|
By Megan Parker
Regional Editor - The Country Today
SPARTA - Hope Laufenberg noticed something missing at the first BADGER VAC 45 sale: bellering. "When we got here this morning, the barn was quiet. You could hold a conversation," said Ms. Laufenberg of Alma Center. She's president of Western Wisconsin Beef Producers, which organized the sale. BADGER VAC 45 stands for Building Added Demand and Generating Enhanced Revenue with Value-Added Cattle weaned 45-plus days. It's a feeder-calf preconditioning program designed earlier this year by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The first BADGER VAC 45 sale was Nov. 28 at Equity Cooperative's Sparta market. Because the cattle were required to be weaned at least 45 days, the barn was quieter than at other sales, Ms. Laufenberg said.
Organizers said they were pleased with the sale. Sellers consigned 313 cattle. They were required to have owned the cattle 60 days and be Wisconsin Beef Quality Assurance certified. Cattle had to weigh a minimum of 300 pounds and be vaccinated. They must be trained to eat from a bunk and drink from a trough. "I think overall the quality of the cattle was really good," Ms. Laufenberg said. No sellers were turned away for not meeting requirements, she said. Jeff Swenson, DATCP livestock economic development specialist, said cattle sold for about 5 cents more per pound than at the market's sale the previous week. Steers weighing 500 to 550 pounds sold for 97 cents to $1.08 a pound, he said. "They sold black-hided cattle well," he said. Dwight Carlisle of Sparta sold cattle at the sale and was pleased with the prices. He hopes the program appeals to cattle buyers dealing with market volatility. With volatile corn prices "you have to have to have some confidence in what you're getting," Mr. Carlisle said. He also believes the program will be popular with buyers from surrounding states. Harley Boehm, a beef farmer near Black River Falls, didn't buy any cattle at the sale. "Not at these prices. Not with $3-plus corn," he said. The cattle looked good though, Mr. Boehm said. "You shouldn't have trouble with them if you've got clean facilities," he said. Mark Rausch of Melrose bought four Hereford cattle at the sale. He set a limit for himself of 70 cents a pound. Mr. Rausch grazes cattle and sells them at about 800 pounds to be finished. Cattle with the BADGER VAC 45 origin will bring a premium when he sells them, he said. No other BADGER VAC 45 sales are scheduled, Mr. Swenson said. "We expect to (schedule more). A lot of people are waiting to see how this first sale goes," he said. Megan Parker can be reached at 800-236-4004, ext. 3867 or megan.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. |
