The view from the ground

[tman]

Chalice, what's your web address?

My brother just recently told me about his ideas of marketing their calves directly to feedlots. My dad has religiously been using the auction mart for as far as I can recall. Maybe in the next generation of ranchers and cattlemen, auction marts will become a minority for sales. I've noticed some have been using kijiji.

[smcgrath76]

In regards to crutches, etc...
some things are crutches, and others are
good management. One man's crutch can
be good management in another herd with
different circumstances. For example, I
know some herds without neighbouring
cattle that can skip some vaccinations
and obtain a market premium. We use
this "crutch" as we have cattle all
around ours and some come from the
auction market.
Tman - we are finding it is easy and
profitable to sell direct. In a lot of
cases the same order buyers at the
market are interested. The biggest
thing is if you can put together lots of
60,000 pounds (triaxle loads).
We sold our heifers direct twice this
year. They were bought, the fellow
backed out and I booked them to the
auction. In the week preceding I posted
them on kijiji and sold them direct to
Quebec. Cost to me was 15 minutes and
brand inspection. Even a $40 Western
Producer ad or a poster on the local
community board can lead to sales. If
you have neighbours with similar
programs and marketing windows a
"selling club" can also create a big
premium. It takes a lot of calves to
fill a modern feedlot pen.

[chalice]

www.onestoplivestock.ca