Keosauqua Sales Co. Inc

 
March 2024  03/06/24 2:12:00 PM



3-25-24
         The weather has been a bit cooler than last week. It’s been windy and chilly but not vey much precipitation. The forecast this week looks for a cool first part of the week, then warmer into the weekend. There is a chance of rain for the first part of the week, then a dry to end March.
         Saturday was a good sale day. The hog sale kicked off at 9am as always! The pig market was mostly $65.00 to $85.00 per a head for pigs for 50 to 90lb pigs. Fat hogs sold from $58.00 to $65.00 this week. The sows were short and number and just slightly lower this week. The bulk of them sold for $62.00 to $65.00 this week.
         The sheep and goat run had 650 head. Bottle goats sold from $10.00 to $65.00 per head. The demand for the traditional type of Easter lamb has sure faded over the past 10 years. The domestic demand for the good lambs at Easter has just lost the energy it had years ago. The top 53lb lambs sold at $2.90 a pound and the 63lb lambs brought $3.00 a pound. There were even a couple of groups of 80lb lambs that brought $3.00 to $3.15 a pound. The fat lambs brought $2.55 for 145lb lambs. In years back this sale would see a stronger premium for lambs from 45lbs to 55lbs. As traditions change, so does the market. As we move forward, I sure think we will see this continue.
         The goat market had some 50lb kids that brought $4.00 and some 65lb kids that brought $4.20. The bulk of the kids were more at $3.00 to $3.60 a pound. The nannies were lower with most of the cull does ranging from $0.50 to $0.80 a pound. Big billies sold from $2.00 to $2.30 a pound.
         The outside sale had a big run of miscellaneous items and big bales. We had a few less small bales this week. Small squares ranged from $4.00 to a top of $10.50 for 100 nice alfalfa bales. Big round bales of hay topped at $120.00 a bale. Most grass hay sold from $80.00 to $100.00. The big square bales were really all grass and just average quality brought $60 to $75. The big round bales of cornstalks were plentiful! The market was solid at $35 to $45 per a bale. A good looking pile of big square bales of wheat straw brought $35 to $45 a bale.
         The hedge posts market was steady with high selling posts up to $80. The good corners ranged from $25 to $80 and nice line posts brought from $8 to $42.50! Several rolls of wire and used steel posts sold with barb wire at $80 to $100 per roll. The 20ft bridge plank sold at $150, the 15ft plank sold from $50 to $125.00. There was a very large consignment of all kinds of merchandise out front this weekend. And a darn big crowd!
         The cattle sale had those 200lb calves selling at $750 to $1000 per head. A Couple of black bull calves at 475lb brought $3.275. There was mostly weigh cows and bulls in this week’s cattle sale. As the volume of cows continues to slow down this spring, the market continues to march higher! Only the very poorest cows or unhealthy cows will not bring a dollar. The top high yielding cows got to $1.42 to $1.46. The majority of the cows sold from $1.20 to $1.30. Big bulls sold from $1.40 to $1.57 for a top on good yielding bulls.
         We started breeding season again last week with CIDR’s in the Hereford heifers. It’s hard to believe that its here again already! We are hoping for rain as we move through the season!
         I went to the big feedyard country of Scott City, KS last week. I met up with Savannah Fraizer that worked for us a couple of years ago and now works at Pokey feeders, south of Scotty City. We hada great afternoon looking through cattle and catching up. Both the feedyards we went through were in great shape! The cattle are sure doing well and bot yards seem to be pretty full. The Pokey yard had more Holstein cross cattle on feed and HRC had more Herefords on feed! We left Scott City, KS about 4 o’clock and went back by McCook, NE and picked up Cody Lowderman, where we dropped him off earlier for a bull sale. We had a great trip home and was back in time to chore Friday evening!
         This week’s sale will feature several cow/calf pairs, spring bred cows and some nice fall bred cows! Give us a call or come to take a look!
 
Have a dandy week! 
3-19-24

         We received another 1.2 inches of rain here late last week. This time the creeks did run some and the ponds got a much-needed filling. It turned chilly over the weekend, down to 14 degrees Monday morning. The wind has been sharp for 2 days, but today it’s warming back up to 60 degrees. The forecast looks to be fairly mild with another chance of rain towards the end of the week again, we will hope it doesn’t snow.
         Saturday was pretty good day for a sale again. People brough livestock, hay and miscellaneous items from all around the tri state area! The hog sale led off with a few less numbers than last week, but the market was pretty steady. Fat hogs sold from $55.00 to $70.00. The sows were from $60.00 to $70.00. The pigs sold at $60.00 to $80.00 a pound for all weights.
         The sheep and goat market had a 600 head in the run. We had six order buyers on hand and kept the market perked up pretty lively. The kid goats were solid at $3.50 to $4.00 a pound of the fat boer cross kids. Nannies were up at $1.00 to $1.40 a pound. Big billies sold from $1.75 to $2.25 a pound. We had several bottle kids sold from $5 to $50 per head. Nannies with kids at side ranged from $50 to $105 per a nose.
         The lamb marker was pretty much $2.85 to $3.35 for lambs under 60 pounds. A fancy group of 97lb lambs brought $2.94 a pound. The middle-aged Columbia ewes that were ready to lamb, brought $250.00. The craziest thing was 20 head of Katahdin ewes with 27 lambs at side that were a month old, only brought $59.00 per nose! The weigh ewes sold from $0.40 to $0.90. The easter lamb sale is this coming Saturday, so we will see what develops for   demand as the week goes by.
         The outside sale had a very big crowd again. Philip sold small squares of hay from $5 to $9. Small straw bales of hay sold from $3 to $4. Big round bales of hay topped at $125, with most piles ranging from $80 to $110. Big square bales of hay sold from $100 to $120 for alfalfa. Cornstalks round bales brought $45 to $55 and we had several piles. Wet wrapped sorghum was $45 to $55 and some beautiful high moisture alfalfa was $75 to $90.
         There was all kinds of items in the sale out front again. The ford truck brought $5000, the border collie sold for $250, square hedge posts brought $30 to $50 and rounds ones brought $20 to $30 for better lines and $30 to $50 on the corner posts.
         The cattle sale had 900 head this week. The baby calves sold well from$400 to $600 on beef calves. The dairy calves brought $150 to $250 a head. A couple small packages of heifer pairs sold at $2500 to $3100. The feeder cattle market was strong across all weights and classes, as feedyards put cattle back in lots where fats were sold. The grass is starting to green up and pushed more dollars on the light cattle as well. Weigh cows are still moving high with top fleshy cows closing in on $1.40 a pound! The top bulls were at $1.57. We are nearly done seeing this market climb to record highs. Keep watching!
         Next Saturday’s sale on March 23rd, we will be holding a fundraiser for the farmers and ranchers affected by the fires in Texas. We had been contacted about sending hay down to the folks in that area. I was able to talk to a couple ranchers and a livestock agent about that and they discouraged me from wasting the $5000 on trucking cost to deliver the hay. The real need is for fencing and infrastructure supplies. They recommended just send money to the relief fund. So, we are going to work with our producers at this week’s sale that want to help assist in the cause. If you want to consign items to the sale, just let the girls in the office know. You can donate any flat amount, percentage or just a certain head count from any items/livestock in the sale this Saturday. If you do not wish to consign items, you can also simply just donate cash. We are already getting things in and anticipate a large sale. If you have questions, just give the girls a call.
 
Have a dandy week!

3-11-24
         We received another nice rain here on Friday, right at a half inch. It has been chilly in the mornings with temps still in the middle 20’s. Most afternoons we have warmed up to the upper 50’s and 60’s. Forecast looks great the next week with the highs up to the 70’s and another chance of rain about Thursday or Friday! Grass isn’t changing too much yet but the wheat and rye have really responded to the early spring. Frogs are chirping already which means 3 more frosts!
         Saturday was very good sized for march! Hog sale maintained the high prices from last week. Sows were solid at $70.00 to $78.00. The fat hog market was steady with several going out to area lockers at $68.00 to $77.00 paid on some berks. Several groups of feeder pigs in the week’s sale. The 40lb pigs sold at $38.00 to $46.00 and 60lb pigs sold at $60.00 to $69.00 per head. Even big boars have been up higher lately at $20.00 to $28.00.
         The sheep and goat market has been mostly steady on kids and lambs, but lower ewes and nannies. The 50lb to 70lb kids sold mostly $3.10 to $3.70. Nannies were mostly $0.70 to $1.10 with thin or weak does below this market. The 50lb to 70lb lambs sold from $2.00 to $2.60. There wasn’t any fat lambs in the run this week. Cull ewes were $60.00 to $70.00 on the best. Several fell into $0.30 and $0.50. Bottle kids sold from $20 to $100 per head.
         The outside sale was crowded! It was a pretty day outside at 11 o’clock. Philip had the small square bale market at $4.00 to $8.50. The portable sheds sold at $2300. The little JD Drill brought $3100. The hedge posts went $30 to $70 on the better end. I would sure like to visit with the folks who left 3 dogs in a cage and left them here, yes left them. Erin found a home for them.  Dogs and used tires are not at the top of my list of outside items to have at the sale. Responsible people that check back and make sure those things get sold are sure okay!
         The big bale numbers are shrinking back to the half of what they were a month ago. The market is very steady. The top alfalfa round bales were at $160 to $165 a bale on 2 separate lots of hay. Grass bales were mostly $80 to $110. Wet wrapped sudan grass was bringing $45 to $50. Corn stalks were $45 to $57.50. That was sure higher after the rain!
         The cattle sale kicked in gear with baby calves at a season high of $650 to $800. Even dairy cross calves brought $350 to $400. A very big crowd had gathered for the cow sale this week! The first group of 6-8 year old cows with calves sold for $2800 per head. The third period black and red cows that were 5-8 years old were very solid at $2300 to $2750. Short and solid and aged cows were $1900 to $2200. There were nearly 300 cows sold in the cow sale with very good interest.
         Weigh cows were higher with $1.10 to $1.28 on the better yielding cows. We had four big bulls over $1.50 this week. A 2500lb bull sold for $3840.00 This market is not near to the top!
         We are expecting a good run of feeder calves next weekend as the numbers shorten up some.
        
Have a dandy week!

3-5-24
        We have had really good weather to start March off with! We have had highs in the 60’s and even up to 80 degrees on Monday. We even received a very welcome inch of rain here Monday evening, that capped off a great start to March!  I even got around and had the pastures fertilized and put clover on one that hadn’t been done the past few years.  The forecast is calling for mild temperatures and another shower or two later this week.
        Saturday saw a strong hog market. The sows topped at $80.00 with several at $75.00 to $78.00. Light sows sold from $60.00 to $70.00. Fat hogs were steady at $55.00 to $60.00 for most all weights. The big boards sold higher at $20.00 to $30.00. The feeder pigs ranged mostly from $80.00 to $110.00.
        The sheep and goat sale had plenty of action where there was quality. Better lambs sold from $3.00 to $3.25 a pound. The cull ewes were lower at $35.00 to $75.00 per cwt. The kid goats were steady at $3.30 to $3.20 a pound. Nannies with kids at side were sure popular. Groups that had twins sold for $90.00 to $140.00 per hd. Bred ewes were not fancy, but they are very useful. The market was not good for them at only $1.00 to $1.50 a pound.
        The outside sale had a big run of hay again. Demand has softened slightly with the mild weather and ample supply. Small square bales of hay ranged from $3.50 to $8.50 a bale. Small bales of straw sold from $2.50 to $3.50. Big rounds of the highest quality hay brought $150.00. The bulk of the market was at $90.00 to $110.00 on good grass. Smaller bales and poor quality were under $80.00. Corn stalk bales sold from $25.0 to $35.00 and small straw round bales at $20.00 to $35.00. Wet wrapped sudan grass was $40.00 and wet wrapped alfalfa at $70.00 to $80.00. The outside market was loaded with all kinds of merchandise. Hedge posts topped over $70.00 a post on the best of them. The majority of them sold at $20 to $50. Ther was lumber, steel posts, gates, tools, collectables, and stuff. There was so much stuff out there I couldn’t name it all. Philip worked through it in a fine fashion this week. It was great to have him back working the sale!
        The cattle sale was dang good all the way through! Baby valves started off selling $350 to $650. The 200-250lb calves sold by the head at $750 to $925 per head. The five weight steers hit a season high this week of $3.32 a pound. The 650lb steers were up to $2.99. Several 700lb steers sold for $2.60 to $2.70 and a load of 852lb steers brough $2.44 a pound. The heifers had just as much action with 400lb heifers selling at over $3.00. The 500lb heifers brought up to $2.90 and 600lb heifers up to $2.60. The 700lb heifers sold at $2.40. The weigh cows and bulls were up a couple of dollars again. The top cows up to $1.26 and some heiferettes as high as $1.60. The bulls brought up to $1.50. This market will continue to stay strong for the coming months.
        Friday Ben too the plane to Pennsylvania to pick up my brother-in-law for my mom’s visitation and funeral. Saturday he went to Columbus, GA to pick up my nephew and his 2 kids to get back for the services. They ended up having to land in Alabama wit alternator going bad on the plane, with no way of getting it fixed in time to get back for the weekend. Jake and the kids ended up renting a car and driving back to make it in time for the visitation. Ben stayed until the parts came in and it was ready to fly again. He is hoping to be home this evening. My sister had a thermostat go bad in her car while she was up here, but she was able to get that fixed here locally before they went back home.
        We had a very nice visitation Sunday evening. Friends and family were here to share stories about their times with mom. Many folks from years ago made it back. It was interesting to hear those stories from long ago that people shared and reminisced on. Monday was a very comfortable day for the funeral service. It was held at the Troy church in my mom’s hometown of Troy, IA. Eric Armstrong did a very, very nice job with the service. My cousin Bonnie shared some experiences she had with mom over the years and Debbie, my sister, also shared some thoughts. Mom was buried in the Troy cemetery next to my grandparents and her two brothers. The women at the Troy church provided a very nice lunch for everyone. Most everyone stayed for lunch and shared all the memories with each other. We will miss her, but we are so very thankful that mom is at peace and will not be suffering here anymore!  We want to say a very big thank yo to all the folks that have reached out to our family and helped us through this time. We are lucky to have family and friends that are so supportive through this time. We sure that to mention Jeremy Cranston at the funeral home for taking extra good care of mom and helping us through the visitation and funeral services.
        We are back to work and catching up on things this week. We have a very nice run of bred cows and some pairs coming this week, along with a couple of good bulls. Check out the early listing for current updates!
 
Have a dandy week!
 
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