IMO about Sale Barn cattle. These items are NOT in any given order or first to last...:
- 1. Sale barns handle cattle on the way to slaughter house or to people looking for "a deal".
2. Sale Barn lots are in tight pack and many animals from who knows what sources are commingled.
3. The seller is not identified (maybe rarely).
4. The cattle are sold without health, vaccination, de-worming, or lineage records: "Bubba might have bred Bubbette".
5. Sellers use Sale Barn to dispose of marginal cattle (occasionally decent ones).
6. Sale Barns are also good venure for a producer that needs quick cash (to pay bills).
7. Cattle in sale barns over several days holding are already stressed from shipping, confinement, shrink, and are very susceptible to respiratory and other bugs.
8. Calves at Sale Barn are almost certain to pick up a "bad bug".
9. While the Sale Barn animals may "appear" healthy and ok, the "bugs" may not have their full effect until you transport them again and the bug has a few days at your place to become virulent.
10. Sale Barn cattle may include those with: marginal health, attitude problems, unable to get pregnant, poor semen or libido in bulls, poor growth rate, etc.
11. Sale Barn cattle may also be those that the rancher didn't want to bother with (or spend $$ for) to properly vaccinate and de-worm his/her cattle to ensure their continued health.
12. Sale Barn cattle may also be those that are in poor condition due to seller's own poor health or ability (or) their chinciness and not spending $$ to feed, care for them properly.
Other issues include even if a buyer is "knowledgable" of cattle, he/she can be misled or screwed with a purchase even after carefully selecting the purchase. A $1,500 animal from a reputable rancher who seriously cares for his/her animals is a MUCH better deal than paying $750 for a Sale Barn animal.
If one buys an animal in poor condition (say BCS of 3 or 4) it could take up to a year to get them back in shape, assuming they aren't comprised by illness, genetics, or other.
Even if a Sale Barn Vet "examines" an animal or "tests it", remember that that Vet is not necessarily YOUR Vet...like having a car dealer's mechanic "certify" the vehicle is in good shape.
I hate to keep running down Sale Barns! On the other hand, it is a gamble even for the best of ranchers to buy from. Sale Barn purchases are NOT for the novice, weekend rancher, or those trying to save a few dollars in hopes of getting their "dream" animals.
Sale Barn sales are "liquidation sales"...not breeding stock sales. Even some breed Auctions have questionable animals.
It's caveat emptor always...