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Feeder Cattle Market Outlets. Lisa Kriese -Anderson Extension Animal Scientist Auburn University. Marketing Feeder Cattle. Options will depend on the number of feeder calves you have to market at a given time
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Feeder Cattle Market Outlets Lisa Kriese-Anderson Extension Animal Scientist Auburn University
Marketing Feeder Cattle • Options will depend on the number of feeder calves you have to market at a given time • Options will also depend on the amount of effort you are willing to put into marketing
Local Auction Market • Local Auction Markets are how the majority of cattle are marketed in Alabama • 27 stockyards currently operating in AL • Open almost every week of the year • Can market 1 calf to 100’s of calves for you at a given time
Local Auction Market • Auction markets are run by professionals • Licensed • Bonded • Commission to sell cattle at the market, plus Beef Checkoff • Can be paid that day as soon as your calves sell
Local Auction Market • Marketing Options • Weekly regular sale • Special sales • Get to know your local auction market owner/manager • If you want top market value • Bring to the auction cattle the buyers want • Large and Medium 1’s and 2’s • Healthy • Mainstream breed/breed combinations • Dehorned and castrated would be good!
Order Buyers • Order buyers are licensed cattle buyers that can come to your farm and purchase calves • Will want a group of uniform calves • Age and/or weight • There are local order buyers as well as regional or national order buyers • Orders buyers may/may not collect Beef Checkoff • If not, you are responsible for sending in Beef Checkoff money
Tele-auctions or Board Sales • Organized sales of feeder calves where: • Calves stay on farm until sold and ready for pickup • Calves are pre-conditioned – including proper vaccinations and boosters, dehorned and castrated • Feeder calves or stocker cattle • Most successful if in truck load lots and at least 1,000 cattle in sale • Cattle need to weigh 500 lb + at pick up • Want to attract out of state buyers
Tele-auctions or Board Sales • Many times producer organized and run • May or may not have a licensed selling agent involved • Payment is made when cattle change hands • Usually bank transfer • Load lots of cattle can also be sold at any time through yourlocal auction market • Sometimes sold same day asregular sale
Market to Feedlot • Cattle can be marketed directly to/through a feedlot • Feedlot will want to partner with you • Especially if 1st time feeding your cattle • Especially if you have no previous carcass/post-weaning data to share • Cattle will need to be500 lbs + unless feedyardhas a stockering program
Market to Feedlot • Cattle need to be marketed to the correct feedlot • In general, AL cattle are have favorable USDA Yield Grades and either grade Select or Choice+ • High Plains feedyards • Favorable Yield Grades • Select Cattle • Midwest • High USDA grades • West • High Brahman influence
Freezer Beef • Retain feeder cattle and market as freezer meat • Market the live animal • Whole animal • Half animal • Quarter animal • Market Individual pieces • Require either • AL State Meat Inspection • Federal Meat Inspection
Feeder Calf Market Options Summary • Auction Market • Order Buyers • Tele-auctions or Board Sales • To/Through a Feedlot • Freezer Beef