The Hoover Colt Sale held October 18th in Russellville Kentucky numbers set a grand example on how to stabilize the mule colt market.

There were 164 mule colts sold in the sale; this does not include three no sales.

The top ten mules averaged a little over $8,500 each.  This includes $12,000 (Elmer King), $10,500 (Elmer Zook) and $10,000 (Julian Farms) along with a $9,000 (Isreal Beiler) consignment.  The other six in the top ten landed in the $7,000 to $7,750 range.  These few mules made up around 5% of the sale.

What happened after these top ten showed encouragement to buyers and consignors.  The following 26 head sold in the five and six thousand dollar range.  These were really nice colts, most were big in size with good confirmation.  This group of mules takes in about 16% of the consigned mule colts.

The following around 55% of the sales stayed in the three and four thousand dollar bracket.

Only 4% fell below $2,000.

For those wondering how this helps --  With a little over ninty head of mule colts staying in the three and four thousand area, this increased the lower end priced colts.  This simple process brought this sale down to nearly zero no sales as well as increased their over all average of about six hundred dollars from 2023 Colt Sale.

Why / How did this happen?  I guess we call it fate and hope it holds through next weeks sales. 

With the three year olds that sold this past season holding their price, it allowed traders to cover their costs on these higher priced colts previously purchased.  With buyers not taking a loss in the big mule market, it allowed them the ability to purchase colts in 2024 fall season.

With nearly 60% of the consignments averaging $3,300 to $4,400 a head, this price gives consignors a decent price for their colts and allows buyers the space needed to raise them for two years so they can return as 3 year olds to the market. 

The results of this sale was a pleasant surprise and hopefully set a good foundation for upcoming colt sales.  The above numbers made the Hoover Sale a stable, consistent sale.

The overall average for Hoover 2024 Colt was right at $4000 per head, this being an increase of between $500 and $600 per head from 2023.

To compare to the Hoover 2023 Colt Sale:

In 2023 there were 184 mules colts consigned. 

Highest selling colt was $14,100 followed by $12,000, $10,800 and $10,000

In 2023 7% of the colts sold in the $5000 to $6000 range; 2024 this jumped to 16%.

Next in 2023 approximately 40% were in the $3000 to $4800 area; in 2024 this increase to about 60%.

In 2023 24% colts sold at the $2000 range; in 2024 this dropped to 4%.

In 2023 the no sale rate on this sale was in the lower teens; 2024 had three head or less than 2%.

NOTE:  The sale links for video will be posted in a couple of days bringing all together for viewing.  There were some complications with internet.  Also photos with prices for comparison will be posted shortly.