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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 13:07:09 GMT -6
Not trying to be woe is me or spread my personal info too wide, but wanted to get some thoughts on selling bulls. Here are two out of three bulls that I just "sold" (parenthesis because no check yet, I have to semen test and he's coming by on Monday 2-9-2015) The bulls were one coming two and two coming 18 months. The two year old  One of the coming 18 month old bulls  Now this is the better of the two 18 month old bulls but the other one isn't too far behind on looks. Now I'll tackle this in a couple of separate posts, but first, what (generally) would bulls like this be worth? And if you say I should have just sold them as packers for $1.40 a pound, that is fine. We are all entitled to our opinions. |
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Post by okherefords on Mar 2, 2015 13:11:28 GMT -6
Glenn,
Based upon what I have been seeing, these type of bulls are bringing between 5-8k.
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Post by Carlos (frmaiz) on Mar 2, 2015 13:48:11 GMT -6
Nice bulls Glenn.
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Post by jayh on Mar 2, 2015 13:55:53 GMT -6
Glenn really like the 2 yr old. I dontcare at all for the 18 month old and it may be because he is just 18 months old.
I would have to think that the 2 yr old is worth 5K .
I would have to watch the other one and see but I am betting from recent posts that you didn't price or get that on them.
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Post by okherefords on Mar 2, 2015 15:30:45 GMT -6
Glen,
From what I have seen of your pictures I would like to come down someday and see your cattle. Appear to be usefull cattle with thickness, depth of body and enough frame and growth to add pounds.
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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 15:55:58 GMT -6
Part of what got me thinking was JW's thought:
"The writing on the wall is screaming that bull sales are a shrinking and unreliable income option for the registered breeder."
Then watching a breeder in Nebraska had an online sale and two bulls sold good then the rest really just sold for 2500-3000 (if they sold, they may have been floored?)
How viable is the bull sale business? Do we raise a crop and have 1-2 we can sell then just basically can the rest?
More thoughts. Don't be shy!!!
And I'd love to show anyone the bulls and cows. The drought has my numbers so low that I was lamenting to a fellow breeder that I may as well just get a black bull(s).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2015 16:35:32 GMT -6
I think someone here made the point awhile back that if the bull isn't good enough that you wouldn't use him on your own herd then he's probably not a good representation on your herd to be selling him. So many factors go into bull sales and a lot of it is just regional factors and the type of demand Herefords are getting there. Obviously name and reputation probably adds a few extra bucks to the value too, just because there is a big name attached to the place you buy your bulls doesn't necessarily mean that bull is better than someone smaller with less name recognition has to offer but the big guys definitely benefit from having the name recognition and reputation to back what they are selling.
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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 16:42:50 GMT -6
Hmmmm. Can't say that I ciphered much from that post.
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Post by picketwire on Mar 2, 2015 17:04:34 GMT -6
So how did it turn out with the buyer after semen test? Just realized it might be mar 9 when coming by, anyway keep us updated.
Nothing wrong with either bull pictured and irregardless of what anyone feels any bull is worth, the laws of supply and demand right now are in the drivers seat. I agree bulls of that quality right now regardless of big or small name are bringing 5 to 8 thousand and I have noticed if the ultrasound is solid on both traits then easily toward the 7 to 8 thousand range.
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Post by shumakerherefords on Mar 2, 2015 17:05:49 GMT -6
Glenn,
I pretty much gave up on bull sales years ago. Only keep the top 10% of the bull calves and send the rest to the feedlot as steers. That means about 3 bull calves are retained each year and those go off to a bull test to get a comparison with other herds. If one preforms well I keep him for in herd use and offer the others for sale. Any that do poorly get a quick trip to the sale barn.
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Post by picketwire on Mar 2, 2015 17:39:39 GMT -6
Glenn really like the 2 yr old. I dontcare at all for the 18 month old and it may be because he is just 18 months . might be good for discussion and price concerns, what is it other than age that you don't care for on the 18 month old? |
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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 17:42:13 GMT -6
I guess he's about 16 months in that picture. It's a couple of weeks old and the calf was a late Oct 2013 calf. But if you don't like him you don't like him. Lol
I think he's a decent calf
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Post by picketwire on Mar 2, 2015 17:48:41 GMT -6
Oops some days I can never get this to work right. . .
For example, I don't like the way he is pictured with his front feet downhill, but then again I know how much of a challenge getting a good picture is. Also I am always jealous of anyone/anything that can sleep standing up!!
I feel that he is a very solid bull.
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Post by George on Mar 2, 2015 18:02:30 GMT -6
Glenn really like the 2 yr old. I dontcare at all for the 18 month old and it may be because he is just 18 months old. I would have to think that the 2 yr old is worth 5K . I would have to watch the other one and see but I am betting from recent posts that you didn't price or get that on them. Jay, what about the bull is it that you don't care for? FWIW, I like the bull and think he would REALLY work on a set of black cows down in our country. |
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Post by mehf on Mar 2, 2015 19:39:36 GMT -6
Glen, Your bulls look very solid. I believe that they will represent the Hereford breed well when they get to working. Good luck on selling them and I hope you have more like 'em coming along.
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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 20:27:17 GMT -6
TJ, I meant 3-9 not 2-9. Bad typing.
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Post by Glenn on Mar 2, 2015 20:40:45 GMT -6
Okay, I said I'd add a little as time goes by.
I never represented these as needing to go into purebred herds. I sure don't think Jack Holden is going to come down and put one to work in his herd, nor do I think Ace is going to shit can the Canadians to use one but I think that they are good bulls to use on commercial cows, especially the ones in this area.
I have watched several sales and follow several private treaty websites and believe these Bulls compare nicely to bulls selling in lots of places this spring.
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Post by picketwire on Mar 2, 2015 21:08:20 GMT -6
I agree. For any area.
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Post by guffeygal on Mar 2, 2015 21:41:15 GMT -6
Look like good useful bulls that are very merchantable. The demand is there for bulls to use on black cows. Will leave it up to you to price them. Market is strong.Had two calls within 10 minutes today and one yesterday. I think I like the muscling and ruggedness of the younger bull a little better.
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Post by jayh on Mar 3, 2015 0:33:57 GMT -6
Glenn really like the 2 yr old. I dontcare at all for the 18 month old and it may be because he is just 18 months old. I would have to think that the 2 yr old is worth 5K . I would have to watch the other one and see but I am betting from recent posts that you didn't price or get that on them. Jay, what about the bull is it that you don't care for? FWIW, I like the bull and think he would REALLY work on a set of black cows down in our country. I just think the older bull is much better. Younger one is ok but from the two pics which one would u choose George. Going strictly off of pics. |
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Post by hoekland on Mar 3, 2015 0:39:04 GMT -6
Since I'm 10000 mies away I'll refrain from giving any opinion on the expected price tag... BUT...
Typically if you want to sell in the high end commercial market, you need to put the effort in for a few years until you are recognised enough so that everyone knows that is what they need to pay to get one of your bulls. You need to finish them off (whether it's best for the buyer or not, that is what they want), get rid of the dead hair, halterbreak them, basically make them as attractive to the buyer as possible so he feels he really needs one of them and will make an effort to buy one next year if it wasn't in his budget this year. No need to make them look like clubcalves or feed them to the point where they can hardly get around, but my point it that the big names put a lot of effort in making average bulls look good so they sell for better money, we smalltimers need to up our game before we complain!
This is in no means meant as a hit on you Glenn, I categorise myself in the very same category, the main difference in your genetics, vs Holdens is in the attention to detail and marketing.
As for the two bulls posted, I agree they are in the upper end commercial bulls and I think a few more bags of corn would have been a good investment for marketing purposes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 5:23:13 GMT -6
If your market is similar to our bull market you are probably getting offers that are half of what they are worth. There is a vet in North Louisiana who sells a lot of Hereford bulls and he halters them, brushes them, etc. His bulls are selling in the $3-4k range.
The F-1 commercial sales would be a great place for you to target your bull sales. You may not make the funny money but you will get an actual check for the actual amount in the sale. hahaha
Typically F-1 herds are looking for linebred Hereford to overcome the heterozygous Brahman head type. You can wipe out a lot of ear and leather using linebred Hereford on Grey Brahman. The Brahman guys are not going to be squeamish about horns and dehorning, either. In the last F-1 commercial sale the Hereford bulls sold for roughly $500 more than the Black Angus.
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Post by Glenn on Mar 3, 2015 7:45:34 GMT -6
Good thoughts, everybody! Hope for some more responses. Thanks for "playing along".
Couple of quick hits:
1. For sure on the "spiffing them up". Something that is outside my skill set right now. Don't own clippers and wouldn't know the first thing about how to use them. I am feeding harder this year, I'll get it right some day. And you guys are right, nobody will buy a thin animal
2. Original post brought on by JW's kernel "The writing on the wall is screaming that bull sales are a shrinking and unreliable income option for the registered breeder." coupled with my own struggles trying to market bulls AND by the insinuation that ' HEREFORD BULLS AVERAGE OVER $5000" last year trumpted in HW. Lots of good bulls sold and brought nowhere near that kind of money.
I've got some more thoughts but more interested in you guy's thoughts.
I'll throw a POINT B question out:
How do you "get" recognition? I fail miserably at marketing. I had thought I might get to sell some at a bull sale in Kansas this fall but I guess that has been shuttered so that avenue to get my bulls out to a wider audience failed.
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Post by bltherf on Mar 3, 2015 8:27:08 GMT -6
Heard there was a very well run consignment bull sale in San Saba Texas. Ever looked into that? A friend of mine near there has had pretty good luck with it and starting to build a good customer base.
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Post by bltherf on Mar 3, 2015 8:33:07 GMT -6
Consignment sales seem to be on the decline in this area so I was happy to hear they still are popular in some areas . I believe they are very important for new and smaller breeders to get a start in the business and show off what they have.
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