When a Simple Trip to the Sale Barn Left Us Speechless

Not only do we have cattle on the ranch, but we also had two sows that we bred for pork. Unfortunately, we recently had to sell one of our sows due to her aggressive behavior towards April—and anyone else, despite all of April’s efforts to calm her. So, we decided to take her to our local sale barn. What happened next truly blew our minds.

To give you some insight into the world of bottle calves, a few years ago, we decided to invest in some to raise and butcher for family and close friends. Back then, we’d go to the sale barn and buy calves we thought would make good candidates for our cause. These calves typically cost us around $50–100 each. In fact, we even purchased a few with the intention of adding them to our herd: Favorite and Trouble, two Holstein-Angus crosses.

When we took our sow, Betty, in, we decided to stay for a while, reminisce about those bottle calves, and watch the calf sale. What we witnessed was jaw-dropping. The price of bottle calves had skyrocketed. A 50-pound, couple-day-old Holstein calf was selling for nearly $500. The Angus-cross calves? They were going for twice that amount! We could hardly believe our eyes.

From what we’ve read in market reports, it seems that these prices are unlikely to drop anytime soon, due to demand. As you shop for meats in your local grocery store, take a moment to remember that ranchers are also feeling the impact of these price spikes. Investing in cattle is a long-term commitment, and the return on that investment can take up to two years—or even longer.

So, savor the experience, flourish in the process, enjoy the ride—and always remember to close the gate!

Trevor Moller, April Johnson,

and the Stock and Steeds Team