Have you ever been to a livestock auction and bought anything? If your answer is a big no, this post is for you. In this article, you'll be looking forward to gaining knowledge on how to sell cattle at an auction quickly.
Livestock auctions are exciting, and anyone can participate in them. It is fascinating to see a variety of cattle for sale of different breeds, sizes, and shapes. If you're unsure how auctions work and that's holding you back, this is the guide for you. Once you understand the process, you can enjoy attending livestock auctions.
One of the common ways to sell your cattle and get paid is through a livestock auction. The price you get depends upon how healthy your cattle is, the demand for cattle, and seasonal variations. Attending an auction will give you a good look into what is happening in your area.
How's the livestock looking this time, and what methods are new sellers trying to get better prices? Are sellers selling rusty pigs at 60 lbs or feeling them until they put on more weight?
Attending a livestock auction gives you an idea of what cattle buyers want and helps you decide whether or not it's time to sell.
What are Livestock Auctions?
Livestock auctions are platforms where ranchers or farmers can visit to buy or sell their cattle. It is the place where all the cattle for sale are put into pens and bid on by buyers. Auctions are an opportunity for sellers to sell their livestock and for buyers to buy cattle.
Selling your cattle at a livestock auction is extremely simple; you just need to drop off your stock there, and they take care of everything else. If you want to be successful at selling cattle, it is important to understand how an auction works.
The first thing is to find the right livestock marketplace or an agent who will help you throughout the process.
Many livestock marketplaces are available, like ConneXion Livestock, one of the leading cattle marketplaces that bring you a collection of cattle for sale on a single platform. So, find an agent who must be familiar with the market and organize sales and auctions on a regular basis.
How do you sell cattle at an auction?
Cattle can be bought and sold at auctions by either private owners or companies who buy animals for meat processing operations. Because the animal movement is not disrupted, this method of selling is popular. Cattle auctions are often organized at particular sites where anyone can come and buy or sell cattle, such as breeding bulls, cows, rusty pigs, horses, etc. The prices for each animal fluctuate according to market demand and the condition of the cattle.
A skilled auctioneer begins an auction by explaining crucial laws and regulations for both buyers and sellers. All cattle must be in good physical condition and able to walk into an auction ring without help from a handler. There should be no apparent symptoms of disease or injury.
Livestock auctions can last from a few hours to a whole day. Some auctions allow buyers to place bids over call or online.
Livestock auctions are considered one of the most profitable means of selling cattle. However, depending on the location of the auction, not every livestock that arrives at a market can be sold. Before entering a sale, livestock must meet certain requirements. Animals, for example, must have a health certificate and a state veterinarian inspection to ensure they are healthy, disease-free, and legally transportable. Most auctions would not accept calves under the age of eight weeks because the animals cannot be transported securely. If young animals are treated incorrectly, the transit process might also cause issues.
Sell Quality Livestock at Auctions
The more healthy livestock you have, the more money you receive. You need to think from a buyers' perspective - they would be paying a bit of money for a pen of lambs. Make sure your stock looks good - a proper hair coat, fat cover, and shiny eyes are things that buyers want. Also, market your cattle in less stressful weather.
If you've decided to attend cattle for sale auctions, here are a few things to keep in mind;
- Make sure your cattle are healthy
- Consider weather conditions and seasonal variations
- Make sure to look for the market demand
Concluding Thoughts
Livestock auctions provide a better service, marketing all kinds of cattle, including heifer calves, breeding bulls, rusty pigs, ranch horses, sheep, and more. You will get a better price when you market your cattle at auctions as multiple buyers place bids competitively on your livestock. Try to find the right agent or broker who provides feeder cattle market reports and helps you throughout the process.
