Keosauqua Sales Co. Inc

 
November 2023  11/02/23 10:00:00 AM



11-28-2023
        Saturday’s sale over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend turned into a real dandy!   The weather was still good and a large crowd that was not involved with another activity came out.  The hog sale had over 300 head.  Sows were not well tested but were lower on a couple of five weights at $46.00.   Fat hogs were off to only a $56.00 top and most sold at $50 to 50.  100 nice 70 pound pigs brought $45 per head. 
        The sheep and goat market came in with 400 head this week.   Lambs at 60 to 80 pounds sold at $2.20 to 2.40 a lb.  Fat lambs were at a $2.01 a lb. top.  Kid goats sold up to $3.20 to 3.40 a lb. 
        The outside sale was loaded with hay, cornstalks, and misc. items.   Small squares sold from $5 to 9.50.   Straw sold at $3,50 to 5.00 a bale.  Big round bales topped at $150 to 165.  Small bales and rougher hay brought $50 to 100.   Corn stalk bales sold at $45 to 55.   Big square bales sold at $75 to 120.   This week was the largest bale count of the season so far.   The crowd gathered in for all the misc items and most everything had good interest. 
        The cattle sale had baby calves selling from $250 to 400.   Calves just big enough to wean would bring $500 to 700 per head.   Pairs sold from $1700 to 2700.  Light young pairs on the lower end and stout mid sized pairs on the upper end.   Bred cows sold from $1250 on middle aged second period cows to $2100 on a package of bred heifers.   Weigh cows sold a little lower again this week.  The top cows were up to $1.08 a lb. but the bulk of the cows were $85 to 95.  Big bulls sold from $1.05 to 1.20. 
        A late November snow fell here overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.  We ended up with four inches!   Kinda surprised me.  I figured it might flurry a little but sure didn’t expect the white Sunday morning.  It warmed up and melted some but dropped down really cold Monday and Tuesday.   The forecast looks to warm back up the next couple of days into the 40’s.  
        Monday, we put Herefords through the chute at Ted’s to pull CIDRs and give lutelyse.   Today we put all the sale heifers through for a fresh pregnancy check, worm, pour and a scour shot.  It was 7 ° on the truck thermometer when we started about 8 o’clock!  The sun was out, and the wind was quiet, and it was really not bad at all.   Becky had some soup ready for lunch at noon that really hit the spot!   The guys finished up at dark and I am sure they will sleep good tonight!   The heifers are looking good again this year.  We are looking forward to having them in town for everyone to see next Wednesday evening! 
        A special feeder sale this week expecting close to 1000 again.  It is sure hard to figure the market out right now!  
 
Have a Dandy Week!


11-21-2023
        We saw our first rain in November the past 24 hours.  It didn’t really add up to much, but it sure helped clean the air and knock the dust off everything.   The temperatures cooled off some to only a 55-degree high yesterday and it looks to stay cooler over the next week with highs in the upper 30’s to low 40’s and the lows in the 20’s most nights.   There is no more rain in our forecast for the next 10 days. The dry weather has sure made it nice to feed and catch up on a few things this fall.   It looks like we may be in for a change in weather to more seasonal type temperatures ahead.
        Saturday was another big run of livestock. The hog sales stay very constant with 350 to 450 head every Saturday morning.   Fat hogs fell off the past three week highs and were selling in the $52 to 60 range.  Sows were lower as well with over five weights at $56 to 62 a lb. this week.  Feeder pigs sold at by the head and would figure about 50 to 60 cents for all weights.   As pig numbers begin to show up and seasonal demand surges for roasters, we may see a push up in the pig market heading towards the end of the year holidays.
        The sheep and goat sale had the good Boer kids selling at $3.00 to 3.50 a lb. up to 70 pounds.  Nannies sold at $70 to 1.00 a lb.  Big billies were bringing $1.70 to 2.20 a lb.  Only a few nannies returning home out of this sale.  The lamb market had 60 to 80 pound lambs bringing $2.10 to 2.50 a lb.  Fat lambs topped at $2.00 a lb. this sale.  Weigh up ewes ranged from $70 to1.00 with good solid flack face ewes gathering top money. 
        The outside sale had a really good crowd for a large quantity of merchandise.  Small square bales of hay ranged from $5.00 to 8.00.  Straw was at $4.00 and small corn stalk bales brought $3.50.   Big rounds of hay topped at $155 to 100 on inside stored alfalfa grass good quality hay.  Most hay sold at $100 to 120.  Big squares sold from $60 on short light bales of foxtail to $110 on the better alfalfa.  Cornstalk bales sold from $45 to 57.50 with most at $50 to 55. The misc. items had used round bale feeders at $310 and feed bunks at $235.   Terrier pups at $15 to 30 each and a host of other items that gathered plenty of interest again this week!
        The cattle sale had just over 1000 head this week.  The market struggled through last week and had me concerned about where the market would land here on Saturday.  As it turned out it was sure an active market!   Baby calves ranged from $250 to 500.   383 pound black white face steers brought $3.16 a lb.   Two nice groups of 15 head of black white face steers weighing 509 and 515 brought $3.03 a lb.   A group of seven steers at 590 pounds brought $2.75, 650 pound steers were at $2.51 a lb.  A big set of steer calves at 743 pounds with some flesh on them brought $2.3150 and their big brothers averaged 878 pounds at $2.22525!   Pretty awesome set of cattle that the whole calf crop averaged 760 pounds and brought in $1721 per head!   Congratulations to the Frieden family on an outstanding group of calves!
        The weigh cow market was off a little more with the top fat cows at $1.05 to 1.08.   The bulk of the lean cows were at $85 to 95 this week.   The top bull was at $1.20 on two separate ton Hereford bulls.   There were over 200 weigh up cows in Saturday evening’s sale. 
        This area has sure made the most out ofthe beautiful fall weather.  The crop is sure the same as all in the bins.  Many acres of anhydrous have been applied and all kinds of fall tillage have been completed.  Cows running out have taken less feed with the mild temperatures but sure don’t find many acres of stock piled forage left around.   Ponds are low or dry, creeks are dried up and the Des Moines River is only ankle high on a Canadian goose right now!
        We sure want to wish everyone a Great Thanksgiving Holiday this week.  We here at KSC are truly thankful for our family, our freedom here in American and all our great customers.  Thank you all very much!
        Next Saturday’s sale will feature a good run of hogs, sheep, goats, hay as well as some fall cow calf pairs, spring bred Longhorn cows and a breeding bull or two!   December 2nd will be our next feeder cattle sale and the December 6th will be our Hereford production sale at 1:00 and our 5G Commercial bred female sale that evening at 5:00 p.m.
 
Have a Dandy Week!


11-15-2023
        This November weather has sure been as good as you can expect here in southeast Iowa.  Highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s and low humidity.  The skies are clear and only a day or two have been breezy, not much wind at all for November!  It is dry, of course, but sure is nice to take care of cattle and catch up on some work at the farm.  The forecast continues to look very mild for the next ten days. Thanksgiving is lining up to be very nice and dry next week.
        Saturday was a beautiful day here in Keosauqua.   The hog sale started us off in the morning with just over 300 head.   Fat hogs sold up in the $80’s again with a $84 top.  Even had a set weighing 333 pounds that brought $88!   Sows were lower, falling into the $60’s on the good heavy weight with a $64 top.  Light sows or thinner condition sows sold from $40 to 50 a lb.   Feeder pigs also sold lower with most at 50 to 55 cents for all weights.
        The sheep and goat sale had nearly 500 head again this week.  Top end kid goats sold at $3.00 to 3.20 a lb. when weighing 50 to 70 pounds.   Nannies brought from $70 to 1.00 a lb.  The lamb market held in the $1.75 to 2.10 a lb. range.  The top fat lambs were $1.89 to 2.02 a lb. 
        The outside sale had a large crowd for both hay and misc. items.  The hay market was $4.00 to 9.50 on small squares and $3.00 on small bales of cornstalks.  Big round bales stay very steady at $110 to 135 on net wrapped grass or alfalfa.  There were a few inside four foot bales of alfalfa orchard mix that brought $160 per bale.   Cornstalk round bales were $45 on some small light weight bales up to $57.50 for the best quality.   Big squares were off some bringing from $50 to 130 a bale.   A pretty big run of misc. items this week including hedge, locust or pine posts.   Dog pen panels sold very good as always.   Col. Zimmerman had an active market on all kinds of inventory this week!
        The cattle sale had baby calves selling mostly $200 to 400 per head.  Bred cows and pairs showed very timid interest.  Pairs that I was starting as pairs and no one would bid would bring $100 to 300 more if I split them up.  Bred cows were not in high demand either.   The majority of the middle aged black cows bred for spring sold at $1500 to 1800 and went to northeast Iowa.   The feeder cattle market was softer on plain and common kind in the run.  Weigh cows sold a couple of dollars lower with better big cows at $1.08 to 1.18 a lb.   Bulls sold at $1.10 to 1.33 this week.   We may see these cows and bulls continue the seasonal slide for another month or so.
        The boys have got all the sale heifers moved back home from summer pastures.   The heifers have come home in nice flesh and should be in great shape for the December 6th 5G sale.  There is sure an opportunity to get some very high quality bred heifers here that night.
        We are hosting a Livestock Risk Protection insurance program meeting here at the barn next Tuesday evening, on the 21st at 5:30 p.m.   Lauren and the café crew will have supper for those that want to come and listen.  LRP insurance is being used by producers to manage some of the risk in the market.  Those times when the market is bucking around a bit, it can give a more comfortable feeling to producers that choose to use it.    The meeting won’t last too long, so if you would like to learn more abut LRP and if it would be a fit for your management system, we would sure invite anyone who wants to and has an hour to come Tuesday evening Nov 21st
        A special feeder sale coming up this next Saturday Nov 18th.
 
 
Have a Dandy Week!


11-7-2023
         Unbelievable weather to lead off November with.  Mostly clear to  crystal blue skies.   The fall color is really brilliant now as the leaves are all turned, the grass is greened up a bit and it is just gorgeous around here this week!  The forecast looks about the same for the next week.  Temperatures in the upper 30’s to 40’s at night and up in the 60’s in the afternoon.   There is only a very slight chance of rain in the forecast for the next week.  We are definitely thankful for this pretty weather this time of the year.
         Saturday was a truly awesome site to see!  The day was pristine with clear skies and 70 for a high.  The folks coming in and out all day long for lunch, that was incredibly good roast beef, enjoyed the day.  The livestock on display were sure some of the area’s very finest in quality and condition.  The market was rewarding to them for all their hard work! 
         The hog sale had new highs for sows getting up to $81.  Heavy fat hogs over 300 pounds landed on the same number at $78  to 84,  Most standard weight fat hogs were $65 to 70 a lb.   Feeder pigs were 50 to 70 cents a lb. for all weights and sizes. 
         The sheep and goat market held onto the last week’s gains.  The top lambs at 57 pounds brought $2.55 a lb. and a fancy set of fat lambs at 125 pounds brought $2.03 a lb.  Slaughter ewes ranged from 50 to 85 cents on hair ewes or white face ewes.   Kid goats sold from $2.50 to 3.00 a lb. and a big wether weighing 115 pounds brought $3.15 a lb.   Nannies sold from 70 cents to $1.15 and a couple of big billies sold at $2.25 to 2.60 a lb. 
         The outside sale had a large crowd for sure!   Small squares sold from $4.50 to 8.50.  Several stacks of wheat straw sold from $4.00 to 4.50.  Small square cornstalk bales brought $3.00 to 3.50.  Big bales of hay brought from $80 to 135 and the $135 price was hit five times through the sale.   Big rounds of straw sold from $45 to 50.   Had a few cornstalk round bales that were at $45 to 50.  Big squares traded at $80 to 110 per bale.  493 big bales were sold this week.
         The feeder cattle sale was sure the feature of this week’s annual appreciation sale.   The cool weather had the hair fluffed up good on all the cattle.   Calves and yearlings have sure done well on the short grass this summer and several strings weighed of heavier than a year ago.
         Three weight steers sold at $3.00 to 3.15 for the top end.   Four weight steers also hit $3.10 on some weighing 493 pounds.   Two groups of 507 and 518 pound steers brought $3.12 and $3.13 respectively.   A thirty four head string of black white face steers averaging 677 pounds brought $2.63.   A fancy group of cross bred yearling steers at 759 pounds sold at $2.42.  Some big 902 pound steers sold for $2.22 on nine head and sixteen steers averaging 1150 pounds brought $2.00 a lb.
         Three weight heifers ranged from $2.70 to 2.80 on the top end.   A package of 474 pound heifers brought $2.82 very late in the evening.  $2.65 was paid on a set of 547 pound heifers and $2.45 on a group at 671 pounds.   A load of yearling heifers averaging 756 pounds brought $2.37 a lb.   The weigh cow market was steady with a week ago on 175 head.  The top fat cows ranged mostly $1.05 to 1.20 a lb.   Lean cows were at $90 to 1.05.  Big bulls were sure stronger at $1.20 to 1.36.  The top bull weighed 2650 pounds at $1.35 or nearly $3500!   He happened to be a Hereford!   There were six bulls over $1.30 a lb.!
         It is always a treat to get to this sale.  With all the livestock that went through this week, everything made it through without any injuries or DOA!   The crew had a few bruises but were all able to finish the job Saturday evening.  Thank you goes out to all of them young and the experienced!  PeeWee was in on Friday to help check in and sure helped keep that going correctly!   Many thanks to all the crew for getting the sale handled in great shape this week. 
         Lauren and Chaesi in the kitchen had a big day as well.  I asked Lauren late Saturday evening how many they served, and she said over a case of plates were gone and that is 500!   The meat was awesome, melt in your mouth kind of roast beef.  Thanks to Joe Noe for preparing it to perfection!  We sure want to say a huge thank you to all the kitchen, office, outback crews, buyers and sellers for making this sale one of the best ever here at Keosauqua Sales Co.
         The boys were able to get another group of bred heifers moved home from summer pasture yesterday.  What a perfect day for that.   Some years it is flat nasty cold and rotten when they go get them but not this year.   The heifers came back in terrific shape and should be ready for the sale on December 6th!
         A cow sale coming up Saturday the 11th, then another nice feeder sale for November 18th!
 
Have a Dandy Week!


11-1-2023
        Cooler weather arrived this week after a nice rain to end last week with.  We have had lows in the lower 20’s and highs not over 40 to start the week off with.   It has been mostly cloudy until this morning, and it was bright and sunny to start the day.  We are forecast to be in the 50’s or maybe 60 by Saturday to start November off.  It will feel really good!
        Saturday was another busy day.  The morning led off with nearly 400 hogs.   Sows were selling from $45 to 55.   Fat hogs were $50 to 55.  Feeder pigs were from $11 per head on some 20-pound pigs to $57 on some 90 pound pigs.   More pigs going as roasters than going home right now. 
        The sheep and goat market was stronger on 645 heads.   Lambs weighing from 60 to 80 pounds brought $1.85 to a $2.50 top.   Fat lambs ranged from $1.7 to 2.05.   Weigh up ewes saw a spread of 60 cents to a $1.25 top.   Whiteface and hair ewes on the lower end and stout black face ewes reaching the higher end.    Kid goats from 50 to 80 pounds were $2.50 to 3.15 for Boer type fat kids.   80 to 100 pounds kids were mostly $2.50 to 2.85 a lb.   Big billies topped at $2.50 on a 185 pound billy.   Cull nannies brought $90 to a top of 1.55 for the heavy Boer cross type.   The market should remain steady to higher through the end of the year.
        I was without my right hand auctioneer Saturday, so I ran solo!   Big bales sold from $100 to 130 on good bales.  Rough hay and smaller bales were $50 to 90.  Big squares sold from $80 to 125 per bale on quality hay.  There were no cornstalk bales this week.   Small squares of hay were $4 to an 11 top.  Straw bales were $4 to 6 a bale.  The corner posts topped at $35 a piece.   2013 Honda 4-wheeler brought $4250.  Mums fell back to $2 to 6.  Rabbits were steady at $4 to 5.  I hurried right along to be ready to start calves at noon and was finished out front in good shape, but the bigger run inside held up the start for a little bit!
        The cattle sale had 930 head in the run.   The baby calf market was in the $300 to 600 range for beef calves and there were no Holsteins this week.   Nothing for bred cows or pairs this week.  The feeder cattle market was lower across all classes except weigh up cows.  They were steady.   Light three weight bulls brough $3.05 a lb while light three weight steers were bringing $3.15 a lb.  470-pound black bulls brough $2.70 and steers in the four weight were at $3.02 a lb.   The better middle five weigh steers sold from $2.50 to 2.70.   There were no yearlings to speak of in the run.   Light heifers sold at $2.50 to 2.80 while the better five weight heifers ranged from $2.40 to 2.63.   There was not much around for yearling heifers either.   The weigh cow market was very solid on the heavier cows at $1.10 to 1.20 top.  Lean cows were in the $90 to 1.05 and the light shelly cows $40 to 75.  Big bulls topped at $1.28 a lb.
        The girls have had a busy week trick or treating around the area!  Boy, they have a big time together!    They passed out cand one evening then hauled it in on a couple of other evenings!    They went to the hospital, the nursing home, Kahoka, and downtown Keosauqua!  They really had a big time with costumes and scaring as many as they could!
        This Saturday is our annual customer appreciation sale and BBQ.  The market doesn’t operate without great customers from the Tri State area!   We are so fortunate to be in an area with great folks that are still involved in animal agriculture.  We are thankful to all the consignors for all the support.  Equally as important are the buyers that step in week after week to create and maintain a competitive market.   We sincerely thank everyone that helps make it possible for us to continue in the marketing business here in Keosauqua.
        Come join us for an awesome lunch of Certified Hereford sandwiches and watch the areas finest cattle go thru the ring Saturday afternoon!
       
 
Have a Dandy Week!
 
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