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How Livestock Auctions Work

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If you're considering buying cattle and other livestock to raise and sell or for your own homestead, you may want to purchase them at a livestock auction. Compared to buying them from a single farm, you can select from dozens of unique options at once, ranging from different breeds to animals from different herds. Because final sales prices are left up to the bidders, you may even walk away with a great deal. However, before you head to the livestock auction, you need to know how it works so you don't jeopardize your chances of winning.

When and Where Do Auctions Take Place?

There are over 1,000 livestock auction barns and facilities in the United States, so chances are there is one within a few hours of your neighborhood, though they're more plentiful in areas where farms and ranches are widespread. Once you locate an auction barn, you'll notice they typically hold their events at the same time each week. If you attend one of these regular sales, you'll see a hodgepodge of animals. This is when dairy farms tend to sell their cull and bull calves and other less desirable animals too. However, most auction barns also have special events they hold at random times throughout the year. These auctions have the more desirable and harder to find animals, and they typically specialize in just cattle, sheep, goats and starter herds for each of these types of animals.

What Should You Bring to the Auction?

Before you go to the auction, you need to do your homework. Consider attending a couple of auction events before you're ready to bid to get an idea of how it works. Check the auction barn's website if it has one to see what kind of livestock is available each week. Learn how to gauge the age and health of a specific animal you might be interested in bidding on. Make sure you have your form of payment on hand in case you win. Some barns only accept cash or check payments. You may also want to bring a pen and notepad so you can take notes. Wear old clothes, because you're going to get dirty. Finally, make sure you have a truck and trailer ready, because you're going to have to haul any animals you win back to your place as soon as possible. You may also want to bring a shovel along to clean up any manure that falls along the way to the trailer.

What Are Some Tips for Bidding on Cattle?

When you arrive at the barn, you'll register as a bidder, and you'll receive a sign you can hold up when you're ready to place a bid. After that, everything moves quickly, so you'll need to pay close attention. If you've never attended an auction, you might have a hard time understanding what's going on at first. This is why it's best to attend a few before you actually decide to make a purchase. Once you're ready, you can wave your card when the time is right. Just be extra careful not to wave it or make any other kind of hand motions during the auction if you aren't ready to place a bid, or the auctioneer may mistake your movement for interest in the livestock. Many experts recommend not being the first bidder on an auction, especially if you are new to these events.

What Happens After the Bidding Is Over?

Once the actual auction is over, the winning bidder goes to the designated area to pay for the livestock and pick up a bill of sale or receipt. The auction barn wants you to take the animals home as soon as possible, though some offer a brief holding period (usually around 24 hours). If you're ready to take the animals home right away, there's usually a back door or loading area where you can present your receipt and gather up any livestock you won during the bidding. There's usually someone there to help with loading. During this time, you'll also pick up the health records for your new livestock.

What Are Some Other Things to Keep in Mind for the Auction?

Now that you have a good idea of how a livestock auction works, here are a few other tips you may want to keep in mind:

Try to bid on at least two of the same animal. Most livestock animals don't like to live alone and will thrive if they have at least one companion. Be aware of bargains. Any price you pay that seems too good to be true almost always is. That includes low starting bids. Make sure you know the lingo before you start bidding. For example, if you're looking for a cow that is currently giving milk, you'll want to bid on "fresh" cattle. Always walk around and look at the livestock before making a bid.