New preconditioned calf sale set for Red River region

By DAVY MOSELEY | East Texas Edition

September 20, 2001 -- Traditional, weekly livestock auctions are still the hub for exchange of beef cattle, but many facilities and organizations are taking that traditional avenue a step further.

Special sales offering buyers preconditioned commingled groups of calves are becoming increasingly popular.

One of the newest to the area will be the Nov. 20 Cattlemen's Premium 45 Stocker/Feeder Sale to be held at Cattlemen's Livestock Commission (CLC) in Paris.

Calves sold in the special sale will need to be at least 45 days weaned. To achieve this, producers should remember the Oct. 6 date as the last day to wean the calves that are going in the Nov. 20 sale.

This new sale has largely patterned itself after the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) special feeder/stocker calf sale which began several years ago. This sale has made great strides in establishing a process for marketing cattle that benefits both buyers and sellers. Sellers get a premium price for their premium product, and buyers get the assurance that the calves will perform well in the feedyard or on pasture.

Commenting on the upcoming sale in Paris, Lamar County Extension Agent Mike Morrow noted, "I think this program will give producers a chance to add a little value to their calves. The buyers really like them and they are willing to pay a little more for them."

Morrow related that Dr. Ron Gill, one of the speakers at a Sept. 13 meeting which outlined procedures for the sale, told producers "in his own experience, about eight years, he nets about $50 per head, year-in and year-out. With this program, he said he hopes to add another $25 per head."

Red River County Extension Agent Lynn Golden commented, "I think the industry is moving in a new direction. (Marketing cattle through a special stocker/feeder calf sale) is not going to fit every rancher's management plan, but it is another alternative; a very good alternative."

Golden is on the advisory board for the Cattlemen's Premium 45 Stocker/Feeder Sale.

"There were 90 people that attended the (Sept. 13) meeting. I think that says there is a great deal of interest in what we're doing," Golden said.

"We're hoping to attract consignors from up in Oklahoma and down the river. I'm hoping this sale won't impact the NETBIO sale, because I sure wouldn't want to hurt their business," said Charles Malicote, CLC owner. "I think there are enough cattle to go around."

Malicote said the sale has only been in the works for a matter of months.

"We're kind of green at this sort of sale. I just don't know how many head we'll have, but I'd like to have 2,000 head," Malicote said. "We're going to try real hard to make it work."

Procedures a potential consignor should follow are as follows:

Contact CLC to request the procedures, certification form and the number of ear tags needed. A membership fee of $5 per consignor will apply.

All calves must be certified by a licensed veterinarian to meet the guidelines set forth by the producer advisory board of the Cattlemen's Premium 45 Stocker/Feeder Sale.

Completed certification forms must be returned to CLC at least 10 days prior to the Nov. 20 sale date.

Cattle will be received on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 18 and 19, before the sale on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Producers will be paid on their individual animal weight, less 2 percent shrink, times sale price of the lot.

All cattle sold will be subject to customary commission fees and other related expenses.

"Producers should come by Cattleman's Livestock and pick up the details and procedures on the sale, and get the ear tags," Morrow said. "Then they should go visit with their veterinarian to see about getting the calves certified (with vaccinations and weaning)."

In addition to the weaning requirement, all consigned cattle must have been given all appropriate vaccinations. Bull calves must be castrated. All calves must be dehorned, or tipped, prior to weaning. Calves must be accustomed to feed and water troughs. Calves must be certified by a licensed veterinarian. All calves must be tagged in the left ear with CLC-issued ear tags.

Contact CLC (903-784-2238) with any questions, and for required vaccinations and full procedures.