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Livestock auction ?
2/26/2012 3:34:02 PM
We are going to our first livestock Auction and was wondering
about what we should be paying for a cow. Per pound or just in general.
thanks.
about what we should be paying for a cow. Per pound or just in general.
thanks.
2/26/2012 4:56:23 PM
Dairy or Beef? Livestock auctions are a very poor place to get a producing dairy cow. Most of the cows you see are culls from farmers herds. On the other hand you can get some good deals on calves if you know what to look for. We always bred our first calf heifers to Angus bulls to keep the calf size down. Problem was they looked just like Holsteins most of the time. Anybody buying one at an auction with the intention of raising it for dairy purposes was likely to be disappointed.
If I were looking for a dairy heifer calf I would seek out a dairy farmer and ask to buy one. Very few farmers keep all their heifer calves (we sold up to 60% of them).
If I were looking for a dairy heifer calf I would seek out a dairy farmer and ask to buy one. Very few farmers keep all their heifer calves (we sold up to 60% of them).
2/26/2012 6:52:05 PM
Originally Posted By karnaaj:
Dairy or Beef? Livestock auctions are a very poor place to get a producing dairy cow. Most of the cows you see are culls from farmers herds. On the other hand you can get some good deals on calves if you know what to look for. We always bred our first calf heifers to Angus bulls to keep the calf size down. Problem was they looked just like Holsteins most of the time. Anybody buying one at an auction with the intention of raising it for dairy purposes was likely to be disappointed.
If I were looking for a dairy heifer calf I would seek out a dairy farmer and ask to buy one. Very few farmers keep all their heifer calves (we sold up to 60% of them).
Dairy or Beef? Livestock auctions are a very poor place to get a producing dairy cow. Most of the cows you see are culls from farmers herds. On the other hand you can get some good deals on calves if you know what to look for. We always bred our first calf heifers to Angus bulls to keep the calf size down. Problem was they looked just like Holsteins most of the time. Anybody buying one at an auction with the intention of raising it for dairy purposes was likely to be disappointed.
If I were looking for a dairy heifer calf I would seek out a dairy farmer and ask to buy one. Very few farmers keep all their heifer calves (we sold up to 60% of them).
Thanks for your help. This will be the county FFA's/ 4H auction with about 3 of the local high schools programs & their
animals they raised. It will all be for beef, not raising any. Though I almost bought two laying hens & a rooster last night
at the local high schools auction, someone out bid me.
Can you tell me what a typical cow goes for at these?
2/26/2012 7:33:57 PM
At least here, sometimes the 4H auctions are a popularity contest, and friends and family sometimes run the price up CRAZY high.
I've seen reserve or even also rans go higher than Grand Champions at the fair.
And sometimes competing entities (we have two competing grocery stores and they ALWAYS get in bidding wars) run up the price on Grand Champion this or that as a matter of pride or one-upmanship.
Have also seen stuff go crazy low, for no apparent reason.
Get a feel for what the going rate is, and what you want to pay tops, and bid away.
I've seen reserve or even also rans go higher than Grand Champions at the fair.
And sometimes competing entities (we have two competing grocery stores and they ALWAYS get in bidding wars) run up the price on Grand Champion this or that as a matter of pride or one-upmanship.
Have also seen stuff go crazy low, for no apparent reason.
Get a feel for what the going rate is, and what you want to pay tops, and bid away.
2/26/2012 8:27:28 PM
The auction can be fickle. I've seen dairy steers go for $6 freshly weened, and I've seen them go for $150 the very next week.
From experience, I'd decide on a price you are willing to pay and don't go over it. Much more than $1 per pound and you aren't getting a deal, but occasionally you can do much better.
Regardless of how much you pay for the cow, as soon as you win it, pay, load the cow, and hit the road. The longer they are in that auction house, the more likely it is that they get sick and die within days. The younger the calf, the higher chance of it getting sick.(at least down here in South Louisiana)
From experience, I'd decide on a price you are willing to pay and don't go over it. Much more than $1 per pound and you aren't getting a deal, but occasionally you can do much better.
Regardless of how much you pay for the cow, as soon as you win it, pay, load the cow, and hit the road. The longer they are in that auction house, the more likely it is that they get sick and die within days. The younger the calf, the higher chance of it getting sick.(at least down here in South Louisiana)
2/26/2012 10:17:57 PM
Thanks to all, I really appreciate it.
I will let you guys know how it goes and what i get.
I will let you guys know how it goes and what i get.
2/26/2012 11:54:16 PM
I bought three Holstein bull calves (2-5 days old) last spring for $30 each directly from a local dairy in western Oregon. A friend of mine has bought from the same farm several times and paid as low as $10/head, but he says it varies.
2/27/2012 12:45:03 AM
Originally Posted By phrogman107:
I bought three Holstein bull calves (2-5 days old) last spring for $30 each directly from a local dairy in western Oregon. A friend of mine has bought from the same farm several times and paid as low as $10/head, but he says it varies.
I bought three Holstein bull calves (2-5 days old) last spring for $30 each directly from a local dairy in western Oregon. A friend of mine has bought from the same farm several times and paid as low as $10/head, but he says it varies.
Thats a dam good deal on some steak!
2/28/2012 8:19:20 AM
One of the USDA's missions is to provide price data. Here is a resource on beef, dairy, and poultry.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/
2/28/2012 10:52:05 AM
Originally Posted By Staggunner:
One of the USDA's missions is to provide price data. Here is a resource on beef, dairy, and poultry.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/
One of the USDA's missions is to provide price data. Here is a resource on beef, dairy, and poultry.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/
Thanks for your help!
2/28/2012 11:33:13 AM
here recently the price is going up. slaughter horses have doubled in price
if you do buy at auction around here its something like $2 a pound for cows.
not sure about your area
but around here with the drought last summer. people were dumping livestock.
problem was we are in the same area and had no grass to keep them on
so cost to feed them made up for the low to free price. now that it has been pouring rain
we should have grabbed them all up and made a killing selling this year....
if its a 4h auction you can get deals on non show quality.
thing happen cows get scars or problems and they give them away for little to nothing.
if you do buy at auction around here its something like $2 a pound for cows.
not sure about your area
but around here with the drought last summer. people were dumping livestock.
problem was we are in the same area and had no grass to keep them on
so cost to feed them made up for the low to free price. now that it has been pouring rain
we should have grabbed them all up and made a killing selling this year....
if its a 4h auction you can get deals on non show quality.
thing happen cows get scars or problems and they give them away for little to nothing.
2/28/2012 4:00:55 PM
Originally Posted By bigrob88:
here recently the price is going up. slaughter horses have doubled in price
if you do buy at auction around here its something like $2 a pound for cows.
not sure about your area
but around here with the drought last summer. people were dumping livestock.
problem was we are in the same area and had no grass to keep them on
so cost to feed them made up for the low to free price. now that it has been pouring rain
we should have grabbed them all up and made a killing selling this year....
if its a 4h auction you can get deals on non show quality.
thing happen cows get scars or problems and they give them away for little to nothing.
here recently the price is going up. slaughter horses have doubled in price
if you do buy at auction around here its something like $2 a pound for cows.
not sure about your area
but around here with the drought last summer. people were dumping livestock.
problem was we are in the same area and had no grass to keep them on
so cost to feed them made up for the low to free price. now that it has been pouring rain
we should have grabbed them all up and made a killing selling this year....
if its a 4h auction you can get deals on non show quality.
thing happen cows get scars or problems and they give them away for little to nothing.
Thank you very much for your help. Good info.
3/1/2012 3:33:10 AM
Originally Posted By Paulup:
The auction can be fickle. I've seen dairy steers go for $6 freshly weened, and I've seen them go for $150 the very next week.
From experience, I'd decide on a price you are willing to pay and don't go over it. Much more than $1 per pound and you aren't getting a deal, but occasionally you can do much better.
Regardless of how much you pay for the cow, as soon as you win it, pay, load the cow, and hit the road. The longer they are in that auction house, the more likely it is that they get sick and die within days. The younger the calf, the higher chance of it getting sick.(at least down here in South Louisiana)
The auction can be fickle. I've seen dairy steers go for $6 freshly weened, and I've seen them go for $150 the very next week.
From experience, I'd decide on a price you are willing to pay and don't go over it. Much more than $1 per pound and you aren't getting a deal, but occasionally you can do much better.
Regardless of how much you pay for the cow, as soon as you win it, pay, load the cow, and hit the road. The longer they are in that auction house, the more likely it is that they get sick and die within days. The younger the calf, the higher chance of it getting sick.(at least down here in South Louisiana)
I lived in your area almost 30yrs ago. I had a large freezer and thought about buying some live stock at auction. A friend of mine told me you could go to the north shore Covington I think and get beef,lamb, or pork on the hoof. After purchase they had guys that would butcher and cut up your meat. They would even smoke some of your pork. Call you when stuff was ready. Do they still have that? Just curious.
3/1/2012 5:53:06 AM
Price paid for animals at a livestock auction will depend on the weight and grade of the animal. The heavier the animal the less they will go for per pound. If it is a 4-H auction you are really bidding on the kid not the animal so prices tend to go higher than they would in a standard auction.
