High Calf Prices in Napoleon - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Thousands of calves are being sold at auction barns across the state.

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you to Napoleon for an update on today's cattle market.

 Last year calf prices hit historic highs and that price per pound is still holding today.

(Paul Bitz / Napoleon Livestock) "A 6 wt steer will be in the very high 50s. You'll see some of the 500 pound steers in the 1.70s and there are some calves that are going to be in the high 3s that bring 2 dollars a pound. It's good." 

Paul Bitz is one of the owners at Napoleon Livestock.

Bitz says ranchers have been walking away with some pretty nice checks this fall.

(Paul Bitz / Napoleon Livestock) "It's fun job handing away a check that they have worked hard to earn it and it's a nice feeling for them." 

While current prices are strong, Bitz still expects more calves to move during their busiest time--right after the first of the year.

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin@kxnet.com) "The sales have been growing by the week. There are 4000 head of cattle here today and Bitz expects those sale numbers to only grow by the thousands in the coming weeks ahead." 

(Paul Bitz / Napoleon Livestock) "There haven't been many people that have changed their selling patterns as far as the weather. The feed has been good around here. We've been blessed in this part of the country. So a lot of people are going And if I can get a 1.40 -1.90 a pound and I have cheaper feed than anywhere in the country I might as well keep them."

Bitz says while price is always the main concern, a new worry is the shrinking number of cattle in North Dakota.

Bitz says Napoleon's largest sale was last February with 7300 head.

He says they typically sell about 100-thousand cattle a year.