MONTEZUMA, KAN. (RFD NEWS) — The fall calf run is keeping livestock representatives busy as producers market cattle into a strong but quickly moving market.
Sidney Schmidt with Superior Livestock joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report with a cattle market update from Kansas.
In his interview with RFD News, he said fall is one of the company’s busiest times of year, with representatives balancing cattle marketing, customer communication, sale days and deliveries.
“This time of year, for a lot of Superior reps, is a very, very hectic, busy time of year,” Schmidt said.
He said keeping up with customers is particularly important as market conditions change quickly.
Health a Major Focus
As the fall calf run continues, Schmidt said buyers are paying close attention to health programs.
He said calves marketed directly off the ranch through video sales can have an advantage when producers have invested in a strong vaccination program.
“If they’ve had a good vaccine program, and even if they aren’t weaned, but if they’ve got a good vaccine program on them, there’s such a marked difference in how that animal responds and behaves,” Schmidt said.
He said health becomes an especially important factor for buyers during the fall.
“Health really gets to be a big driver this time of the year,” Schmidt said.
Good Cattle Rise to the Top
With cattle values where they are, Schmidt said producers should be thinking about genetics and the overall program behind their calves.
“One thing we really see is that good cattle rise to the top,” he said.
Schmidt said buyers are willing to reward cattle with strong genetics and a good management program because they want animals that have a better chance of performing well after purchase.
“If they’re buying an animal, they’re not sure they’re going to make money or not; they’d rather buy one they know is going to treat them well,” Schmidt said.
He encouraged cow-calf producers to pay attention to genetics and talk with their Superior representatives about what buyers want when making future breeding decisions.
Reducing Stress
Schmidt said minimizing stress is another important consideration, particularly when cattle are being marketed and moved at today’s values.
“If you’ve ever messed around with starting high-risk cattle, shipped-in cattle, and it’s not that it can’t be done; it definitely gets done all the time, but stress has such an impact on the health of an animal,” Schmidt said.
He said reducing stress gives cattle a better chance of staying healthy and performing well.
“The less stress you give that animal, of course, the better your chances are,” Schmidt said.
Fall Marketing Opportunities
Superior Livestock has several upcoming auction dates for producers looking to market cattle.
Schmidt said auctions are scheduled for Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Nov. 19, and two additional sales in December.
He also pointed to Superior’s Country Page as another marketing option for producers who need to move cattle outside of a scheduled auction.
“Sometimes things change, and you need to market something fairly soon,” Schmidt said. “The Country Page is also a very valuable tool to use.”
Southwestern Kansas Conditions Improve
Schmidt said recent rainfall has also improved conditions across southwestern Kansas.
He said some areas have received two inches of rain, while others have received three to four inches or more.
“It’s been the first rain really since the first of July,” Schmidt said. “It’s been amazing, greening up. Things are looking a lot better.”
LEARN MORE: SuperiorLivestock.com
