There were 187 mule colts consigned at this sale; if one took the time to analyze each colt, place them in groups of top notch, above average, average and below average, close to 70% of the colts would be average and above.  In other words, 70% of the mule colts were great buys for wagon mules, work mules and resale stock.

When comparing the prices of the colts, many of the three- and four-thousand-dollar colts were as good as the five- and six-thousand-dollar colts. Basically ...... more colt for less money.

So, if you have been sitting on your hands at recent auctions, now might be the time to raise it high to get into the mule colt business. 

Okay, let’s look at the sellers point.  Yes, it has been nice to sell colts for ten, eleven, twelve thousand dollars and above. If one has been breeding for mule colts for six years or more, you were surviving when colts were bringing top dollar at $3500 to $4000. Has the cost increased 300% or better to raise this same colt over the past five years? 

Now, if you have entered the mule colt breeding business in the last four years, odds are the costs of the good mares in your program reached $5,000 and above at the least.  Spent $600 or above on a jack fee and are raising only a few colts, the lower price colts might hurt this type of program more.

There are two sales scheduled for the end of October in Pennsylvania that will offer over three head of mule colts. Many of these colts are going to be top colts.  Yes, some of them will potentially hit the $10,000 up range; however, there will be many above average colts that can be purchased for the $3000 to $4000 range.