Looking for Fall 2014 Club Calf Sale in the MidWest

[5PCC]

I'm thinking ahead to next show season. I'm wanting a "heads up" on Fall 2014 Club Calf Sales in my area, which is Northeast Missouri. So if you know of any sales that will be coming up in September, October, November, please let me know. I'm thinking of Mid-Missouri, Northern Missouri, Southern Iowa, Western Illinois, etc. I'm looking for both steers and heifers. I'm open to breed, but Maine Anjou and Chi are at the top of the list.
Thank you!

 

[BroncoFan]

If you are open to it, most larger breeders will ship their calves to your neck of the woods. Maybe to the general area so it wouldnt be a long haul for you all. My wife's college livestock judging coach runs his ranch is Casper, WY but he will haul as far west as Nevada and as far east as Illinois. You can view his website to see past winners: www.burchlivestock.net. I know he will have a fall sale around Oct 1st.

 

[bim1986]

There is quite a few around that region.  Pick up a an august show circuit and you will see a huge listing.  Labor day usually kicks off the sale season.

 

[iowabeef]

Go to showsteers.com    Under "directories" click on listings by state and you can see more sales listed than you can imagine.  The amount of quality sales in southern Iowa alone will blow your mind.  Good luck.

 

[bim1986]

Also my advice with online sales - go visit the cattle in person before bidding online and don't make note to anyone what you are willing to pay.  Set a budget on a calf and if it goes over, move on to the next one.

 

[5PCC]

That's good advice. Thanks. Can someone tell me what to expect to spend? I am looking for a nice calf, but I have 3 kids and can't blow the bank on any one calf. I'm not looking to win the state fair. I don't need to be first in class, but I don't want to be last in class either!

 

[BroncoFan]

That's good advice. Thanks. Can someone tell me what to expect to spend? I am looking for a nice calf, but I have 3 kids and can't blow the bank on any one calf. I'm not looking to win the state fair. I don't need to be first in class, but I don't want to be last in class either!

In my opinion, a calf worth showing will cost about $1500 this year. Beef prices are up and I think 500 to 600 weights are going for about $2.25 per pound. Some breeders will ship their low end calves to the sale barn because they wont have to creep feed them. A person could buy calves out of the pasture at a cheaper prices. Again just my opinion.

 

[DSC]

You will have to do a lot of searching to find one worth showing for $1500. Most of these sales are going to base them at $2000 or $2500 this year. If I am going to put the feed, halter breaking, picturing, commission and advertising into one I would not sell him for $1500 when I could get that at the sale barn. JMO

 

[BroncoFan]

Oh I agree. Im just saying the very minimum would be $1500. I believe it costs just as much to feed a bad one as it does a good one so you might as well feed a good one. We halter break ours too and that takes time as well. The real ronchy ones get halter broke by the donkey.

 

[Chap]

The Eastern Iowa Club Calf Producers will have a super set this year.  i believe all these sales will be in the first couple weeks of September.  ours will be 9/14/14 and is called the Boys of Summer Sale.  you can see lots of cattle in a weekend when you focus on one area.  i would recommend that program.  most of these area based groups will include a map and phone numbers for them all.  usually 20-25 sets of cattle in the EICCP group.  and around 400 hd between them

 

[Dyer Show cattle]

I just sold some late calves at 550 and 600 lbs and they averaged 1100 dollars at the sale barn, I have some decent calves this year but won't even think about breaking and weaning early for anything less than 2K. I think that's the trouble you will run into this year trying to find a calf at 1500 dollars if prices stay the same. If you want a good calf for around 1500 I think your going to have to stay away from sales and go find a farm like mine without a big name and buy them out of the pasture, take them early and break them yourself. I would think about selling one for 1500 that way. When you wean calves in aug and sept to get ready for fall sales you put a lot of time and extra money in feed in those calves before they are sold. When my 700 lbs at the salebarn in Jan bring 1200 to 1300 with less costs I'm loosing money at 1500 for club calves unless my time is worthless. And anymore I would rather spend more time with my family instead of countless hours washing and clipping in the barn even though I do enjoy it its just not on the top of the list anymore.

 

[BroncoFan]

After looking at feeder prices for 500-600 weights, we wont be selling any as show cattle for 1500. Now if someone was to come by at weaning time and will halter break the steer themselves then we will sell one to them for 1500.

 

[FlatlandCattle09]

Purple ribbon sale in Waukon iowa. It's north eastern. Sale is first Saturday in November.

 

[GONEWEST]

The combination of beef prices, poor job stability, and the fact that the devaluation of the dollar and high transportation prices have forced cost up on everything from groceries to show supplies, is going to put a damper on lots of kids ability to participate in the beef project.

 

[shortyjock89]

If you're ever in Western IL, come to the Roseville/Macomb/Galesburg area. Huston, England, Shike, Wisnewski, Line, Campbell, and many more within an hour of each other.  Lots of good breed cattle too. We're between Macomb and Roseville (Torrance Herefords), and Lowderman's are just outside of Macomb as well. 

 

[bk2005]

The Ohio feeder calf round up in sept is a solid sale to get competitive county fair level steers.
An add is always in the fall primetime book.
Normally 130-150 head sell. Some reg calves but all clubby bred

 

[BroncoFan]

The combination of beef prices, poor job stability, and the fact that the devaluation of the dollar and high transportation prices have forced cost up on everything from groceries to show supplies, is going to put a damper on lots of kids ability to participate in the beef project.

 

[Tallcool1]

Last season, there were several just plain good ones that sold in the $2,000 range. 

I got caught sleeping during one of Goretska's late online sales last fall.  There were 2 steers on that sale that were darn sure good enough.  I talked to Tracy about both of them, thinking maybe one would be good enough for a really competitive county fair.  He told me point blank, that either one of them would compete at our State Fair.  I got busy, and didn't follow the sale.  One got one bid, and the other brought I believe $2,100. 

If you have the discipline to be patient, it can be done.  You just have to find the ones that everyone isn't looking at!