08/05/2026
For the second consecutive year, retaining ownership and feeding calves through finish has proven to be a strong financial decision.
The summaries shown are based on the market value of the calves at the start of the feeding period, not your actual production cost. As a producer, you would substitute your own cost basis to calculate your expected return.
While this was an exceptional closeout, we also had other groups that performed well. Even one of our lower-return closeouts, a group of heifers, generated an additional $373.68 per head by being retained and fed to finish.
With historically low cattle inventories and continued strong beef demand, now may be an excellent time to retain ownership and capture more value from your calf crop. We believe there is significant opportunity in feeding calves approximately 10 months longer and marketing them directly to the packer. Our 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 summaries both demonstrate the potential value of this strategy.
If you're interested in learning more about retaining ownership and feeding your calves through Wehrs Feedyard / Schweitzer Red Angus, we'd be happy to discuss your operation, review the economics, and develop a program that fits your goals.
Contact us today to learn how retaining ownership could add value to your next calf crop.
