Three Ways Livestock is Sold at a Livestock Auction

There are three ways an animal can be sold at the auction. You need to be familiar with these three ways before you raise your hand to bid on an animal. You also need to be prepared for winning the bid. The auctioneer sits behind the cattle ring and uses a sing-song voice to call out prices during the auction. At first, it may sound like he is speaking in an entirely new language, and, in some respects, he is. It will take you a bit of time until you are actually able to understand what the auctioneer is saying. Livestock are sold one of three ways: by the pound, by the head, or as a pair.

A Livestock Sell By the Hundred Weight:

In most instances, the livestock are sold by the pound, though it is technically by the hundred weight. What this means is that if the animal is sold for $100, then the animal actually sold for $1 per pound of live weight. Many auctions have scales where the animal is weighed after the sale. You will have to judge how much the animal weighs before you bid and keep in mind the going rate for an animal of that class and size before you bid. Some auctions have the scale built right into the actual ring. The moment the animal steps into the ring, its weight is displayed above the auctioneer's head. This is beneficial as you can do a quick calculation to see where you should stop your bidding if the price goes too high.

A Livestock Sell By the Head:

Occasionally, an animal will be sold by the head. The auctioneer will announce this during the bidding. It may be that it is a very small calf that does not weigh much or it could be the animal is sick. For whatever reason, the animal will sell for the final price. A very sick animal may be sold for a total of $5. It is unlikely you will get the animal home alive if it is really sick. However, if it is a newborn calf and you have the proper equipment and knowledge on how to raise a calf, you can get a good bargain and a new baby to raise for $5. Once, a beautiful young horse went through the auction. She had a new filly by her side. They sold for $10 per head. That is right, for $20, you could take home both of the horses. So there are bargains to be had at a livestock auction.

A Livestock Sell By the Pair:

Cows with young calves by their side are usually sold as a pair. The price for a pair is normally higher than a single animal would be, but you are getting two for one and theoretically, you will be able to sell the calf in a few months and recoup most of your initial investment. Things can change during the bidding process though. If a pair is not bringing as much as expected, the auction may split the pair. They will sell either the cow or the calf first and then have a second bidding to sell other. The person who buys one of them does have the option of winning both animals through bidding and reuniting the pair. Sometimes, the calf may be older or the cow may have a problem, so the pair is split and two different bidders take home an animal.

The trick to having the winning bid at a livestock auction is to be able to understand the auctioneer. It takes a bit of practice to decipher the language and a bit of knowledge about how the animals are sold to get the best bargain. You should plan to watch, not buy, during your first few hours, at the livestock auction. Once you get to the point where you can accurately judge the animal entering the ring, the weight of the animal, and guess the final sale price, you are ready to bid on the livestock you wish to purchase.