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When is the best time to sell cattle?

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ConneXion Livestock
When is the best time to sell cattle?

Every cattle owner wants to sell their cattle at the best time and in ways to make the most money. But when is the best time? Well, the answer is, it depends!  

If you ask this question to five cattle producers, you will most likely get five different answers. Some cattle owners may say the right time is in the fall because they don’t use any unnecessary feed. Others may say that it occurs when the cow's daily milk production falls below a certain threshold. And, some may suggest that the right time is when the cow would be able to walk on the trailer. All opinions and suggestions are correct depending on the goal of your operations. 


Selling Cull Cows  

Cull cow owners may say that the best time to market a cull cow is when the market is at its peak. The cattle market, like all markets, has highs and lows throughout the year, and several factors influence market prices. Other product quality considerations influence the price paid. The body condition score of a cull cow, among other factors, has an impact on the ultimate price received by the producer.  

Usually, prices are low during November and December months while the prices are high from March to May. The selling of culled beef cows after weaning calves is ascribed to the lower pricing in the fall months. Maintaining and feeding market dairy cows till spring should boost profit from market dairy cow sales.  


Selling Weaned Calves  

Generally, you can separate cows and calves when they are 6-8 months old. However, if the cow has a body condition score of less than four, you should wean calves earlier. The weaning program should last a month before calves are sold.   

The increased market for weaned calves in the spring is one of the most tempting advantages of fall calving. Because 70-75% of all calves are sold at weaning in the autumn, you will have an excellent opportunity to sell your calves in the spring during an up market. Calf prices are normally highest between March and April, when fall-born calves may be weaned.  


Best way to sell cattle  

How do you sell cattle? Online sales, livestock auctions, on-farm cattle for sale, social media marketing, or your website?   

The trick is that it makes no difference which platform you utilize. The key is to educate your buyer. Whether you're dealing with someone who is entirely new to cows or your breed, or an experienced individual who knows exactly what they're looking for...Everything comes down to education.   

Spending time educating your buyer will help them choose the perfect cow for them and will give you peace of mind that your cow is going to a good home.  


Conclusion   

Several cattle owners have both a spring calving group and an autumn calving group, allowing them to sell calves in both spring and fall. Selling your cattle in both the fall and spring seasons has unique benefits. Examine the size of your operations and the market to see what will work best for you. Experiment to see what happens. When it comes to deciding when to sell cattle, remember that there is no specific answer.

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