“Record prices were seen at the SW MO Show-Me-Select™ (SMS) Replacement Heifer Program sale at Joplin Regional Stockyards on May 17th,” say Patrick Davis MU Extension Livestock Field Specialist. Even though this was one of the smallest offerings in sale history the strong market led to 5 consigners marketing 69 bred heifers for an average price of $3,439 per heifer. This per heifer average is the highest average recorded for this sale in recent years and over $1,000 higher than last year’s sale average when 133 heifers were sold.
“Long time sale participants topped the sale,” says Davis. Longtime sale consigner Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC of Wentworth, MO had the top selling lots with two of their lots selling for $4,100 per heifer. This price beats the previous record for this sale location of $3,700 per heifer which was set in the fall of 2014. A total of 8 heifers were sold in the 2 lots and the buyers included Mathew Heidlage of Wentworth, MO, and Nathaniel Graber of La Russell, MO. Furthermore, Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC sold the most heifers in the sale, which was 36 black/white face heifers with the highest average price, which was $3,886 per heifer. Another long-time consigner and program participant Meadowlyn Farms LLC of Cassville, MO sold 5 black SimAngus heifers for the second highest average price of $3,540 per heifer. Finally longtime consigner Dale Kunkel Farms sold 2 commercial Red Angus heifers for the 3rd highest average price of $3,400.
“A first-time buyer bought the most heifers in this sale,” says Davis. First time buyer Randy Little of Republic, MO bought 12 heifers from Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC, which was the most, for the 3rd highest average price of $3,866 per heifer. Nathaniel Graber, who hasn’t bought heifers through this sale since 2000, bought the 3rd most heifers, which was 9 head at the highest average price of $4,044 per heifer. These heifers were consigned by Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC and Mast Farms of Lamar, MO. Mathew Heidlage, who has bought heifers in the previous 3 spring sales, purchased 10 heifers from Nolan Kleiboeker Farms LLC for an average price of $3,920 per heifer. This was the second highest number of heifers purchased at the second highest average price.
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.
