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Roy's Bullpen

TERMS OF BRED COW SALES

By January 3, 2001May 22nd, 2009No Comments
  • Cows must be in yards by the latest 2:00 pm in the afternoon before the sale for pregnancy checking and mouthing.
  • We supply facilities and manpower to preg check cows in our yards at no extra charge (except Vet fees).
  • All bred cows to be preg checked in our yards and mouthed for age.
  • Cows are fed and watered the night before the sale at our expense, so why not deliver early?
  • Most sales limited to approx. 400 head.

What is the best kept secret in the cattle business? Answer: The breed of bull the cows are bred to and when the bull was turned out. Getting this information written on the manifest is like pulling teeth.

  1. We need this information in order to get full value for the cattle.
  2. We also need to know if the cattle are for the bred section of the sale or the open or slaughter and feeder section.

Still 30% of the cattle intended for the bred section of the sale show up here without the above information written on the manifest. We do our best to pry out what information we can, but it can be difficult, especially if the cattle are not hauled by the owner.

In the past, we have had experiences where cows were hauled in by a neighbor or a custom trucker, the manifests had no information indicating that the cows were bred, let alone what to, or when. The cows were then sold in the slaughter section of the sale by mistake. The owner wasn’t here, but was irate when he received his cheque.

Who is to blame? The consignor invariably claims the trucker TOLD the receiver that the cows were bred cows. Invariably we reply, “If he did, our receiving person would automatically ask, what to and when?”

The point is: This mistake NEVER happens if the consignor clearly writes on his manifest what breed of bull the cattle are bred to, and when they were exposed.

Don’t blame us, unless you did it right in the first place.

WRITE IT DOWN.

There is another reason why we want the breed of bull the cows or heifers are bred to, and the date the bull was put with the cattle, written on the manifest in your own handwriting. We want to have a record on file. Sometimes cows that we are told are bred Charolais have Longhorn calves. Or some other less popular breed.

Sometimes heifers that we are told are bred Longhorn or Angus end up having Charolais or Simmental calves. Either way the buyer is a little unhappy. Ultimately, when confronted, the seller of those cattle blame us. “I told the girl who booked the cattle that those heifers were bred Simmental. She must have wrote it down wrong.”

The fact that the consignor lied is unthinkable.

It will have to be on the manifest in your handwriting. We need a record. Telling the receiving person that they have all that information up at the office will do no good. We won’t inform the buyers on sale day if you do not write it on the manifest. Saying that “Roy knows” won’t help because Roy won’t mention it if it is not on the manifest.

As a rule of thumb cows and heifers sell for about a hundred dollars per head less if buyers do not know what they are bred to and what the exposure dates were.

It is important so please

WRITE IT DOWN

Your cooperation and diligence when shipping will make you money.