Heifers Bring State-Record Average Price of $1,521 in Carthage

First posted on 05-27-2008

CARTHAGE, Mo. - One hundred twenty-three heifers sold for an average price of $1,521 at the spring Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards, May 16.

“Wow,” said David Patterson, University of Missouri Extension beef specialist. “That price is a record for all sales in 11 years.” Patterson brought the idea for the bred-heifer management program to Missouri from Kentucky in 1996.

A sale on May 3 of 132 Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifers in Fruitland, Mo., averaged $1,138.

“An abundance of forage made the difference in the mood of buyers,” said Eldon Cole, MU Extension regional livestock specialist in Mount Vernon, Mo.

Beef herd owners in southeast Missouri had a long and icy winter after a summer of drought with little pasture and less hay. Buyers in southwest Missouri see prospects for abundant grass and plentiful hay after extensive spring rains.

The top two lots in the southwest Missouri sale sold for an average of $2,300, both consigned by Ladd Ranches, Sparta, Mo. Six heifers were bought by Herbert Hodges, Clever, Mo., and another six head by Jason Rousselot, Wagoner, Okla.

Both were repeat buyers of bred replacement heifers from the Ladd Ranch. In all, the Ladds sold 41 heifers at an average of $1,796 per head, earning the highest average price of eight consignors, Cole said.

“Ten of the 14 buyers were repeats,” Cole said. “That makes a big difference in the sale prices because they know what they are getting and are willing to pay more.”

Repeat buyers took home 94 of the 123 head auctioned by Jackie Moore of Joplin Regional Stockyards.

The second-highest consignor in average price received was Kleiboeker Farms, Wentworth, Mo., at $1,600 on 18 heifers. All but one of the heifers was bred by artificial insemination (AI).

Buyers at the sale were willing to pay more for AI-bred heifers, Cole said. The 73 heifers bred by bulls averaged $1,377 per head, while the 50 AI-bred heifers averaged $1,730, a difference of $353 per heifer.

At most sales in the past, the AI premium ran about $100 per head, Cole said.

AI-bred heifers have a known breeding date and are more likely to be grouped in a shorter calving time. Also, AI provides access to the top proven genetics in a breed, Patterson said.

All of the heifers offered for sale are bred to proven calving-ease bulls. Veterinarians check all heifers before breeding time to help assure that they can become pregnant and have a live calf.

The heifers are guaranteed of being bred for 30 days after the sale. They are pregnancy-checked within 30 days of the auction.

On arrival at the sale barn, heifers are examined by graders from the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Heifers that do not meet grade and quality requirements are sent home.

Cole said he hopes the strong sale prices encourage more producers to enroll in the Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer program. He said it does take extra management and record keeping. “But buyers are willing to pay for that,” Cole said. “We need more producers willing to take the extra step.”

“Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer” is a trademarked name. Only heifers wearing a black-and-gold ear tag with the logo qualify for the name.

MU Extension livestock specialists in each region offer the educational program statewide.

The spring sales offer bred heifers that will calve in the fall. A larger number of sales are offered in the fall for spring-calving heifers.