Fall run underway as light weight calves hit the market
Maybe we’re going to get a break! The weather is forecast to be below 100 degrees finally! It has been an especially hot, trying summer and the cooler temperatures will sure be welcome! Of course, a good old fashioned four day soaking rain would be even more welcome!
The drought is not over yet, and the fall run in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas is under way. Most places south of I-70 are dry, with a big volume of light weight calves coming to town. The cow run has slowed down, but it is probably just the lull before the storm.
The opportunities these calves represent are unbelievable! The calves selling now weighing just 450 pounds are the same calves that for the last 10 or 20 years have been weighing 600 pounds! The genetics have certainly not gone backwards, so how much compensatory gain is there in these cattle? And how easy will they wean right now rather than in the fall?
For those folks who like to turn out lighter calves, get in the market! In about a month or so, all those calves that aren’t coming out of a drought area will be showing up, and it will probably be a good bet they won’t weigh under 500! The cattle north of the drought and in the high country have had one of their best years ever! At the rate we’re going, there sure won’t be many cattle coming out of Texas, Oklahoma or New Mexico after the next 30 days!
It will be interesting to see how full the feed yards will be in the next month or so. Many yards already have plenty of calves and yearlings in them, and we haven’t even seen the northern grass cattle yet or the southeastern cattle! Maybe the feedyard numbers will double up, and maybe Mother Nature will let us turn some out, but either way there is going to be some holes to fill down the road!
The dynamics of the cattle industry have changed quite a bit over the years. From cattle drives to cattle trucks, from many people in agriculture to few, from open competition to forward contracting, from a mans word and handshake to the futures board, it has been an interesting progression. What changes will this drought make?
Let’s hope that more young people will come back to the ranches. Even as high as cattle, feed, land and equipment are, at least folks can borrow the money to get started and at very cheap rates. That probably won’t last forever. The fact that people need to eat will, so get in the business!
GET IN THE ACTION! RAISE SOME COWS! RAISE SOME BEEF!
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