Sale barn ?

[tncattle]

Ok, I could be wrong or not fully understand but I feel as though I wasn't treated fairly at the sale barn:

I took 3 Hereford Bulls last Thursday and here's how they did.

1st bull was 8 yrs old and weighed 1935 lbs. He brought $1.30 (fair price)
2nd and 3rd bull combined avg. weight 710 lb as they put them together. One was close to 800 and one closer to 600. In the sale barn report they were listed as 1 head at 1420 lbs. and sold for $1.50 it was listed as high dressing.

Here's my beef (haha). The lowest bull price at 731 lbs. Was $1.81 and multiple people saw me unload these bull calves and commented on how nice they were. They seriously were quality calves and in good condition. Did the sale barn do me wrong? Should they have sold them individually? Is it normal practice to do this and count 2 head as 1? I'm small time and another $300-$500 is a big deal to me. Thanks

 

[greybeard]

Did they sell them 'choice' and the same bidder take both? I've seen them listed as 1 hd when done that way.

 

[tncattle]

Did they sell them 'choice' and the same bidder take both? I've seen them listed as 1 hd when done that way.

I don't know about the "choice" part. How do I find that out and what does that exactly mean?

 

[Rafter S]

Did they sell them 'choice' and the same bidder take both? I've seen them listed as 1 hd when done that way.

I don't know about the "choice" part. How do I find that out and what does that exactly mean?

That means the high bidder can pick which one he wants, and they'll start over selling the other one, or he can take both of them. At least that's what it means at the auctions I've been to.

 

[tncattle]

Did they sell them 'choice' and the same bidder take both? I've seen them listed as 1 hd when done that way.

I don't know about the "choice" part. How do I find that out and what does that exactly mean?

That means the high bidder can pick which one he wants, and they'll start over selling the other one, or he can take both of them. At least that's what it means at the auctions I've been to.

So why would they make them choice other than for someone to buy both and at much overall lower price than if they were sold individually? Seems to me I got the short end of the stick. I have one of the sale barn's owners phone and am waiting to call him after I see some other posts because I want to be fair to him but I also want to be treated fair.

 

[wacocowboy]

I wouldn't mess with a barn that did that. I like my barn sales everything individual, unless they are pairs or someone brings in a special lot of heifers, or young cows to be sold as a group. In my opinion an 800lb calf and a 600lb calf should not be grouped to big of a weight difference.

 

[kenny thomas]

I wouldn't mess with a barn that did that. I like my barn sales everything individual, unless they are pairs or someone brings in a special lot of heifers, or young cows to be sold as a group. In my opinion an 800lb calf and a 600lb calf should not be grouped to big of a weight difference.

I totally agree. If they did weigh 800 and 600 there could be .40 a lb difference in price. Without seeing them s hard for us to say. Call the owner and voice your concerns. But do it in a nice way.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

What barn was this?

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Call the barn. I questioned a price once before, and found out the calf was limping so was discounted. When they found out the calf offloaded just fine, no limp, they sent me a check for the difference in price. It was worth the call.

 

[bball]

I wouldn't mess with a barn that did that. I like my barn sales everything individual, unless they are pairs or someone brings in a special lot of heifers, or young cows to be sold as a group. In my opinion an 800lb calf and a 600lb calf should not be grouped to big of a weight difference.

Im inclined to agree. They didnt do you any favors for sure. The problem becomes this; as the sale barn supply shrinks, a fella has less options to sell his animals. Or you can drive even further and lose money that way. The less competition between barns for animals, the more leeway they have to do with your animals as they see fit. Its already happening here around me. 2 barns owned by same outfit, and one barn owned by another fella. All three have a less than 'good' reputation....partner up with certain order buyers (kickback on back end to keep prices down) or they will have 'their own' purchase your quality animals for their own herds at deep discount prices. There prices are almost always less than the going rate on the public exchanges. Salebarn up here is not quite like salebarns in Texas, OK, AR, etc. There just arent that many. And getting fewer every year.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Ok, I could be wrong or not fully understand but I feel as though I wasn't treated fairly at the sale barn:

I took 3 Hereford Bulls last Thursday and here's how they did.

1st bull was 8 yrs old and weighed 1935 lbs. He brought $1.30 (fair price)
2nd and 3rd bull combined avg. weight 710 lb as they put them together. One was close to 800 and one closer to 600. In the sale barn report they were listed as 1 head at 1420 lbs. and sold for $1.50 it was listed as high dressing.

Here's my beef (haha). The lowest bull price at 731 lbs. Was $1.81 and multiple people saw me unload these bull calves and commented on how nice they were. They seriously were quality calves and in good condition. Did the sale barn do me wrong? Should they have sold them individually? Is it normal practice to do this and count 2 head as 1? I'm small time and another $300-$500 is a big deal to me. Thanks

My question is why didn't you stop the auction and PO them.
I don't play the choice game when selling as most are bidding on the superior animal
and the second or third get discounted. Unless they are all really kick butt, like most of the buyers
loose interest after the first one is sold and ready for the door to open and see what is coming in next.
I have bought a lot that way by people that just dump them off at the barn and wait for the check.
Never ran across the one head for two when selling before at the barn I use.
Have sold 10 calves at a time to an order buyer for X every calves weight and price would be listed.
I would be having a serious conversation with myself and the barn owner.

 

[tncattle]

Ok, I could be wrong or not fully understand but I feel as though I wasn't treated fairly at the sale barn:

I took 3 Hereford Bulls last Thursday and here's how they did.

1st bull was 8 yrs old and weighed 1935 lbs. He brought $1.30 (fair price)
2nd and 3rd bull combined avg. weight 710 lb as they put them together. One was close to 800 and one closer to 600. In the sale barn report they were listed as 1 head at 1420 lbs. and sold for $1.50 it was listed as high dressing.

Here's my beef (haha). The lowest bull price at 731 lbs. Was $1.81 and multiple people saw me unload these bull calves and commented on how nice they were. They seriously were quality calves and in good condition. Did the sale barn do me wrong? Should they have sold them individually? Is it normal practice to do this and count 2 head as 1? I'm small time and another $300-$500 is a big deal to me. Thanks

My question is why didn't you stop the auction and PO them.
I don't play the choice game when selling as most are bidding on the superior animal
and the second or third get discounted. Unless they are all really kick butt, like most of the buyers
loose interest after the first one is sold and ready for the door to open and see what is coming in next.
I have bought a lot that way by people that just dump them off at the barn and wait for the check.
Never ran across the one head for two when selling before at the barn I use.
Have sold 10 calves at a time to an order buyer for X every calves weight and price would be listed.
I would be having a serious conversation with myself and the barn owner.

I had to work and couldn't stay for the auction and most people here don't stay as they don't have hours to hang around. But, you better believe I'm calling him and we're going to talk about it.

 

[Caustic Burno]

We would be having a talk that is for sure and it would be eyeball to eyeball.
It would be a civil conversation might be dripping heavily with sarcasm.
With today's prices we don't have to give quality cattle away.

 

[tncattle]

We would be having a talk that is for sure and it would be eyeball to eyeball.
It would be a civil conversation might be dripping heavily with sarcasm.
With today's prices we don't have to give quality cattle away.

I just talked with him on the phone and I'm not satisfied with his answer. His main thing was those are red (Hereford cattle) and they will get docked for sure. I asked him should they get docked 30 cents below the lowest paying bull of their same weight? He said, "well yeah cause around here the buyers are looking for black hided cattle"

Also, he said, "I try and sell them for as much as I can because it helps me as well" I want to believe that but is it possible certain people (on the inside) are buying them at a price like that and turning a quick profit elsewhere? I mean heck, if you buy 10 or 15 like that and make $200-$300 a head that adds up quick.

He just texted me and said "I don't treat anyone unfair that I know of, the 2 Hereford bulls had same buyers sitting in seats, that is what they brought that day"

Also, the man I bought the bull calves from weighed them on his scale and they totaled 1700 lbs. together but he was really old and I didn't get to stand on his scales so I'm not sure they were right. I would also like to think that the scales at these barns is regulated and checked on in a serious timely manner. I'm obviously unhappy and probably best to sleep on it and cool off some. :mad:

 

[bball]

We would be having a talk that is for sure and it would be eyeball to eyeball.
It would be a civil conversation might be dripping heavily with sarcasm.
With today's prices we don't have to give quality cattle away.

Amen! And i feel like the trend is already starting because im hearing of this kinda thing more frequently then in the past few years.

 

[Brentp]

I sold some yearlings in Abingdon, VA a few weeks ago and was pleased overall except for one Charlois calf that only brought about $1.00 or so and when I got my ticket they had it coded as a black calf. I am assuming that they mixed one of mine up with someone else's somewhere along the way. A few months ago I sold a load of steers and I got hammered on one "heifer" in the bunch which obviously was incorrect. I was not present for either sale and I blame myself. It's amazing how people used to argue over $0.01/lb on their tobacco every year but don't watch their cattle sell and just take what they get. I always try to stay for the sale unless I have other business. Plus that gives me an opportunity to buy something else. Ha ha.

 

[Ojp6]

Honestly unless the cattle were really good Herefords without too much white on them that is about all they are worth in that part of the country. Not a lot of people are looking to buy middle of the road Herefords bulls out of the southeast. If they were really nice then that was too cheap. I would also like to know where they were sold? I guess I would also ask how old they are because that would make a big difference.

 

[kenny thomas]

I am not going to say they brought all they were worth, they were too cheap, etc. But if the calves really weighed 800 and 600 they should not have been sold together. Did you buy them thinking they weighed 1700 and they really weighed 1400? First and biggest loss if you did. Hope it works out for you.

 

[tncattle]

I am not going to say they brought all they were worth, they were too cheap, etc. But if the calves really weighed 800 and 600 they should not have been sold together. Did you buy them thinking they weighed 1700 and they really weighed 1400? First and biggest loss if you did. Hope it works out for you.

Well, the man I bought them from is really old and not in good health but his cattle are high quality, been raising/breeding Polled Herefords for 40 years. He had some goobers there to help me load and they said they weighed that much combined so I don't know for sure as they could've screwed that up and the scales might not be right anyway. He sold them to me for a very fair price.

 

[tncattle]

Honestly unless the cattle were really good Herefords without too much white on them that is about all they are worth in that part of the country. Not a lot of people are looking to buy middle of the road Herefords bulls out of the southeast. If they were really nice then that was too cheap. I would also like to know where they were sold? I guess I would also ask how old they are because that would make a big difference.

They were listed on the sale barn report as 1 head weighing 1420 lbs. "high dressing". The sale barn owner also said: "they're just going to be cut and fed out" and I said I figured that.