KELVINGTON STOCK YARDS

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Market Reports

Market reports will be published in local papers and announced regularly on:

CK750 AM - Melfort
12:15pm
CJVR FM - Melfort
12:18pm

600 CJWW - Saskatoon
12:24pm

940 CJGX - Yorkton
12:35pm

Shrinkage

How does the Shrink Factor work?

Shrink as you know is fill, grass, water, feed and manure. It takes 24 hour stand to empty an animal's stomach. Overnight stand shrink is as follows:

• Calves: 3% to 6% of the total body weight;
• Yearling: 7% to 9% of the total body weight;
• Cow or Bull: 8% to 10% of the total body weight.

Take Notice:

• 600 lb steer - Overnight stand has 6% shrink on total body weight
  • 600 lbs x 6% = 36 lost lbs
• 600 lb steer - 3% pencil shrink at presort sale
  • 600 lbs x 3% = 18 lost lbs
• Difference: 36 - 18 = 18 difference in lost pounds
  • 18 lbs x $1.50 = $27.00 lost dollars per animal
• Money you would lose when you sell over night stand vs. presort sale
  • Sell 60 calves: 60 x $27.00 = $1,620.00

Pencil shrink is the amount of weight deducted from the animals live weight to arrive at a sale weight or pay weight.  This is so the buyers receive a fair value for their dollar, because they purchase cattle by the pound and any weight loss can affect the profit potential of the feedlots.

The pencil is the best tool available, next to a 24 hour stand.  Here are our shrink rates.

• Freshly Weaned Calves
  • 0 - 50 Miles: 3%
  • 50 - 100 Miles: 2%
  • 100 Miles or Over: 1%
• All Classes of Yearlings
  • 0 - 100 Miles: 3%
  • Over 100 Miles: 2%
• Slaughter Steers & Heifers
  • 0 - 100 Miles: 5%
  • Over 100 Miles: 4%
• Cows:
  • 5%
• Bulls:
  • Sold with an overnight stand.

If you prefer a 24 hour stand, let us know then no shrink will be taken on your cattle