WHAT'S A COW WORTH?

There's a lot of rumbling out there about the bred female market.  How will it be compared to last year?  Will only those with hay and/or those with hay they didn't sell at the top of the market be on the look out for bred stock?  Is it a buyers market or a sellers market?

 

Prices seem to be a little all over the board with buyers being selective as to calving dates and quality.  One thing for sure, cowmen are fairly convinced drought can happen!  They may have short memories but they all seem to remember the summer of 2012 and most are convinced that it could happen again.  I hope not but have to agree it's a little stressful to think about buying replacements when you don't know what the grass situation is going to be.  At best, given last year's dry season, most of the range land is going to require some recovery time even with moisture. 

 

With all that being said, I guess I'd offer that bred stock is selling well considering what we've been thru but there're darn sure no run a ways.  Ranchers by nature are cautioually optimistic but this year I am finding them optimistically cautious and the market reflects some of both!  So...what's a cow worth?  I'd say what ever you can get for her or what ever you're willing to pay.  Not great advice, but advice just the same.