I have no problem buying from a sale barn. Half my herd (27 head) came from a sale barn. The other half from local farmers, friends, neighbors (32 head). Although i have the convienance to keep them seperated as per age group, feed group, new comers, old timers. you get the point. When they hit 800lbs they go to the sale barn.
We have 3 local auction house within 20 miles of me. In the past i have had cow\calves die on me, but in the last 5 years my death ratio is null. Even though i am known to pull a boner every now and then. Buy from the sale barn. Sell at the sale barn. Good money made there.
I don not sit and watch my cattle sell. There are no sale bills for the auctions around here. the auctioneer will read your sale bill for vac, worming schedule, banded, cast, bla bla bla.
Im all steers for now. soon things will be changeing.
Beckett