Manager's Message

FEBRUARY 10, 2020

 

          ONE OF THE POSITIVES WE HAVE AT SE MS LIVESTOCK IS THE INSURANCE ON YOUR LIVESTOCK.  OUR RATES ARE REASONABLE WHEN YOU COMPARE, AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SOME OF THE COMPETITION DOES NOT OFFER INSURANCE.  AS EXPLAINED TO ME BY OUR LMA REPRESENTATIVE, INSURANCE COVERS CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK FROM WHEN IT IS LOADED ON A TRAILER AT THE PRODUCER’S FARM.  BROKE LEGS, INJURIES, CUTS, ETC. ARE COVERED FROM THAT TIME UNTIL THE FARMERS’ CATTLE ARE SOLD THROUGH THE AUCTION RING.  FAIR MARKET VALUE IS PAID, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO DISPOSE OF THE ANIMAL.  BUCKLING CATTLE, WEAK CATTLE, BAD EYES, ETC. ARE NOT COVERED.

          732 HEAD OF CATTLE RECEIVED FOR THE SALE YESTERDAY.  PRETTY DARN GOOD CONSIDERING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  SLAUGHTER COWS AND BULLS WERE STEADY TO MAYBE JUST $1.00 LOWER.  PEEWEE CATTLE, 200-300 LBS. WERE CHEAPER, WHILE YOUR 400-500 LB. STEERS WERE UP $5.00 OR MORE.  ABOUT THE SAME EFFECT ON OUR HEIFER CALVES.  THE BEST OF THE PAIRS WERE $950.00 TO $1,500.00, WITH SOME REAL THIN PAIRS WITH SMALL CALVES DROPPING DOWN TO $700.00.

          LOOKING AT RYE GRASS ALL AROUND US, IT IS APPARENT WE NEED TO APPLY OUR SECOND ROUND OF NITROGEN.  I KNOW PASTURE CONDITIONS MAKE THIS IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.  ASAP I KNOW PRODUCERS WILL BE APPLYING EITHER AMMONIA NITRATE OR UREA.  BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN WET GROUND FOR NITRATE POISON.  USE PRECAUTIONS AND NEVER APPLY ANYWHERE THERE IS STANDING WATER.  WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF COWS AND CALVES THAT DESPERATELY NEED A GOOD WORMING.  A FEW DOLLARS SPENT USUALLY IS PROFITABLE WHEN SPENT ON THE RIGHT PRODUCTS AND PRACTICES.  

          WE ARE HOSTING THE 7TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CATTLEMEN’S BULL AND FEMALE SALE.  100 BULLS, 40 REGISTERED FEMALES AND A LARGE NUMBER OF BRED AND OPEN COMMERCIAL CATTLE.  ALL THESE CATTLE WILL COME FROM LANE SMITH ANGUS OR MG/4M HEREFORD FARMS.  TWO OF YOUR BETTER SEEDSTOCK PRODUCERS WITH OUT-STANDING REPUTATIONS.  CATTLE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AFTER LUNCH ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14THAND THE SALE WILL START AT 1:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH.  COME JOIN US!

                                                            SINCERELY,

MIKE KEENE