How do you set your prices...

[jodief100]

I just wanted to bring this up. I find sometimes it is difficult to sell animals at a reasonable cost because other people are selling for far less than market value (this seems especially true with chickens). Does anyone else have this experience?

If you want your farming hobby or business to be successful, you should follow the markets and price accordingly. Otherwise you are leaving money on the table! Also it hurts all of us when someone else is selling at a loss and draging down the market.

This was posted today on another thread. I started my own since this one was veering off topic.

I haven't checked prices lately, I just looked them up, and what I realized is I am selling my goats tooo cheap, that stinks. Here are the New Holland prices from last Monday; this is the major sale for the east coast.

Slaughter Kids: Selection 1 40-60 lbs 122.00-148.00; 60-80 lbs
138.00-160.00; 80-90 lbs 147.00-162.00, 90-100 lbs 170.00-182.00; 100-110
lbs 172.00-186.00. Selection 2 40-60 lbs 100.00-118.00; 60-80 lbs
108.00-126.00; 80-90 lbs 126.00-130.00. Selection 3 40-60 lbs 59.00-
91.00; 60-80 lbs 84.00-102.00.

Below are the market prices nearest me, yet I still see listings on Craigslist for 60lb wethers for $75.

Louisville, KY Mon Mar 14, 2011 USDA-KY Dept of Ag Market News

Bluegrass Stockyards of Richmond, Richmond, KY
Graded Goat and Sheep Sale

Receipts: 232

Slaughter Classes: sold per hundred weight (cwt)
Kids: Selection 2 30-45 lbs 240.50; 45-60 lbs 262.50; 60-80 lbs 248.50;
80-100 lbs 177.50.
Selection 3 30-45 lbs 175.00; 45-60 lbs 242.00.

Does/Nannies: 80-125 lbs 10.00; 130-180 lbs 83.00; thin 60-90 lbs 90.00.

Bucks/Billies: 180-220 lbs. 101.00.

 

[mogolady]

I agree. I have a friend who sells cheaper and I realize that is her business. So if they come to me looking and I price a "fair market price", they think it is too high.

I try to adjust, considering if I sell straight off the farm, I don't have to pay auction fee, gas to market and time involved but I still need to turn a little profit in order to keep doing this. My friend is a good- hearted softy who can afford to take a little loss.

I guess that is just business in general.

 

[poorboys]

A GUY I SPOKE WITH, SELLS MEAT GOATS FOR $2.80# FOR 50# AND UP!!! MY FRIEND GOT 1.25# FOR HER'S BUT SHE SOLD TO A GUY WHO BUYS CHEAP AND SELLS IN CHICAGO FOR A HECK OF A LOT MORE SO MY FRIEND REALLY GOT RIPPED OFF. AROUND HERE IT JUST DEPENDS, INDIANA, IF YOU GO TO AUCTIONS OF COURSE THE AUCTUNEERS KNOW THE TRUE PRICE SO THERE ARE BLIND BIDDERS IN THE AUDIENCE BIDDING UNTILL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT PER POUND, I DON'T SELL LIKE THAT CAUSE I RAISE NUBIANS, AND I SELL THE BABIES TO 4-H ERS, IT'S A GOOD SELL IF THEY ARE REGISTERED, AND DOES GO GOOD, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BUCKS OR WETHERS, PEOPLE AROUND HERE DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING. I'VE SEEN THEM GO FOR 25.00.

 

[20kidsonhill]

Keep in mind our stockyard is still selling per head, Jodie's is selling per hundred weight.

but I try to check it every month, i haven't looked at it since January, I hadn't realized it had gone up 20 to 30 bucks a head.

Selection is also a big deal, selection 1 is for the meatiest of the meatiest, they must be very fleshy all over their entire bodies.

 

[jodief100]

A GUY I SPOKE WITH, SELLS MEAT GOATS FOR $2.80# FOR 50# AND UP!!! MY FRIEND GOT 1.25# FOR HER'S BUT SHE SOLD TO A GUY WHO BUYS CHEAP AND SELLS IN CHICAGO FOR A HECK OF A LOT MORE SO MY FRIEND REALLY GOT RIPPED OFF.

I have the name and contact information for the guy in Chicago who buys them. He prefers to buy directly from the farmers. If your friend would rather bring them there herself, she could get much better prices. PM me if you are interested.

 

[St0rmyM00n]

I got my 2 goats 50.00 each they weaned already.

I wouldn't have been able to get any if it wasn't for the feed store that sold them to me. It was my birthday gift from my husband.

Some people can't afford 150.00 and up

 

[jodief100]

I got my 2 goats 50.00 each they weaned already.

I wouldn't have been able to get any if it wasn't for the feed store that sold them to me. It was my birthday gift from my husband.

Some people can't afford 150.00 and up

Pet goat prices are going to be different than meat market prices or milker prices. If $50 is the going rate in your area, that is great for buyers like you but it can be tough on the producers. If you got lower than market rate, lucky you and congrats.

The point I am attempting to make is that if you plan to sell, look at your market carefully. No one, not even a hobbist who does it for fun can afford to loose money. Peopel who sell at $$ loosing prices make it difficult for people who can't afford to lose money. Too much of that and the producers get out of the business, leaving fewer producers and even higher prices.

 

[mogolady]

I agree, I'm not aiming at the person who wants a pet or two. Dairy whethers and some of the cross or smaller hobby breeds go relatively cheap here. But if you are breeding/feeding a larger number of goats/horses/dogs whatever the animal, you just can't afford to loose much money or you won't be at it long. Especially with the price of grain increasing so much.

Stormy - I'm glad for you too be able to get a couple of goats. Our first goat was a $50 Saanen/Alpine cross, full of attitude and we loved her. Thanks to her we now have many. They are so much fun and its always good to see someone new become interested in them.

 

[elevan]

I don't have anything to add other than I will be following this thread.

My stock is pet quality (unregistered and good personality) that can also be lightly milked or used for meat for the small family I'm not ready to start selling any but will in the future, so I'll be doing my research and setting prices based on the area averages and what I plan to provide along with my goats (education, starter feed, bale of hay, etc).

 

[St0rmyM00n]

I really never thought of them as pets I got them to clear brush and for milking, maybe some cabrito if needed.

I just had this talk with some others on another forum I saw goats and got them, but never thought of ever owning show quality goats cause
what would I do with them? They did have show quality goats there where I bought my goats but some of them were worth 1,000.00 and up.
I could never afford anything like that.

Im not sure what you would call what my goats do I just see them as workers who do their job.

But I agree pure bred with paper and hard work put into them being show quality or a very strong breed of particular type should cost a good price cause of all the work that goes into them.

You get what I am saying....