Has Spring Sprung?

The sale season is winding down and I think a lot of folks were a little surprised that bull prices held up so well considering the current low cow numbers and the state of our economy. It seems that strong slaughter bull prices and wintering costs encouraged updating of the bull battery in a lot of cases. The welcome winter and spring surge in feeder and replacement cattle prices help to breed optimism as well. In fact, elevated prices of late have tended to lessen the pre sale chatter about wolves, fuel prices, and health care. Thank God! A lot of you have heard me say..."That last hour before a bull sale there is time to shoe the horses, change the water, and maybe even change oil in the pickup if you remembered to pick up a new oil filter on the last trip to town." Enough of that political stuff until the fall runs.

Now it's time for green grass, rain, and golf or fishing or camping or just plain listening to the birds sing in the morning. Stockers are high, pairs are in demand, spaying is the in thing, and everybody's guessing as to what a bred heifer will bring in the fall. It's true that cow numbers are the lowest they have been since I was a boy and God was a baby but let's don't forget that cow size and weaning weights are the highest in history. Keep in mind....

1960 - 100 head of 1,000 pound cows weaning 90 calves at 450 pounds is 40,500 pounds of calf

2010 - 75 head of 1,350 pound cows weaning 68 calves at 650 pounds is 44,200 pounds of calf

Anyway you crack it, that's 25% less cows (but the same AUM's) producing 10% more tonnage. That's a lot of progress (or is it?) in fifty years! Still, the basics of supply and demand make our markets. Take for example, Mr. Grasshopper. Now there's a fellow who can reduce the supply of grass and increase the demand for fishing in a heartbeat. Yes, good ole Mr. Hopper was included in a lot of spring 2010 pre sale discussion. Although hated by cowmen, I will tell you he rated considerably higher than most of our current government officials.