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february update Shawn must be on vacation!!! - no writeup for beef this month january update We go into 2012 with fairly strong calf prices making cow calf guys smile, but let’s be cautious. Feedlots are on the edge right now. Local feeders in the area are talking about cutting back with some already shutdown. This is not a great thing to hear. When the price of corn and wet distiller’s is taken into consideration, it makes it tough to pencil a profit. Most of these feeders do not have off farm jobs so this is their livelihood. Rumor still persists about a dryer going into Havelock, if this happens on the feedlot side all bets are off where this part of the industry goes. Here is hoping all sectors can not only survive but thrive. All the Best in 2012.
november update
As we move into December, the feedlot producers are fighting finishing prices that have stalled out on them - hanging around at $1.85 when packers were telling them that it would be $1.92 to $1.95 by now. Now everyone likes to blame the packer in the game but they all are the same. The other problem is that they have cattle bought for the whole month of November. It is the first time I can remember feedlots looking to send their cattle south to be processed. It has become time to look outside the box whenever you can. At this time, Ontario is the lowest price compared to everywhere else. The consensus is stocker prices are going to stay strong, but this can only carry on if the feedlot price moves up the hill. Lean Plus sales are still strong. It is a great feeding program to pre-condition your calves, to keep your calves green and to continue to put weight on them as well. It is a great year to take those calves to a heavier weight than ever before.
october updateOn the beef side, Lean Plus is still working for many producers on their stocker calves. Prices look like they will stay strong this fall. On the replacement side we have many options to grow them out to provide early breeding and easy calving for next spring. Talk to us on a mill ration or Purina product to get the job done. All of our Purebred Breeders who we are feeding I wish you luck to bring home some red ribbons. Makes us proud. We like to think we play a small part in your success. september update Fall is upon us and stocker sales are approaching. Cow-calf producers try for top dollar and feedlots try to stay in the game. Cow calf producers need to condition their calves the proper way to enable feedlot producers to make money. There are many different options. Choosing the right one for you is the key.
As for feedlots, if you are not utilizing the wet corn distillers to its potential, it will be hard to get past this time of high commodities. I have heard producers say they are struggling with issues on a higher percentage of WDDGS. I believe it can be done with a properly balanced ration. Our ROC product is the real deal, and we have producers that are thriving on it. After the Purina meeting this month we may have even more solutions than what we provide now.
On the purebred side, we have about 3 different show rations and our customers tell me they are very pleased with the results. They have been winning a lot of red ribbons. Without Genetics you can’t get very far, but we appreciate those breeders who allow us to be their partners from the feed side to achieve success.
august update As we creep closer to fall and stocker sales, it is important to pre-condition your calves if you want top dollar. Last year proved that a 900 lb calf brought more than a 600 lb calf. Your cheapest gain is the first six months of a calves life when it is on the cow. Don't miss out—it only happens once in a calf's life. july updateWith pastures drying off and the outlook of having to feed hay, a creep feed program will pay this year. It will help cows with condition as well as keep gains up on your calves. From Lean Plus to a top end creep we can help you find the answer. Speaking of hay, with so many people spraying hay ground off in the last year, hay shortage may become a problem. I have already talked to lots of producers that have expressed they are going to be short on hay. With the way the summer is shaping up, keeping your hay ground might work to your advantage.
As everybody is aware, commodity prices are high resulting in the cost of feeding cattle rising a lot since last year. Show people are looking at prices compared to last year and finding them higher by as much as $100 per MT. We can provide options for our customers. Please feel free to call me. The one thing you have to remember is that all 14% show rations are not created equal. If there is $100 between the rations you are pricing there is a reason for that spread. Dairyman’s Choice is a product that we have used and are using on the dairy side. It is a yeast product that does a whole lot more. For those that are selling their meat or trying to stay natural this product can help health and intake in your animals, especially if you are not using implants. It can be used in your custom calf or cow mixes. Added cost is around $0.20 per day.
I was once told by an elderly farmer that it is impossible for all farmers to make good money at the same time—some are up that forces others down. Wouldn’t it be nice if 2011 could prove him wrong. We will see. With the Royal coming closer all the time, I have been very impressed with our Purina 14% show complete feed. I believe it gets them in the condition needed to compete against the top quality cattle. Here is hoping that breeders or 4-H ers can bring home some red ribbons and prove my theory. Good luck to all. Stocker prices are still strong. There is a good advantage to get your calves ready early to take advantage of the early market. Our beef meeting in Madoc will launch some new Purina products that will help you be successful on your operation. Pasture is at the point that grass is still there but the quality will be diminishing. Just be aware of your mineral intakes not only on cows but your heavier calves as well. Grass is still going strong, surprising considering what we were thinking in May. Emerald mineral is still the product of choice right now (no pun intended). With the price of stocker calves, the option of creep feeding is well worth considering to get your calves out the door earlier and heavier. Lean Plus pricing is looking good to make those calves leaner and greener and to get the big bucks that are out there. If you feed cattle, next time you are in one of the stores, buy a bag of Purina Show Ration, great quality and a even better price. It would be great for creep feeding, heifers and even thin cows. Perfect time to welcome all the Madoc customers into our customer/partner base not just beef but dairy and crop as well. We are sure they will discover we have the feed either Purina or from our mill, as well as our sales staff to help you with every need. Prolean Pasture Supp is still a good fit for your on farm grain that needs to be balanced. Our lean Plus 13 is still the go to in the complete feed program and as always our Custom mix from the mill is a good option.
Our feedlot supplement the "Roc is gaining more popularity all the time. This product can also work in the back grounding area. |
