Montana Seedstock Survey--1994
Released: February 1995
For more information contact: Thomas Chard or Curtis Lund at 1-800-835-2612
Montana seedstock producers received $101.7 million in 1994 from the sales of breeding cattle, semen, and embryos. A total of $97.8 million was received from the sales of 70,100 head of breeding cattle in 1994. Semen sales amounted to $3.2 million from the sale of 215,000 straws. Forty-three percent of all semen sales were to foreign countries. Embryo sales were valued at $0.6 million with 1,200 embryos being sold during the year. Seventy-five percent of all embryo sales were to other states or foreign countries.

During 1994 the largest sales category was bulls which accounted for 56 percent of all seedstock sales or $57.4 million. The average price received for all bulls was $2,180. Of the 26,400 bulls sold by seedstock producers, Montana was the most common destination, with sales of 19,200 head, followed by 6,200 head sold to producers in other states. Sales of 20,100 replacement heifers were the second largest category of seedstock sales and were valued at $18.4 million. Montana producers purchased 74 percent, or 14,800 heifers.

Purebred breeding stock sales made up the largest portion of all seedstock sales, totaling $73.7 million during 1994. The largest category of sales was purebred bulls at $51.7 million. A total of 23,300 purebred bulls were sold at an average price of $2,220. Seventy-four percent of purebred sales were to Montana producers.

Sales of all other breeding stock included 27,900 head valued at $24.1 million. The largest sales category was replacement heifers at $8.8 million. A total of 11,300 replacement heifers were sold for an average price of $780. About 8,800 replacement heifers were sold to Montana producers, with an additional 2,200 head sold to out-of-state producers.

All Seedstock Sales, Value, and Destination, Montana, 1994

Category		 Total Seedstock Sales Sold By Destination
Number
Sold  		 Average
Value		 Total
Value		 Montana Other
States		 Foreign
Countries		 Unknown
Dollars
Dollars
Number
Bulls
Bred Cows
Open Cows
Cow/Calf Pairs
Heifers		 26,400
15,300
6,800
1,500
20,100		 2,180
1,040
570
1,230
910		 $57,399,000
15,876,000
4,332,000
1,812,000
18,406,000		 19,200
12,400
5,500
900
14,800		 6,200
2,100
1,000
400
4,800		 400
200
1/
1/
200		 600
600
300
200
300
Total Cattle 70,100 1,400 97,825,000 52,800 14,500 800 2,000
Semen Straws
Embryos		 215,000
1,200		 15
520		 3,225,000
624,000		 45,000
300		 76,000
600		 92,000
300		 2,000
2/
Total     101,674,000        
1/ Included in unknown. 2/ Less than 100.


Purebred Sales and Animals Sold by Destination, Montana, 1994

Category		 Sales of Purebred Breeding Stock Sold By Destination
Number
Sold 		Average
Value		 Total
Value		 Montana Other
States		 Foreign
Countries		 Unknown
Dollars Dollars  
Bulls
Bred Cows
Open Cows
Cow/Calf Pairs
Heifers		 23,300
6,300
3,200
600
8,800		 2,220
1,420
780
1,580
1,090		 $51,726,000
8,946,000
2,496,000
948,000
9,592,000		 17,300
4,300
2,300
400
6,000		 5,200
1,500
800
100
2,600		 400
200
3/
3/
200		 400
300
100
100
2/
Total 42,200 1,750 73,708,000 30,300 10,200 800 900
1/ Less than 100. 2/ Insufficient reports or less than 100 head are included in unknown.


All Other Breeding Stock Sales and Animals Sold by Destination, Montana, 1994

Category		 Sales of All Other Breeding Stock Sold By Destination
Number
Sold 		Average
Value		 Total
Value		 Montana Other
States		 Foreign
Countries		 Unknown
Dollars Dollars  
Bulls
Bred Cows
Open Cows
Cow/Calf Pairs
Heifers		 3,100
9,000
3,600
900
11,300		 1,830
770
510
960
780		 $5,673,000
6,930,000
1,836,000
864,000
8,814,000		 1,900
8,100
3,200
500
8,800		 1,000
600
200
300
2,200		 1/
1/
1/
1/
1/		 200
300
200
100
300
Total 27,900 860 24,117,000 22,500 4,300  1/ 1,100
1/ Insufficient reports or less than 100 head are included in unknown.


Average Breeding Stock Inventory by Size of Beef Cow Herd, Montana, January 1, 1995

Category 		 Beef Cow Herd Size
1-49 50-99 100-499 500+ Total
Cattle Per Operation
Cows
Replacement Heifers
Bulls		 22
8
2		 71
20
7		 228
54
18		 976
236
92		 251
61
22
Animals raised and retained in herd by size of beef cow herd, Montana, 1994
  Number Raised and Retained in Herd
Female Stock
Bulls		 4
1/		 13
1		 38
2		 196
10		 46
3
1/ Less than 1.


Montana ranchers purchased 22,000 bulls during 1994, with 19,200 bulls being purchased from Montana sources. The remaining bulls purchased included 2,000 from other states and 800 from foreign countries. Of the bulls purchased from Montana sources, 9,000 were on a private treaty basis; 6,500 were from production sales; 2,500 were consignment sales; and 1,200 were from test station sales.

Beef cow ranchers having 100-499 cows purchased 55 percent of all the bulls from Montana sources. Most of the bulls purchased on a private treaty basis, from production sales, and consignment sales were by beef cow ranches with 100-499 cows. Fifty-seven percent of the bulls purchased from test stations were by beef cow ranches with 500+ cows. Beef cow ranches with 500+ cows were also the major purchasers of bulls from other states and foreign countries, purchasing 59.5 percent and 54 percent of the bulls, respectively.

Of the 22,000 bulls purchased, 19,400 were purebred and 2,600 bulls were crossbred/composite. Beef cow ranches with 100-499 cows purchased 51.5 percent of the purebred bulls and 52.0 percent of the crossbred/composite bulls. Ranches with 500+ cows also purchased a significant number of bulls, buying 41.0 and 44.5 percent of purebred and crossbred/composite bulls, respectively.
Percentage of Bulls Purchased by Source Within Montana, Other States,
and Other Countries by Size of Beef Cow Herd, Montana, 1994

Category		 Beef Cow Herd Size
1-49 50-99 100-499 500+ Total Number
Head
Montana Sources: Percent of Total
Private Treaty
Production Sales
Test Stations
Consignment Sales		 3.5
1.0
1/
5.5		 5.5
5.0
9.0
2.0		 58.0
54.0
34.0
48.5		 33.0
40.0
57.0
44.0		 9,000
6,500
1,200
2,500
Total Montana Sources 2.5 5.0 55.0 37.5 19,200
Other Sources:
Foreign Countries
Other States		 1.0
1.0		 1.5
2.0		 43.5
37.5		 54.0
59.5		 800
2,000
Total Purchases--All Sources 2.5 4.5 51.5 41.5 22,000
1/ Less than 1 percent.

Percent of Total Purebred and Crossbred/Composite Purchases by Beef Cow Herd Size, Montana, 1994

Category
Beef Cow Herd Size
1-49
50-99
100-499
500+
Total Number
Head
Percent of Total
Purebred
Crossbred/Composite		 2.5
1.5		 5.0
2.0		 51.5
52.0		 41.0
44.5		 19,400
2,600

Methodology and Definitions

The Seedstock Survey consisted of known seedstock producers in the state and a random sample of ranchers from a list of livestock producers maintained by the Montana Agricultural Statistics Service. Ninety percent of known seedstock producers and 80 percent of non-seedstock producers responded to the survey. An estimated 6 percent of all cattle operations in the state sold seedstock at one time during 1994 and were not listed as Seedstock producers in the Montana Stockgrowers Association Directory.

Seedstock sales included the sales of all types of breeding cattle, purebred and other, semen, and embryos. Semen sales units were reported in straws. Embryo sales were reported as single embryos. Cattle sold as a cow/calf pair were a cow with a calf. Seedstock producers were defined as any rancher selling either purebred or other breeding stock, semen or embryos at any time during the year.

Cooperation

The survey was funded by and conducted at the request of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, Seedstock Committee. The Montana Agricultural Statistics Service conducted the survey and expresses appreciation to all participants.

The average price paid by seedstock producers for bulls in 1994 was $3,420, $120 more than what they would normally expect to pay for a bull. Non-seedstock producers paid an average of $2,070 for a bull in 1994, the same as what they would normally expect to pay. Seedstock producers with 100-499 cows paid the most for bulls, averaging $3,850, $190 more than what they would normally pay, followed by producers with 50-99 cows who paid an average of $3,350. Non-seedstock producers with 500+ cows paid the most for bulls, averaging $2,250, the same as what they would normally pay.

Average Price Paid for Bulls by Seedstock and
Non-Seedstock Producers by Beef Cow Herd Size, Montana, 1994

Category		 Beef Cow Herd Size
1-49 50-99 100-499 500+ Total
Seedstock Producer: Dollars Per Head
Actual Price Paid-1994
Normal Price Paid		 1,720
1,720		 3,350
3,340		 3,850
3,660		 2,990
2,890		 3,420
3,300
Non-Seedstock Producer:
Actual Price Paid-1994
Normal Price Paid		 1,590
1,620		 1,690
1,720		 2,010
2,000		 2,250
2,250		 2,070
2,070

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