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SPRING 2023 - WHAT’S A GOOD BULL WORTH? The Midwest Cattleman · March 9, 2023 · P7

Do your cowboy math when it comes to how much a bull could be worth to your cattle operation.

By Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension

Let’s revisit the age-old keting plan and the market
question - a question that conditions at that time. Not
has been asked forever, or at an exact number because
least as long as we have been there are “many layers to this
breeding cattle with a notion onion.” One key point illustrat-
of trying to make the next ed here is that the longer you
generation better. It is a clas- own the offspring before mar- vestment in genetics. And we ations to consider their pro-
sic and timeless question. It is keting, the greater the value of haven’t even considered the duction system and market-
an important question. At this the bull to your operation. Re- value added to replacement ing plan. Doing so dictates
time of year, when many bulls tained ownership gives you females if we select daughters where to apply selection pres-
are being marketed and we more time and opportunity to as our next generation of cows. sure. Genetics pay when you
are planning ahead for spring capture the value of your in- I encourage cow-calf oper- continued on page 16
breeding season, it is the ques-
tion that is asked a lot!
The Answer
I remember first hearing
the answer nearly 40 years
ago as a student at OSU. “A
Simmental
good bull is worth the value of Simmental and SimAngusand SimAngus
five calves he sires.” I’ve heard
that answer again many times BULL SALE
over the years. I believe it is a
good answer and a good rule of
thumb to follow, the problem is
it doesn’t exactly narrow down
the range. If we do a little April 8, 2023
“cowboy math”, this answer
may in fact lead to more ques-
tions. Such as ……… Selling 80 HIGH-PERFORMANCE Bulls • 1:00 PM CT
When are we marketing Lucas Cattle Company
our Calves? What is their 26511 County Road 50, Cross Timbers, MO 65634
Value?
According to the most re-
cent USDA Cattle Market Re-
port from Oklahoma National
Stockyards:
523 lb. weaned steer calves
(Large, 1) are worth about
$2.31/lb. for a value of $1,208
per head. Therefore, if my fu-
ture marketing plan is to sell
weaned steers, $1,208 x 5 =
$6,040 is the answer. Bid Live Online K14 API 151 TI 88 K13 API 168 TI 94
874 lb. yearling steers ASA# 4038215 ASA# 4038214
(Large, 1) are worth about Broadcasting Real-Time Auctions 3/4 SM 1/4 AN - MR SR 71 RIGHT NOW E1538 SON 5/8 SM 3/8 AN - TJ NEBRASKA 258G SON
$1.78/lb. for a value of $1,555
per head. Therefore, if my fu-
ture marketing plan is to sell
yearling steers, $1,555 x 5 =
$7,775 is the answer.
1,400 lb. finished beef steers
are worth $164.50/cwt live for
a value of $2,303 each. There-
fore, if my future marketing
plan is to retain ownership K38 API 143 TI 75 K230 API 153 TI 88 K36 API 162 TI 94
through finishing and sell fed ASA# 4038239 ASA# 4038299 ASA# 4038237
cattle on a carcass value basis, 1/2 SM 1/2 AN - EGL GREAT WESTERN 87G SON PB SM - LCDR FAVOR 149F SON 1/2 SM 1/2 AN - E&B PLUS ONE SON
$2,303 x 5 = $11,515 is the an-
swer.
So, in the current market, a Jeff Reed - Cattle Manager - 417-399-1241
good bull is worth somewhere Marty Ropp 406-581-7835 Office 417-998-6512
between $6,040 - $11,515 to Corey Wilkins 256-590-2487
a commercial cattle opera- Jared Murnin 406-321-1542 www.LucasCattleCompany.com
alliedgeneticresources.com
tion. Where exactly in that
range depends on your mar-