STOCKTON, Mo. — “Strong cow and calf markets fueled a strong SW Missouri Show-Me-Select (SMS) Replacement Heifer sale on May 19th at Joplin Regional Stockyards near Carthage, MO,” says Patrick Davis MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. The 133 bred heifers sold for an average price of $2,345 per heifer. The sale average was the highest May sale average since May of 2016, which sold 291 heifers for an average of $2,236 per heifer. Small sale numbers, a strong cattle market, and the need to replace cattle herds likely led to the strong sale average.
“Long time sale consigners and program participants topped the sale,” says Davis. Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC of Wentworth, MO sold the most heifers and had the highest average price with 37 black/white face heifers selling for an average of $2,864 per heifer. Aspen Ridge LLC of Carthage, MO sold the 3rd highest number of heifers and had the second highest average price per heifer. They sold 22 red and red/white face heifers for an average price of $2,427 per heifer. Steven and Jared Kleiboeker Farms of Wentworth, MO had taken a few years off from participating but really had a strong showing in this sale and sold the second highest number of heifers with the third highest average price per heifer. They sold 35 black and black/white face heifers for an average of $2,214 per heifer.
“Volume buyers for this sale have not bought in recent years or were new to the sale,” says Davis. The top buyer of this sale was Elk Creek Sales Ltd. of Wentworth, MO and this is the first time they have bought heifers from this sale since the fall of 2017. This group bought 15 heifers from Steven and Jared Kleiboeker Farms for an average of $2,093 per heifer. The second highest buyer was Nick Smith of Smith Farm and Seed Inc. of Cherokee, KS. This new buyer to the sale purchased 14 heifers for an average of $2,435 per heifer. This buyer purchased heifers from Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC, Aspen Ridge LLC, and Kunkel Farms Red Angus of Neosho, MO.
If you are interested in participating in the Missouri SMS Replacement Heifer Program or want more information, visit the program website at https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/show-me-select-replacement-heifer-program or contact your local MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist.
— MU Extension