Sale Barn Cows

[aplusmnt]

Wondering what kind of protocol you guys that buy sale barn cows follow as far as as quarantine, shots, worming etc... on cows you buy at the Sale Barn before putting them into the herd.

Been thinking about picking up some Cow calf pairs this spring if can find some good ones.

 

[dun]

Unless we know they've been vaccinated, we vaccinate, worm and turn them into a pasture sp
separate from the others for a month.

dun

 

[memanpa]

ditto dun

 

[BC]

Vaccinate what you would your regular herd, worm and I use TSv-2 intrannasal on cows and calves for upper respirotory problems. Seperate in different pasture for 30 days.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Unless we know they've been vaccinated, we vaccinate, worm and turn them into a pasture sp
separate from the others for a month.

dun

Same here

 

[TR]

So, what do you watch for when you quarantine them for a month? Do you ever worry about PI IBR or PI BVD cows? What about STD's? How can you tell without testing? Should you test the incoming cows?

I've been doing entirely too much internet reading lately and have been wondering about these questions for the past week or so. Thanks for the perfect opportunity to ask them!

For example, I had an opportunity to buy a fantastic cow that had aborted her calf in the 7th month. I know the breeder, and know he's current on all vacs, but got to reading about what can cause late term abortions and got scared, so I passed on the cow. What scared me was the PI cows that don't show outward signs of the disease. Then I got to thinking of all the cows that go through the sale barn, and how we've gotten a few from buyers who had purchased the cows from the sale barn, and then I got reading about all the things that they could carry and not show, and now I'm REALLY scared.....

 

[Workinonit Farm]

I got reading about all the things that they could carry and not show, and now I'm REALLY scared.....

Perhaps you could have your cows tested?

Katherine

 

[EIEIO]

TR, I really think a sale barn cow can be as big a crap shoot sometimes as buying from someone you know. Friday I took a bull, cow, and heifer in to be sold.

The bull was about 8 years old and he sold for more than I had bought him for 6 years ago.

The cow was getting old, moving kinda slow, stayed open this last cycle, and starting to drop weight so she went. Outward she looked OK and sold decent but if someone got her thinking she would make a good mama for another couple of years they will be disapointed.

The heifer brought great money, she looked good, had all her shots and was healthy as could be. If someone got her for breeding stock I think they will be happy as she had a great mama and if she is even half as good she will be a money maker for them. I almost kept her back but am going to an all black and B/White faced herd.

I try when buying at the auction either like the pre-conditioned sales or a herd dispersal sale especially if I know of the rancher who is selling out. Figure my odds are better than just "normal" sale barn cow but then again I've bought some very good mixed cow/calf pairs at auction.

Good luck with whatever you get. I've known some pretty darn good ranchers that have been fooled more than once by what they thought was a "bargin" sale barn cow.

30 days or so is usually what I keep them seperate from the other cows from when I buy as well. I've yet to not have the sale barn vet go ahead and give all the "normal" shots to the animal before it's loaded on my trailer. It sure don't cost much when you compare that cost to the cost of doing it yourself or having the vet out to your ranch to do it.

J

 

[BC]

Kept seperate to be able treat calves if they get sick. AS far as IBR, PI, BVD, etc. that is included in vaccination and boostered at 14 to 28 days.

 

[dun]

As far as PI cows, you pays your money and takes your chances. The only way to insure that they aren't PI would be to ear notch test every cow that comes on the place.

dun

 

[Hasbeen]

I've changed my viewpoint on salesbarn cows recently. When I first started out, I looked for the best I could afford and that turned out to be eight open heifers. Bought then late November, plan to breed them in May hoping for late Feb., early March calves. Now, as I drive up to feed and work the farm everday, I'm passing dozens of new calves and truthfully, I'm eat up with jealousy. If I had it to do over again, I would have taken the same money, bought maybe ten older, bred cows of lesser quality, and I would be getting calves now with the promise of some money coming in at the end of the summer. I could then sell the whole herd and buy back a few low quality bred cows and have enough left over to buy a few good open heifers. Live and learn I guess. It will be okay in the long run, but caring for these things with no return for another year gets old fast.

 

[Bullbuyer]

Good advice already posted.
Vaccinate and Isolate.
Of course these old cows can really get you burned. I haul cattle every week and sometimes 2-3 times week. A lot of cattle that people want you to haul for them are problems ! The phone call usually starts out "I got this old cow over here and I've had it with her...(Fence Jumper)" or "Vet says this will happen again...(Chronic Illness)", etc.

Either way, as the great and wise cattle baron dun said a few posts back, "You pays your money and you takes your chances..."

 

[Roadapple]

TR, I really think a sale barn cow can be as big a crap shoot sometimes as buying from someone you know. Friday I took a bull, cow, and heifer in to be sold.

The bull was about 8 years old and he sold for more than I had bought him for 6 years ago.

The cow was getting old, moving kinda slow, stayed open this last cycle, and starting to drop weight so she went. Outward she looked OK and sold decent but if someone got her thinking she would make a good mama for another couple of years they will be disapointed.

The heifer brought great money, she looked good, had all her shots and was healthy as could be. If someone got her for breeding stock I think they will be happy as she had a great mama and if she is even half as good she will be a money maker for them. I almost kept her back but am going to an all black and B/White faced herd.

I try when buying at the auction either like the pre-conditioned sales or a herd dispersal sale especially if I know of the rancher who is selling out. Figure my odds are better than just "normal" sale barn cow but then again I've bought some very good mixed cow/calf pairs at auction.

Good luck with whatever you get. I've known some pretty darn good ranchers that have been fooled more than once by what they thought was a "bargin" sale barn cow.

30 days or so is usually what I keep them seperate from the other cows from when I buy as well. I've yet to not have the sale barn vet go ahead and give all the "normal" shots to the animal before it's loaded on my trailer. It sure don't cost much when you compare that cost to the cost of doing it yourself or having the vet out to your ranch to do it.

J

So, EIEIO, you said it's a crap shoot. The cow was old, moving slow, did'nt breed, and was losing wt., so in other words a POC. So did you sell her as a slaughter cow, or did some body get stuck with afformentioned Poc?

 

[EIEIO]

TR, I really think a sale barn cow can be as big a crap shoot sometimes as buying from someone you know. Friday I took a bull, cow, and heifer in to be sold.

The bull was about 8 years old and he sold for more than I had bought him for 6 years ago.

The cow was getting old, moving kinda slow, stayed open this last cycle, and starting to drop weight so she went. Outward she looked OK and sold decent but if someone got her thinking she would make a good mama for another couple of years they will be disapointed.

The heifer brought great money, she looked good, had all her shots and was healthy as could be. If someone got her for breeding stock I think they will be happy as she had a great mama and if she is even half as good she will be a money maker for them. I almost kept her back but am going to an all black and B/White faced herd.

I try when buying at the auction either like the pre-conditioned sales or a herd dispersal sale especially if I know of the rancher who is selling out. Figure my odds are better than just "normal" sale barn cow but then again I've bought some very good mixed cow/calf pairs at auction.

Good luck with whatever you get. I've known some pretty darn good ranchers that have been fooled more than once by what they thought was a "bargin" sale barn cow.

30 days or so is usually what I keep them seperate from the other cows from when I buy as well. I've yet to not have the sale barn vet go ahead and give all the "normal" shots to the animal before it's loaded on my trailer. It sure don't cost much when you compare that cost to the cost of doing it yourself or having the vet out to your ranch to do it.

J

So, EIEIO, you said it's a crap shoot. The cow was old, moving slow, did'nt breed, and was losing wt., so in other words a POC. So did you sell her as a slaughter cow, or did some body get stuck with afformentioned Poc?

Roadapple, don't know how your sale barn works but at any I've ever been to I pull the trailer up. Somebody opens the gate to the trailer, the cattle get out, and they sort and pen them. They give me a head count with just a brief description of what got off the trailer. Only question I got asked last week was if the cow was open or not and I got charged $3 for the vet to do a preg. check. I did not stay for the sale.

Never had someone ask what kind of stock I'm selling. Guess they figure there are enough liars out there no sense in asking how great the cattle are people are selling as well as if they are vaccinated and if so what for.

I'm sure my bull sold for slaughter even though he was a nice Limousin that would have still did someone some good for another couple of years.

If the person that bought the cow thought it looked like a good cow they needed glasses (IMO).

Nobody asked me how great the heifer was and what kind of breeding stock she came from, if she was weaned, approx. age, or if she had her shots.

Guess they just kinda figure folks at the sale barn know what they are doing.

FWIW, I've ALWAYS used a buyer when buying at a sale barn. Dad spent most of his life as an auctioneer and I spent my share of time in them but still like to find that old crusty cattleman that's butt imprint is in the same seat he has been in every week for the last 20 plus years! They are there early on sale day watching the cattle being unloaded. Know who is bringing in what as well as what kind of ranchers the sellers are.

Had they asked I'd have said the cow IMO ain't worth crap and needs to go to slaughter. Even had I told them there at the unloading area I doubt word would have gotten to any buyers as the auction house makes more money when the cow sells good.

J

 

[KMacGinley]

I would recomend buying bred heifers from someone you trust or that someone here on the board could recomend. You will pay more for them, but if you are in for the long haul they will pay you back dividends. Just make sure they are bred to a calving ease bull and have their vaccinations. Anytime you buy something at the sale barn with no info, it is a gamble.

 

[Rod]

I always vaccinate sale barn cattle with the normal round as with my cattle and on top of that give a shot of antibiotic under the skin for preventive maint.. We keep them seperate for at least three weeks as well.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Word of caution. If you are STILL calving, don't bring calves onto your place, unless you can keep them totally seperated. Quickest way to get your newborns scouring.

 

[flaboy+]

I won't buy sale barn cows. Now with that said, we have a CFA bred heifer sale once a year down here that I go to and buy some. They are tested, preg checked, vaccinated. I pay a little more but I know pretty much what I am getting. I have only had two that I was disappointed in from these sales.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Aplus there are good buys at the salebarn as well as trainwrecks. I as well as every other rancher sell cow/calfs/bulls at the sale barn to generate income for various reasons its a bunch of bs that they are all old culls.
Buying at the salebarn seperates the Cattlemen from the boys that squat to pee.
Lots of money to be made buying from calves to broken mouth cows.

 

[TheBullLady]

But you can only tell so much about a cow at an auction barn. You have no way of knowing, unless you've talked to the previous owner, as to the vaccination program they've been on, or why they're at the sale to begin with.

There are some good deals, I'm sure to be had, but the ones I take to the auction are ones that I don't want in my herd. I've never taken one there because I couldn't feed her.. always either an open cow I couldn't get bred, or a health issue.