ada, Oklahoma

Wednesday and Thursday Auctions 9/27-28/2006

*** Added Cow and Bull Sale ***

This week: 2250 Last week: 4275

Compared to last week: Feeder steers 1.00-2.00 lower. Feeder heifers steady

to 2.00 higher. Demand good on all classes. Quality and weigh-ups average.

Flesh conditions medium. Supply comprised of 47% heifers and 13% over 600 lbs.

The weather is sunny, warm and dry.

Slaughter cows steady to 2.00 lower. Slaughter bulls steady to 1.00 lower.

Total of 920 cows and bulls sold with 40 percent to packers.

Feeder Steer Medium and Large 1

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

11 314-339 323 156.50-158.00 157.43

24 415-441 422 134.50-141.00 135.99

30 465-483 476 133.00-134.00 133.80

46 511-548 536 120.00-129.00 124.01

15 615-641 639 114.75-115.50 114.80

8 705-745 715 111.00-113.00 112.48

Feeder Steer Medium and Large 2

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

5 334 334 132.00 132.00

16 392-398 393 130.00-133.50 132.84

11 401-448 422 128.00-129.00 128.48

5 453 453 120.00 120.00

19 518-548 539 110.00-121.00 115.98

27 561-583 568 112.00-117.50 115.14

15 632-639 638 112.00-113.00 112.20

Feeder ***Bulls*** Medium and Large 1

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

19 368-374 369 142.00-142.50 142.39

25 406-423 409 133.00-134.00 133.83

33 465-490 473 127.00-132.00 128.65

14 501-506 503 119.50-125.00 121.25

Feeder ***Bulls*** Medium and Large 2

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

5 336 336 139.00 139.00

9 369-378 372 130.00-135.00 133.31

22 413-437 422 115.00-124.00 120.81

14 548 548 106.50 106.50

6 605-612 608 107.00-108.00 107.50

Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 1

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

19 303-323 315 125.00-135.00 128.83

9 357-366 361 125.00-126.00 125.45

14 407-435 423 117.00-118.50 117.72

7 455-475 464 116.00-117.00 116.56

51 506-540 524 113.00-114.50 113.36

11 550-595 577 109.00-113.00 111.20

22 607-640 624 107.00-113.50 110.85

7 679-685 680 107.50-108.00 107.57

5 765 765 102.00 102.00

Feeder Heifers Medium and Large 2

Head Wt Range Avg Wt Price Range Avg Price

14 363-395 374 108.00-121.00 116.19

112 410-448 429 105.00-116.00 113.85

28 471-498 483 108.00-115.00 110.65

44 501-543 515 107.00-111.50 109.39

8 568-573 570 104.00-108.00 106.01

C O W S

Slaughter Cows:

Head %Lean Weight Average Dress High Dress Low Dress

Breaker 55 75-80 1100-1820 46.00-48.00 51.00-55.00 42.00-44.00

Boner 120 80-85 1050-1300 45.00-47.00 49.00-52.00 39.00-43.00

Lean 180 85-90 1000-1200 41.00-42.00 45.00-49.00 34.00-39.00

Slaughter Bulls:

Head Weight Average Dress High Dress Low Dress

Y.G. 1-2 20 1300-1975 59.00-62.00 64.00-65.00 54.00-57.00

Replacement Cows: Pre-tested for bangs, pregnancy, and age.

Medium and Large 1-2

Age Weight Months Bred Quality Price/Head

2-4 yr old 1050-1150 3-7 months avg quality 710.00-860.00;

5-8 yr old 1050-1150 4-5 months avg quality 640.00-750.00,

5-8 yr old 950-1150 4-7 months avg-hi black 770.00-880.00.

Pairs: Medium and Large 1

Age Cow Weight Calf Wt Quality Price/Head

3-6 yr old 900-1200 100-400 avg quality 810.00-1275.00.

USDA-Oklahoma Dept of Ag Market News, Oklahoma City, OK

Mark Hill

phone: (405) 232-5425

www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/KO_LS757.txt

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Re: This place is looking mighty bare...

We finally got some rain, and now everyone is trying to get their second cut in. I think I gave $21.50 a bale that I had to go get but that was early this year before the rains stopped. I'd hate to have to go and price them now. One guy around here sold out, then turned around and sold the hay that he bought this spring and made more than double his money. (on the hay)

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