Well, it is just about that time of year. Another month and it will be calf sale season. I work at our local stockyards, so am involved in more than one level of the cattle business. Up until now the majority of our calves have been sold at the auction barn in presort calf sales.
I/we are now considering going with TEAM (online) or CLS (sattelite) auctions. They appeal to me because it is one less step in handling the calves, and can only be less stressful and healthier for them. Just wondering if anyone has had experience selling through either one of those auctions. Good or bad info would be great, or just your thoughts.
How does everyone else sell their calves? As I said before we sell most through the auction barn, but we have sold privately before, and been happy with the results. Most of the time I think auctioning is the way to go, but if you hit a 'bad' sale you have no options if your calves are graded in with everyone else's. It really sucks not to be able to 'no sale' them if you want to.
We sell ours in the presort sales as well. But I work out of the CSY auction with LIS which is where TEAM works through. Most of the guys I've heard from really like it.
From the buyers point of view, I used to work for a beef company that would occaisionally buy cattle out of TEAM sales. Because the program allowed no antibiotics, this was a way to source calves that had been exposed to fewer bugs and less stress. It would only make sense that even those with a traditional feedlot would appreciate treating less cattle.
We've tried to get on to team. but we are too small and woud have to group with another seller of simillar calves. Our auciton mart does not go with team but a local feedlot/buyer is in witht eh teamsales and it has had a slow take off here. People to set in their ways. But our auction mart is going with DV auction. but you cattle still have to go to the auction mart to be sold. i would like to sourse out our cattle direct from the farm. Less stress. Any ideas how to get there or the pros and cons?
RR