Factors affecting the selling price of feeder cattle sold at Arkansas livestock auctions in 2005

¹ University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Animal Science, Little Rock, AR 72203

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bbarham{at}uaex.edu.

	Abstract

Data were collected from 15 Arkansas livestock auctions to determine factors affecting selling price. Data included how calves were sold (single or groups), gender, breed or breed type, color, muscle thickness, horn status, frame score, fill, body condition, age, health, BW, and price. Data were randomly collected on 52,401 lots consisting of 105,542 calves. Selling prices for steers ($124.20 ± 0.07), bulls ($117.93 ± 0.12) and heifers ($112.81 ± 0.07) were different from each other (P < 0.001). Hereford x Charolais feeder calves sold for the highest price ($122.66 ± 0.14) and Longhorns sold for the lowest price ($74.52 ± 0.46). Yellow feeder cattle received the highest selling price ($96.47 ± 0.12), and spotted or striped feeder cattle received the lowest ($83.84 ± 0.23). The selling price of singles was lower than the selling price for those sold in groups of 6 or more ($117.26 ± 0.06 vs. $122.61 ± 0.21; P < 0.001). For cattle classified as muscle scores 1, 2, 3, and 4, selling prices were $120.45 ± 0.05, $111.31 ± 0.09, $96.28 ± 0.44 and $82.21 ± 1.87, respectively. Polled feeder cattle sold for $118.57 ± 0.05, and horned feeder cattle sold for $114.87 ± 0.14 (P < 0.001). Interactions (P < 0.001) were detected between frame score and BW groups and muscle score and BW groups on the selling price of cattle. A number of management and genetic factors affected selling price of feeder cattle.

Key Words: feeder cattle, livestock auction, selling price, beef cattle