Rural Rites: Sale barn procedures vary, but most follow basics

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

May 5, 2005 - For many, going to the livestock commission sale barn is old hat. Listening to the auctioneer's song as he rapidly calls for the next highest bid can be music to a seller's ear.

But for anyone new to the sale barn scene, the noise can be confusing, and when they get their check, the charges can be perplexing.

To explain a usual sale barn procedure, a cattle sale is a good one to detail.

When the cattle are brought to the barn (unloading will be in a designated area), they get a numbered, sticky tag on their hip. The seller is asked information, including name and address, and whether they want to pick up the check or have it mailed. The seller's license plate number is also recorded in case more than one person by the same, or similar, name is selling; and maybe most importantly, in case the cattle being unloaded are stolen.

Procedures target fertility, age

Cows: If they are of calf-bearing age, the seller will be asked if they would like a "pregnancy test and aging" on them. If the seller agrees, "PGA" is written by the cow's number on the barn's information sheet, and each gets another sticky tag so the on-site veterinarian knows which tests to perform.

If the seller says "no" to PGA, the cows will usually be sold for slaughter.

Bulls: The seller will be asked if it's to be fertility tested (for adequate sperm), or if he would like a seller guarantee. The guarantee means the buyer can ask for the fertility test. If the bull is fertile, the buyer pays for the testing; if not fertile, the bull can be resold at the barn (as unfertile) and the original seller pays the testing fee.

Fees for testing procedures are usually about $3 per palpation and $1 for aging (charged to the seller), and $20 for bull fertility. The charges will be listed on the check stub under "vet charges."

Markings indicate results

So that the buyer knows the outcome of these testings, the cattle are marked (will wash/wear off). In most cases, the cow's age is written on the right shoulder, and her duration of gestation is written on her right hip. For example, if the cow is 4-years-old and she's five months bred, her markings will be a 4 on the shoulder and a 5 on the hip.

If a cow is "older," age testing will find her teeth are short and she'll be marked with an SS, meaning short and solid. If the cow is marked with an X, that means she is "broke-mouth," and the vet was unable to determine age.

If she carries a 0 on the hip, that means she's not bred. This may be a situation where the cow is brought in with a ready-to-wean calf. It's up to the seller if the pair is sold together or separately; and it's up to the buyer to take a chance of the cow rebreeding.

Other fees assessed

The seller is often charged for "yardage" which covers the barn's cost (hay/water) for holding the cattle until sale time. Usually, the cost is $2 per day. It's up to the barn whether or not to charge "yardage" on cattle brought in on sale day.

The seller will also find a $1 per head charge for the beef checkoff promotional program. Other small-fee charges will include insurance and brand inspection. And, to pay the barn for their work in getting the best price for the animal, a commission fee (about 10 percent of the total sale) will be charged to the seller.

All barns have "tariffs" posted which list and describe all the fees a barn charges.

In the ring

At sale time, each barn sells in an order they've set (such as beginning with calves and ending with pairs). The barn's order will almost never vary; but order will likely vary from barn-to-barn.

Once the animal enters the sale ring, the auctioneer will begin by calling out an adequate price for the animal, based on it's type, age, weight, etc. Some animals are sold by the head, and some are sold by the weight. It's important for the buyer, and seller, to know the barn's method of selling. Barn owners or employees can explain the process.

If the seller doesn't like the ending price, they can "P.O." the animal before (or as) it leaves the sale ring by calling out the initials. P.O. stands for pass out, meaning the seller wants the animal to just pass out of the ring without accepting the selling price. A P.O. fee will be charged to the seller (usually around $5) to cover the barn's time of trying to sell the animal.

Final tip

One tip offered for those who haven't been around livestock sales is to visit the barn on sale day a few times, and talk to the employees, before bringing their animals to town. It also helps to listen to the barn's auctioneer(s) to learn their style of calling.