Shopping for livestock
This time of year, we receive many phone calls from excited kids and parents who land on a scale between confident and apprehensive. Shopping for livestock comes with mixed emotions for most people. Everyone is looking for a calf that is as good or better than the last one they showed. We all put pressure on ourselves to make the right decision. At Ward Cattle Company, we ask several questions to be sure we are on the right track.
Buying cattle is fun! Be prepared to answer questions regarding your budget, the show you are targeting, and how competitive you plan to be at that show. By doing so, you can take some stress out of the process. Being asked these questions helps the breeder align your goals, budget, and the cattle for sale. I’d be skeptical of someone who doesn’t ask you these questions when they are showing you their stock.
What is your budget?
Depending upon where and when you grew up, talking about money may be taboo. Especially when talking to strangers. However, this is a common question you’ll be asked when shopping private-treaty for livestock. Sales are a bit different.
It may seem weird to you at first. We are all trained to “keep a poker face” when we buy a car or some other significant purchase. Last month, we went to look at a truck with Will. He loved it and was grinning from ear to ear. I told him to act a little less interested, so the guy didn’t know for sure he had a “fish on.” You can go to Kelly-Blue Book, type in “2008 Ford F250 with 120,000 miles,” and get a valuation. Both parties know exactly the market value range of the vehicle.
Shopping for livestock doesn’t work that way. You can’t type “March, In God We Trust out of Miss Dejavu 618 that’s nice structured and big-boned” into a database for a valuation. Based on your budget, we need to know which direction to point you accurately. It’s not that we want to spend all of your money for you. It’s that we need to be realistic in best aligning your goals to the cattle. Thus, we always ask a family or showman, what is your budget?
Be realistic with your budget
Several years ago, I wanted to buy a two-year-old at the Snaffle Bit Futurity sale. I found a colt that I liked well, from consignors who have an excellent reputation. I had a budget of $5000. I knew the colt was nice, but clearly, I didn’t realize how nice. I asked to ride him around a little, which they allowed, and I knew I needed to own him. I hadn’t studied the market enough to have a good grasp on the colt’s value.
Frank and I headed into the sale as it started and patiently waited for the colt to come in the ring. As he stepped into the ring, the bidding started. He passed my $5000 budget before I could even get my hand in the air. When the gavel dropped, the number on the screen read $45,000. Had I just asked the consignors what they thought the colt would bring, I may have saved myself some effort.
A consignor doesn’t usually know exactly how much one will bring at a live or online sale, but they generally have a pretty good ballpark idea. You can ask, “what do you think this one will bring?” It’s not bad manners, and it helps to align your budget with the stock on offer. However, if it’s one you like, don’t walk away completely. You just never know for sure with a sale.
When and where is your show?
This is not an answer that makes anyone uncomfortable to answer, but it is crucial information. You can have a hefty budget and buy a nice calf out of a sale, but you’ll never be successful if he’s too young or too light. Online sales are great for breeders to allow them to place livestock all across the country. They can be great for buyers who do their due diligence.
However, they can lead to a negative outcome without a bit of outreach—the seller’s contact information is listed on every sale. Call and visit with them. Ask about size, disposition, and genetics. Tell them when your show is and ask if the calf you are interested in is likely to be the right size in the end. Nobody wants to sell stock that doesn’t work for their customers. They’d much prefer that you call and visit about your needs. They can steer you in the direction of a calf that would work best for you.
At our place, people will generally spend a good deal of time looking at and discussing the steers we sell via private treaty. We visit with them and get a good plan for their objectives. Alternatively, most of the heifers in our online sale sell to people we’ve never talked to before. Perhaps people are apprehensive to call because they don’t want to bother a seller. Please believe it’s no bother at all. The folks selling livestock to you want the opportunity to get to know you and help you through the process.
How competitive do you want to be?
Knowing your objective is critical when shopping for livestock. People come to us with all sorts of different objectives, and they are all right. There is nothing wrong with any goal or objective. Some folks want an excellent first-year experience, some want to be sure their child likes showing cattle, some just want to make money, and others are chasing a buckle.
All of these goals are right for the individual family and can be met with proper communication. Admittedly, the last category comes with more variables. Just because a person spends a bunch of money on a calf doesn’t guarantee a win. Daily care is a very close second to the quality of the calf you purchase. I’ve seen outstanding livestock of all species get ruined by poor daily care. Alternatively, we’ve watched hard-working kids take a nice one and win with good ol’ fashioned elbow grease.
Goal-budget allignment when shopping for livestock
My horse sale story illustrates how easy it is to have your budget and goals out of alignment. This all ties into the level of competition as well. There are some county fairs that you can be in the hunt with a $2500 calf and others that you’ll be lucky to win your class with a $7500 calf. By communicating well with the people from whom you are purchasing your livestock, you can keep your goals aligned with your budget.
Be Realistic and Don’t Sabotage your “Eye.”
It’s always fun to look at the cattle geared to run at the upper levels of competition. If you go in the pen with those calves, but they are far out of your budget, you could set yourself up for disappointment. The calf that is perfect for your situation may look subpar in comparison. But remember, you determined that he was ideal for your situation and goals. You don’t need to bring a gun to a knife fight. Most people don’t need a calf that can compete at a major show for their county fair. Communicate well with the breeder, work with someone you feel comfortable with and trust, and let them guide you to meet whatever goals you’ve set for yourself.
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