Cattle Auctions: How to Buy

Posted by John on April 29th, 2018

There are many reasons someone might want to buy cattle at an auction. Sometimes this is the last stop for the cattle before they are slaughtered, but you might also buy cattle to add to your own herd. In any case there are some basic things to keep in mind when you are buying or preparing to buy at most Cattle Auctions. Here are some of the main steps.

First: Understand the Terms

Most cattle are bought and sold through an auction mart. This is also sometimes called a “Sale Barn.” In most cases, this is a live auction. Recently, there have been online auctions such as https://www.agbuysell.com, that make it possible to directly contact sellers in your area or throughout all of Canada. In all cases, you will want to determine if you want to buy locally, or conduct business with sellers from other provinces.

Second: Find an Auction

As we mentioned above, the tendency is often to find local auction marts. When you cannot find what you want there (or just want more choices), you can locate auctions in other Cities or other Provinces. Remember that a good way to find livestock for sale locally or in specific provinces throughout Canada is with the help of AgBuySell. There you can find sellers of purebred and commercial cattle, genetics (semen and embryo’s), feed crops, and farmland. You also have the ability to‘bid’ on these live auctions, or ‘buy them now’ if you are interested.

Third: Learn Market Value

Commercial Cattle are usually sold by weight, so your price will depend on the overall weight of your animal. Purebred cattle are generally sold by the animal or by the ‘head’. Although the seller can control the ‘asking’ price because they know the history of the animals, there are certain factors that will determine what kinds of prices these cattle will bring. Factors like pedigree, health, body condition, and physical characteristics (such as presence of horns) will help influence the final selling price. Animals in poor health or less than perfect condition will not fetch as good of a price.

Fourth: Learn About Classes and Types of Cattle

There are a lot of ways to classify cattle. You probably know the difference between steers and heifers, but you might not know about feeders, springers, stockers, replacements, and bologna bulls (AKA “butcher bulls”). Feeders, for instance, are cattle that have just been weaned and will be sold for beef, whereas canners and cutters are old cows being slaughtered for hamburger or pet food. Similarly, bologna bulls are older bulls who have worn out their use as breeders and will be sold for slaughter. Knowing these and other terms will help you know what sellers mean and let you know what you are buying.

Fifth: Know What You Want and How Much to Pay

Now that you have learned about types of cattle, you need to determine what you want to buy and the estimated costs. Many different breeds at different weight classes will have vastly different values. Determine what you want to spend and be careful not to over or underestimate the value of any given animal.

Sixth: Bring a Friend or Expert and Get a GOOD Look at the Animals You Want to Buy

Just like other major purchases, it is always a good idea to bring a friend to Cattle Auctions, preferably someone who knows something about cattle and be an extra set of eyes. They can help point out any apparent health or other issues you might not have noticed. Make sure to have a very close look at the cattle you are thinking of purchasing. Try to examine the animals from different angles prior to the sale, and judge them closely as they are brought into the sales ring.

Seventh: Auction Tips

At a live auction, you will need to purchase an auction ticket. This is your price of admission if you want to bid. Be sure to sit where you can see the cattle brought in when the auction starts. Be patient and wait for low starting prices— and pay attention! Auctioneers talk very fast, and prices can rise even faster. Make sure you are ready to buy when your hand goes up signaling a bid as in most cases this is considered a contract to buy. Finally, see the auction through. If you end up not getting what you want, you will have experience for the next auction!