Auction guide
A sale catalog is the buyer’s cheat sheet. Learn to read the lot numbers, terms and abbreviations and you’ll skip the surprises that cost money at the auction block.
Buyer’s premium, commission and fees are usually listed up front. Add them to your max bid before you raise a hand.
Payment terms matter: some sales require certified funds or wire the same day; others take checks with a letter of credit.
Health and delivery terms tell you who pays for trucking and when ownership transfers.
Look for guarantees — or disclaimers. Many livestock sales are ‘as-is,’ which means your inspection is your only protection.
Lots are sold in catalog order unless announced otherwise. Use the lot number to find the animal during preview and to track your invoice.
Some catalogs sell groups as a single lot (e.g., ‘5 head’). Know whether the price is per head or per lot.
If the sale is online or video, the lot number is usually how you search and bid on the platform.
Steer, heifer, cow, bull, pair: these terms define sex and reproductive status. A ‘pair’ is a cow-calf pair.
Age may be listed as actual birth date, tooth count, or a code like ‘BWF’ (black white face) plus weight.
‘Yrlg’ or ‘yearling’ usually means 12–24 months. ‘Calf’ or ‘calf-fed’ implies younger and lighter.
Frame score or condition notes describe body type — not quality. Match the frame to your feed and breeding program.
Most feeder cattle are sold by the hundredweight (cwt). A 750-pound steer at $180/cwt costs $1,350 per head.
Bred cows and pairs are often sold per head, not by weight.
‘Base weight’ is the estimated pay weight. Shrink, sort and pencil shrink may be deducted at delivery.
Look for vaccination codes: VAC 24, VAC 34, IBR-BVD-PI3-BRSV, blackleg, etc. The more specific, the better.
‘Weaned’ and ‘preconditioned’ add value because the calf has already handled the stress of separation and feed changes.
‘Natural’ or ‘non-hormone treated’ appeals to certain buyers but must be documented.
‘Bang’s vaccinated’ means brucellosis vaccination — important for replacement heifers in many states.
Some catalogs list the consignor. Repeat sellers with good reputations are worth remembering.
Origin or ranch name can hint at genetics, climate adaptation and prior management.
Don’t assume a well-known brand means quality; use it as one signal among many.
Watch for wide shots that show feet, legs, topline and overall condition. Close-ups hide more than they reveal.
Video should show the animal walking toward and away from the camera. Lameness and poor movement show up in motion.
Be wary of photos taken at odd angles or in poor light. Good sellers show their cattle clearly.
Auction fever is real. Write down your max bid per lot before the sale starts.
Include buyer’s premium, trucking and any health costs in your true max.
If the bidding passes your number, let it go. There is always another lot.
Catalog formats vary by sale barn, breed association and online platform. Always confirm terms directly with the sale manager before bidding.