Heifer Sales

Show-Me-Select Heifer Prices Stay Strong

Victoria G Myers
By  Victoria G. Myers , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
These F1, Hereford-Angus heifers brought $3,300 each at this year's Show-Me-Select spring sale, Joplin Regional Stockyards. (Photo courtesy Eldon W. Cole, University of Missouri)

As replacement heifer sales heat up across the country, expect high values to continue to be placed on these herd builders. Three, spring Show-Me-Select sales from the University of Missouri indicate producers are still paying a pretty price for top-of-the-line, bred replacements.

At the Fruitland Livestock Auction in Southeast Missouri, May 2, 213 bred heifers sold for an average price of $2,743 per head. A year ago, the average was $2,644 per head.

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in the southwest part of the state, May 15, 283 bred heifers sold for an average price of $2,861. A year ago, the average was $2,444 per head.

Most recently, at F and T Livestock Market, in the northeast part of Missouri, May 30, 103 bred heifers sold for an average price of $2,857. This was a new sale, so there are no year-earlier comparisons.

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All three sales, however, brought average prices slightly below the largest fall sale held at Joplin Regional Stockyards last year, November 21, 2014. At that sale, 521 bred heifers sold at an average price of $2,889 per head.

Daniel Mallory, University of Missouri regional livestock specialist at New London, noted more cattlemen are holding back heifers to capitalize on the market for replacements. Spring calving still dominates in the state, but Mallory said more producers are looking at fall calving as an option now. He expects to see more Show-Me-Select consigners next year in the spring sales as interest grows.

Asked if the slight drop in average prices might indicate a leveling in bred heifer values, Mallory said it's too soon to see any definitive trends. He added that come the fall, however, he expects sales prices to be similar to those from fall 2014.

"I don't think we'll see them go a lot higher, I'd guess within $200 either way," he said.

One definite trend he has spotted is a willingness among producers to pay a premium for AI-bred heifers over those bred by natural service (NS). In the May 30 spring sale, which he managed along with Zac Erwin, a University of Missouri Extension specialist, average prices for AI-bred heifers were $2,872, versus $2,835 for NS heifers.

"We have a lot of producers who work with the AI reps here and are able to sell heifers all bred the same way," said Mallory. "Buyers like that they can get 10 to 15 heifers all calving to the same sire."

Sellers, or consignors, who participate in the Show-Me-Select sales, meet stringent requirements aimed at improving genetics and health. For details on the program and to see a list of remaining 2015 sale dates to go: www.agebb.missouri.edu/select

(VM/CZ)

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Victoria Myers

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