How to group cattle in mart?

farmernewbie

Lads,

Just took over small family farm last year. Bought 12 bullocks in March and looking to sell soon.

When I just looked at cards and ear tags I am noticing a few funny things. I have 2 bbx cattle and when I check cards found out one is actually a lmx even though he is blue and white. Strange. The bbx card actually belongs to a bullock that looks like a chx, he is brown and white.

Can I group the two ones that look like bbx's together even though one card says lmx. Will guys be suspicious in the ring when they see this on the board?

I also have a great chx that looks like a lmx. Was going to put him with 2 not so great lmx bullocks to improve their price. Could I do this?

And strangely on the cards I have one saler which I thought was a lmx when buying. Never heard of this breed before but he looks like a lmx. Not a bad bullock. Told it will be hard to sell him by a fella though. Should I put him with the lmx bullocks or on his own?

Thanks for any help first time to sell.

NewBeefFarmer

for a newbie myself, to be honest. . .. . it shocks me when u look at the ring and then look at the board. . .

in the auto world its like looking at a fiesta but the tax book says mondeo. .

i would like to think that in another couple of years id be looking at the animal and knowing straight away what is he.

id have no problem doing what your doing.

epfff

farmernewbie wrote: »

Lads,

Just took over small family farm last year. Bought 12 bullocks in March and looking to sell soon.

When I just looked at cards and ear tags I am noticing a few funny things. I have 2 bbx cattle and when I check cards found out one is actually a lmx even though he is blue and white. Strange. The bbx card actually belongs to a bullock that looks like a chx, he is brown and white.

Can I group the two ones that look like bbx's together even though one card says lmx. Will guys be suspicious in the ring when they see this on the board?

I also have a great chx that looks like a lmx. Was going to put him with 2 not so great lmx bullocks to improve their price. Could I do this?

And strangely on the cards I have one saler which I thought was a lmx when buying. Never heard of this breed before but he looks like a lmx. Not a bad bullock. Told it will be hard to sell him by a fella though. Should I put him with the lmx bullocks or on his own?

Thanks for any help first time to sell.

Match cattle not cards
Only thing I would care for cards is any mad differances in dob

farmernewbie

Thanks, was just concerned when he is mainly blue with white and card says LMX. Didn't know how it would be taken in the ring. Take it buyers aren't overly interested in breed then if he is a good animal and right age?

NewBeefFarmer

farmernewbie wrote: »

Take it buyers aren't overly interested in breed then if he is a good animal and right age?

Bizzum

farmernewbie wrote: »

I also have a great chx that looks like a lmx. Was going to put him with 2 not so great lmx bullocks to improve their price. Could I do this?.

No problem doing it, you can put them in any way you like, but instead of elevating the price of the poorer bullock it can just as easy take away from the better lad.
If you're in doubt, run them in as singles.

Farmer Pudsey

Just be glad that they are not LMX or AA on the cards and actually Jerseys in the flesh or CH on the card and Swiss Reds in the flesh.

NewBeefFarmer

I always run as single bissum,

as you said, . . . you have more farmers out there that wants the good bullock and not the bad one

also

if you have to animals side by side, and one is carrying the other, and its noticeable. . . i just think ur better off going with singles. .

i for one hate seeing doubles. . . and have only bought 1 or maybe 2 pairs ever. . .

actually. . if i see a pair in scales. . i think. . right. .. wonder which is the faulty one

Farmer Pudsey

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

I always run as single bissum,

as you said, . . . you have more farmers out there that wants the good bullock and not the bad one

also

if you have to animals side by side, and one is carrying the other, and its noticeable. . . i just think ur better off going with singles. .

i for one hate seeing doubles. . . and have only bought 1 or maybe 2 pairs ever. . .

actually. . if i see a pair in scales. . i think. . right. .. wonder which is the faulty one

Hate seeing singles like to see 3or4 or even fifteen in a bunch. However bad job putting a good heavy bullock in with two lighter one as a buyer I love to see it bought a 850 euro LMX bullock last spring for 750 or a bit less as he was in with a lighter angus. Both came for 600ish. Angus was worth over 500 by himself.

Robson99

If you have evenly matched cattle you are far better to put them in pairs or in 3's or 4's. I would always go that bit more when buying for a nice pair or a group of evenly matched 3 or 4. But a lot of people will put in a poor one with a good one and end up losing out IMO

NewBeefFarmer

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Hate seeing singles like to see 3or4 or even fifteen in a bunch. However bad job putting a good heavy bullock in with two lighter one as a buyer I love to see it bought a 850 euro LMX bullock last spring for 750 or a bit less as he was in with a lighter angus. Both came for 600ish. Angus was worth over 500 by himself.

ah now pudsey. . . your doing this id say a lot longer than I am

also, im there looking at one, saying, buy buy. . . and then also thinking. . u hold now and take your time .. lol. . .. clinging on to that €750/800. . .

imagine 15 in the ring. . . .. if feel like to much leverage. . . 2 waves at the autioneer and 11k is gone. .. lol. .

maybe someday. . . if i get my sfp :rolleyes:

micky mouse

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

I always run as single bissum,

as you said, . . . you have more farmers out there that wants the good bullock and not the bad one

also

if you have to animals side by side, and one is carrying the other, and its noticeable. . . i just think ur better off going with singles. .

i for one hate seeing doubles. . . and have only bought 1 or maybe 2 pairs ever. . .

actually. . if i see a pair in scales. . i think. . right. .. wonder which is the faulty one

Doubles is the only way to sell stock IF they match.Plenty of men go to marts with just a car trailer looking to buy a couple of cattle.Two cattle bought together are easier handled ,because of the fact that they come from same herd and will stick together when brought home.Anytime I sell pairs I always think that I get that little bit extra for them,rather than single

onyerbikepat

Ya 3 would be the most I would sell together, but they would want to be evenly matched. date of births are important too. A lot guys killing bulls under 16 months, so date even more important with them.

farmernewbie

Thanks lads I also have an aax but he looks like a chx. Mousey brown colour. Should I put him in with a chx the same size? I was told that their is a premium for aax and he maybe better of going on his own?

nashmach

Agree with Pudsey, hate seeing singles too especially singles from one vendor - that is definitely territory to avoid.

Much better to buy a group, usually relatively even and have been together and thus easier to manage also a lot less stress at an already stressful time for the beasts.

redzerologhlen

I normally try to pair them up if they are close enough quality/weight wise, have often put 5 or 6 weanlings in together if they were even enough and there was plenty of interest around the ring from farmers and dealers.

Muckit

What's to stop a lad buying two singles from the one buyer one after the other??

redzerologhlen

Muckit wrote: »

What's to stop a lad buying two singles from the one buyer one after the other??

Theres no guarantee he will get the second one within his budget!!

Muckit

redzerologhlen wrote: »

Theres no guarantee he will get the second one within his budget!!

Exactly, so it suits the seller if he goes more! Let him suit someone else's deeper pocket

redzerologhlen

Muckit wrote: »

Exactly, so it suits the seller if he goes more! Let him suit someone else's deeper pocket

I think your codding yourself a bit there Muckit, I know plenty of farmers that wont buy singles but are very good men to have following your stock outside the ring, they want to be sure they will at least have a pair and the few extar euro ends up in the sellers pocket more often than not. I was at the mart on Monday with 11 weanlings. 3 in one lot and 2 pairs, the rest were better quality but wouldnt have been matchers....guess which ones I got paid the best for

quadboy

I have a few bullocks going next week, would you mix breeds if their about the same weight

farmernewbie

Lads, have a good chx about 520kg but he is slightly lame. Nothing in his foot. Looks like he may have hurt his shoulder. Would you put him through on his own? Will lameness affect his price much?

Muckit

redzerologhlen wrote: »

I think your codding yourself a bit there Muckit, I know plenty of farmers that wont buy singles but are very good men to have following your stock outside the ring, they want to be sure they will at least have a pair and the few extar euro ends up in the sellers pocket more often than not. I was at the mart on Monday with 11 weanlings. 3 in one lot and 2 pairs, the rest were better quality but wouldnt have been matchers....guess which ones I got paid the best for

I think the same as anything it depends on the area and the politics of that mart. Usually singles that are ran through mart here in the sloe.

(Tongue in cheek) I always have the best pen of cattle so half the time l don't even bother going into seller's box at all just drool over them through bars of ring. :-) :-)

Kovu

farmernewbie wrote: »

Lads, have a good chx about 520kg but he is slightly lame. Nothing in his foot. Looks like he may have hurt his shoulder. Would you put him through on his own? Will lameness affect his price much?

Sell him as a single or if in a group announce him as sold as seen, unless he rights himself before selling.

jp6470

Always same size,obviously.
But, have a thing for all same colour.think it catches the eye in a pen.took six reds one week and would wait before going again with a few blacks.

Farmer Pudsey

If there is a flaw in any animal you should sell singly and announce. I have rang a mart about a bullock with warts on his rod he was in a bunch of ten that I bought once. returned to mart the following day met the manager he had no quibble as they were quite bad. hard to see with cattle off grass. He was below average and I was allowed the price I paid across the bunch. Usually if there is something wrong he is lighter than the average and you will lose anyway on the double.

The reason most farmers like bunches is they may be arranging transport and are reluctant to end up with the hassle of one or two animals and trying to get them home. You may pay 20/head to get two home while it may only cost 100 euro for ten. Usually big bunches 6+ of good cattle over 400kgs sell very well.

farmernewbie

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

If there is a flaw in any animal you should sell singly and announce. I have rang a mart about a bullock with warts on his rod he was in a bunch of ten that I bought once. returned to mart the following day met the manager he had no quibble as they were quite bad. hard to see with cattle off grass. He was below average and I was allowed the price I paid across the bunch. Usually if there is something wrong he is lighter than the average and you will lose anyway on the double.

The reason most farmers like bunches is they may be arranging transport and are reluctant to end up with the hassle of one or two animals and trying to get them home. You may pay 20/head to get two home while it may only cost 100 euro for ten. Usually big bunches 6+ of good cattle over 400kgs sell very well.

Thanks he is fine sometimes and a bit lame other times. It's strange. Probably should get vet for him but will be down a 100 then anyway. Think he will just get worse when standing on concrete in mart. Will put him in as a single. Shame because he is one of the best I have.

dharn

Could you possibly winter him outdoors yourself, most mart buyers will be looking to put him on slats, if he is lame you wont be able to give him away

Farmer Pudsey

farmernewbie wrote: »

Thanks he is fine sometimes and a bit lame other times. It's strange. Probably should get vet for him but will be down a 100 then anyway. Think he will just get worse when standing on concrete in mart. Will put him in as a single. Shame because he is one of the best I have.

Is it on the one leg have you lifted to see if anything stock in between claw or is it tender. If he has no power in the leg when lifted it may be the shoulder is dislocated unlikely though I have a look at the bottom of the hoof there may be something stuck in it. Have a can of allamysin handy and spray if you clean or remove anything. I always check the hoof in these type of cases before I call the vet.

Even Paring or cleaning away a bad bit is not that hard when a leg is well tied to a bar. Bu good hoof paring knife or better still a left hand one and a right hand one.. You can get a tongs(have not got one yet) to squeeze hoof to fine sore point watch him jump when you find. Clean back to it and dig out infection. Spray with allymysin and back into the field. Otherwise always remember fellas like these at herd test or when you have vet for something else. Skulling the same etc etc. If he is in the yard he is only 6 euro extra for these bits and pieces

farmernewbie

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

Is it on the one leg have you lifted to see if anything stock in between claw or is it tender. If he has no power in the leg when lifted it may be the shoulder is dislocated unlikely though I have a look at the bottom of the hoof there may be something stuck in it. Have a can of allamysin handy and spray if you clean or remove anything. I always check the hoof in these type of cases before I call the vet.

Even Paring or cleaning away a bad bit is not that hard when a leg is well tied to a bar. Bu good hoof paring knife or better still a left hand one and a right hand one.. You can get a tongs(have not got one yet) to squeeze hoof to fine sore point watch him jump when you find. Clean back to it and dig out infection. Spray with allymysin and back into the field. Otherwise always remember fellas like these at herd test or when you have vet for something else. Skulling the same etc etc. If he is in the yard he is only 6 euro extra for these bits and pieces

Thanks didn't see anything in either leg lifted both. Not majorily experienced though. Think he is like this a few weeks now. Some days there isn't a loss on him and others he is very stiff.

Will chance him on his own. Could hold on for winter but then I would need two. I have silage but work away from home and no tractor. Hopefully he holds up well on the day and I get best price I can.

farmernewbie

dharn wrote: »

Could you possibly winter him outdoors yourself, most mart buyers will be looking to put him on slats, if he is lame you wont be able to give him away

I could but I would need to keep another with him then. I have silage bales but work away from farm and no tractor so not really a goer.