auction
- Thread starter DPANTOJA
- Start date
Bullbuyer
Well-known member
Are you talking about cattle auction as in a stockyard facility or are you talking about an auction held at the farm ?
Bullbuyer
Well-known member
I would not recommenr purchasing cattle at the stockyards unless you are well versed in the terminology and are extremely knowledgable about cattle management - as noted on a previous post, these cattle are exposed to many different bugs. Buying from an individual should be much easier - especially if you are just getting started in the business.
(Of course, if you want to buy 50 or so steers - same size, etc. You just about have to go to the stockyards.)
(Of course, if you want to buy 50 or so steers - same size, etc. You just about have to go to the stockyards.)
Click on the link and call this guy. He is your area rep for the Angus Asso. He is the best one in your area to help you. Tell him what you plan to do with your cattle. Have a nice long talk with him so that he understands your position. He will also need to know your pocket book. He will be glad to help you buy good cattle to get you started.
This is John Dickinson's site.
http://www.angusproductions.com/api_rm12.html
This is John Dickinson's site.
http://www.angusproductions.com/api_rm12.html
DPANTOJA":3r1sg72e said:
The link to the Angus Rep is a good idea. He can probably help you find registered or commercial Angus heifers. Also check with your local cattlemen's assn. Our assn has a replacement heifer sale every year. The animals have to be vaccinated and have a vet certify if they're open or bred. Most consignors will give you info on breeding of the heifers, sire or dam, percentage of breed, etc. Or put an ad in your local paper, saying what you want. Then ask for verifiction as to herd health and genetics.
If you know where the cattle came from at the auction, you might be ok. Buying calves weaned on the truck on the way to the sale barn can cost you plenty. Good luck....
DPANTOJA":1vkmaf4y said:
I'm sure I'll miss some, but here goes - Sale barn side:
Pros:
A higher number of cattle to choose from.
Less running around to look at said cattle, so time saved.
No dickering or conversation required - you control how high you bid.
One can get high quality cattle at the sale barn IF one knows what they are doing, and has the experience to weed out the trash from the gems.
Cons:
What you see is what you get, and health problems/disease/infertility are not always apparent.
The possibility of bringing home something you would really rather not have - be it disease or the animal.
Just because someone raises cattle does not mean he/she has any scruples, and drugging wild/crazy/problem cattle has been known to happen.
The very real possibility of having to pen and haul said animal (not to mention repairing pens, fence, and who knows what else) back to the sale and absorb the loss when the drugs wear off and he/she goes ballistic.
No information on vaccinations, health programs, blood lines, problem calvers, bad mothers, etc.
The seller will not stand behind his/her cattle if a problem occurs.
Unless the cattle are guaranteed bred/open, it's strictly a buy them at your own risk situation.
Even if they ARE guaranteed bred, it's still pretty much a buy them at your own risk situation because you don't know what they were bred to.
Impossible to really determine their nature because they are in strange surroundings and have probably been hot-shotted and handled by inept people so they are good and riled up.
Pros and cons of private treaty - pretty much the opposite of everything I've listed, but add in the factor of a disreputable seller who is less than honest.
That's all I can think of at the moment, sorry. :oops:
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Salebarns are not evil places this is where Cattlemen buy and sell Cattle and have been for years. It is not the place for the novice to buy, you can make a lot of money on sell barn cattle to losing your britches. It is kinda like playing the stockmarket on Wall Street if you can't afford the loss it is better to stay away from the games the big boys play.
ALACOWMAN
Well-known member
a few years ago a feller close by decided too go in the cattle business .hit the barns every weekend bought every cull in the country i do believe. turned them out on about 60 acres no cross fences no pens or chute. they start dropping like flys .he thinks their hit by lightning. then finds out it shipping fever wants me too rope and doctor em . i get there you talk about a mess one was so bad she was leaning againts the barn.. didnt have too rope her by the way ;-) . one has a tumor the size of a basket ball in her. needless too say a few months later he was out..... all the way out i wouldnt recommened a begginer buy at the salebarn
Bama
Well-known member
Think of salebarn calves like a big bucket with a hole in it. Now pour tapwater into it. That water is like money. You gotta fix the hole in the bucket before it will hold its own in water. The size of the hole determines how much it will cost to fix it. After you get the hole fixed you can put the bucket out to collect rain water. ( profit ) All salebarn calves have a hole in the bucket. Some are just larger than the others. Some are not repairable and some are easy to fix. Knowin which ones you can set in the rain to collect rainwater the quickest is what seperates the profits from the losses. BTW you can overfill a bucket with tapwater.
auctionboy
Well-known member
since this is my area. If you are just starting out and have nothing to infect why not pay half at the auction? As long as you have a good pen buy what you like, and make freinds with some grain, if they don't calm down send them back, as long as you and the other out of place looking guy hadden't bid each other up to much you can't loose to much. As for buy buying angus heifers I would not buy heifers if I was new and don't have all day to watch them, and the proper restraints for pulling a calf. I would arrive earlly and watch the stock you want at the auction, talk to everyone that stops by, make sure there not the seller. Don't be affraid of the stockyard just go a few times, don't buy singles or doubles!!! buy out of a group and you should be a head of those that buy a heifer for double your price and have to deal with heifer problems. If you see a three in one at the auction that is well breed buy it.
KenB
Well-known member
You should be able to find an experienced cattle buyer at the auction that would be willing to buy what you want and sell them to you for a small (maybe $25-$50 a head) profit.
There would still be a bit of a gamble, but not as much as you buying them yourself.
There would still be a bit of a gamble, but not as much as you buying them yourself.
KenB":1ipyas7p said:
Why would I want to pay someone a 'commission' when - if I've done my homework and found a good mentor - I can buy my own cattle at the salebarn and the only additional cost to me will be lunch for my friend?
KenB
Well-known member
msscamp":38mbclsi said:
:roll: msscamp,
This from your original reply to the posters question...
Cons:
What you see is what you get, and health problems/disease/infertility are not always apparent.
The possibility of bringing home something you would really rather not have - be it disease or the animal.
Just because someone raises cattle does not mean he/she has any scruples, and drugging wild/crazy/problem cattle has been known to happen.
The very real possibility of having to pen and haul said animal (not to mention repairing pens, fence, and who knows what else) back to the sale and absorb the loss when the drugs wear off and he/she goes ballistic.
No information on vaccinations, health programs, blood lines, problem calvers, bad mothers, etc.
The seller will not stand behind his/her cattle if a problem occurs.
Unless the cattle are guaranteed bred/open, it's strictly a buy them at your own risk situation.
Even if they ARE guaranteed bred, it's still pretty much a buy them at your own risk situation because you don't know what they were bred to.
Impossible to really determine their nature because they are in strange surroundings and have probably been hot-shotted and handled by inept people so they are good and riled up.
Pros and cons of private treaty - pretty much the opposite of everything I've listed, but add in the factor of a disreputable seller who is less than honest.
That's all I can think of at the moment, sorry.
_________________
Naturally if he had, or could find a good mentor that would do it for the price of a lunch that would be the way to go.
If not I don't think my idea would be out of reason.
KenB":5tr9mmzm said:
My brother used to do this for people. For friends, he'd do it for nothing. For others, he'd charge a small fee (I think about $10 a head unless he hauled them, then it was more) 'cause he would be at the sale already. He's not buying and selling cattle anymore, but there are still people that ask him to pick up a few head for them. He doesn't have the time now, and I think he misses doing it.
Finding a reputable buyer and one that's a good judge of cattle at a sale barn is definitely a good idea if one doesn't trust his own instincts or doesn't have the experience.
Alice
backhoeboogie
Well-known member
DPANTOJA":2i2ed6hu said:
There are Auctions that are both public and private.
I don't have a lot of cattle at the moment, but of what I have, only one was not bought at auction or a descendant thereof. That one cow will be the first to go in the next cull.
There are some I bought that went back to the sale barn immediately. I can lose $50 or so on those or I can make that much.
So far I have been very lucky.
There are some I missed out on buying that I wasn't exactly sure if I should buy them or not. Some times the cows fetch more nickels than I am willing to pay for something that is unknown.
If you are going to buy auction cattle, get there early. Look the cattle over thoroughly. Write down the numbers of the ones you have interest in. Know the going prices. There are times the sellers are present and would be glad to talk to you. The sellers can be someone you have known for years, but you haven't seen them in quite some time.
Know what you want. Don't be unsure of anything. Find what you are looking for and stick to your guns.
Bred cattle generally means they are fertile. Their offspring will bring you some return on your investment.
Generally speaking, a cow that has a calf is going to stay with that calf. If the calf is inside your fence, it is safe to assume the cow will too. Otherwise that cow may cross a six foot fence and don't be shocked if you see that. Be prepared to retrieve that cow and take her back.
Some times cows are out of an estate and are simply being sold because no descendant wants to care for them.
If you see a good looking cow that has glue residue on her from a previous auction, she is being resold and is a problem cow.
Don't feel as though you have to buy something. If the cows are fetching too many nickels, keep your nickels in your pocket. DON'T get caught up in the game. There is no shame in dragging home an empty trailer. Often it is more of a sign of wisdom. It beats the heck out of getting burned. There is always next time - and the next.
Beware of cattle brought to the sale at the last moment.
When you figure your cost, you need to figure in a bit of feed you are going to put in that cow while you hold it in a seperate pen for a few weeks. Calling cubes have a way of settling down cows.
I like to go to the aution alone. That is just a personal thing. No distractions etc.
Beware of horse traders. They are in our midst all the time. If they can sell you a problem cow at a profit, they'll do it.
During periods of drought, folks cull heavy. If you have the grass to sustain a few head, it is a good time to buy.
Go to a few auctions without a trailer. Sit there and watch the way it works. Note the spotter and note the buyers.
When I buy, I stay with the spotter. He's got his eyes on me when he is asking if I want to pay the next price. I wave and generally he'll yell "YEEEELLPP" and his hand will be pointed at me while he is scanning the crowd for the next bid. I never look at the cow or anything else but that spotter, my eyes are on him. If I am taken out and ready to bid again, I do it quick and he stays with me. If the price goes outside my limit, I wave him off. It is all body language. Know the language before you get engaged. Know what "P.O." means. Know all the acronyms used at that sale.
If you were in the stock market, you'd want to buy good stock at the right price at the right time. Cattle auctions are no different. Think long term. Stay away from the junk bonds, unless you have the nickels to risk.
Get your advice from someone who knows the business and you trust. Take them with you.
You are always at risk. Cut your risk all you can. Don't be nervous, be sure of yourself. If you are not sure, don't engage.
backhoeboogie
Well-known member
One more thing, there are large animal vets at the auction who know cattle. Before the auction they preg check, fertility check bulls etc. You are not dealing with a small animal vet.
Afterward the auction, the vet is there to administer specified medication. If you don't know what to do, you can have pretty much anything done for very little cost. There are buyers who run the cow through vaccinations, worming, and everything else right there at the sale barn. It is a good time to have a professional take a look at what you bought if you can catch them when they are not extremely busy. It is always best if you know them beforehand. Generally they are pro-active in selling the animals and can advise you on what your animal(s) need. If you don't have working pens at your place, I'd have the cows wormed, hit them with 8 way etc before you leave the sale barn.
Afterward the auction, the vet is there to administer specified medication. If you don't know what to do, you can have pretty much anything done for very little cost. There are buyers who run the cow through vaccinations, worming, and everything else right there at the sale barn. It is a good time to have a professional take a look at what you bought if you can catch them when they are not extremely busy. It is always best if you know them beforehand. Generally they are pro-active in selling the animals and can advise you on what your animal(s) need. If you don't have working pens at your place, I'd have the cows wormed, hit them with 8 way etc before you leave the sale barn.
