If you’re looking to buy some bred females or cow-calf pairs, the best auction to go through is a herd dispersal sale. This is where usually the best females are sold. Any other auction may be potential for you purchasing someone else’s problems.
The owner selling will have an influence on prices because they know the history of the animals they are selling, from health to temperament. Cattle are docked if they have horns because of the safety issue associated with cattle having horns. Horns are dangerous and are well known to causing serious injuries to both humans and other animals. Prices differ from week to week, and fluctuate on a 10-year cycle. It’s recommended to keep an eye on changes in prices and try to predict what the best prices may be for purchasing cattle without risking spending too much money.
Cows, especially in Canada may be called D1 or D2 cows, still referring to the same as above, except that it refers to meat quality, not its ultimate destination. [2] X Research source Same type of cattle may also be called “butcher cows” and “heiferettes. " You may also come across terms like first-calf heifers, heiferettes, first-calvers, feeder bulls, cow-calf pairs (or 3-in-1’s), bred cows, bred heifers, dairy steers/calves, etc. All such terms define the type, sex/gender, and class of cattle to buy. For example, “heiferettes” are generally older heifers that are not bred but raised for slaughter. Cow-calf pairs or 3-in-1’s are cows that are pregnant with a calf at side. First-calvers or first-calf heifers usually mean a heifer that has calved for the first time. Occasionally some places may define such animals as heifers that came from a first-time-calving cow.
All pens will have a number associated with them. Note what number[s] of the pens you find the type of animals you are interested in so that you know what are going to be bidding for when the auction begins. All pens usually have a lot number (i. e. , Lot #12) attached.
Your ticket usually has a number on it. This is to identify you as a bidder when the auction goes on and you are going to get into a “bidding war” with a number of other individuals that may be interested in the same animal[s] as you.
Be calm and as unemotional as possible. You need to not get overly excited or anxious in the sale as the other bidders you’re going against will see this as a weakness and try their best to outdo you. Don’t even act remotely excited if a group of cattle get sold to you.
