Factors affecting the selling price of replacement and market cows sold at Arkansas livestock auctions

Professional Animal Scientist, Dec 2002 by Troxel, T R, Gadberry, M S, Cline, S, Foley, J, Et al

Ninety-one percent of the cows did not have a brand, whereas 6.7% had one brand and 1.6% had two or more brands. There were no differences (P>0.10) between the selling prices of replacement cows with one brand ($48.39 /- $0.31; Table 3), with two or more brands ($48.63 /- $0.67), or with no brands ($48.39 /- $0.09). The selling price of market cows was greater (P

Over 94% of the cows surveyed were healthy. For market cows, prices for cows that were healthy ($39.86 $0.08), cows that had lumps ($34.47 $0.48), lame cows ($32.89 /- $0.60), sick cows ($25.50 /- $0.64), and cows with bad eyes ($25.31 /- $0.55) were al different from each other (P0.10). The selling price for lame ($43.85 /- $1.29) and sick ($40.25 /- $1.80) replacement cows did not differ from the selling price of cows with lumps or bad eyes (P>0.10).

Only the market cows were assigned a USDA Quality Grade. The percentages of market cows that were indicated USDA Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner were 11.3, 11.3, 37.8, and 39.6%, respectively. The average BW for USDA Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner were 511 /- 105.6, 525 /- 76.6, 466 /- 68.5, and 402 /- 82.3 kg, respectively. The selling price across USDA Quality Grade tended to be significant (P

There was a significant interaction between the cow's age and cow type on selling price (P0.10). Cow ages 7, 8, and >8 were different from each other (P

There was a significant difference in the selling price of cows across the weekly livestock auctions (P0.10) to the selling price of market cows or replacement cows (degrees west). There was a significant relationship (P

Implications

The majority of cow-calf producers sell cows based on age at local livestock auctions (4). If cows were culled based on performance rather than age, the cull cows would be younger, have heavier BW, be in better body condition, and be healthier. This practice would greatly enhance cull cow revenues for producers. There are, however, a number of factors (cow type, health, perceived breed or breed type, muscle thickness, frame score, fill, horn status, color, livestock auction location, and USDA Quality Grade for market cows) that affect the selling price of cows. The combination of all these factors determines the final selling price. Once the impact of these factors is identified and understood, cow-calf producers can make cost-effective management changes that can improve cow and total returns.

This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, under special project number 97-EXCA-2-0513. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Literature Cited

1. Apple, J. K. 1999. Influence of body condition score on live and carcass value of cull beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 77:2610.

2. Apple, J. K., J. C. Davis, and J. Stephenson. 1999. Influence of body condition score on by-product yield and value from cull beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 77:2670.

3. Apple, J. K., J. C. Davis, J. Stephenson, J. E. Hankins, J. R. Davis, and S. L. Beaty. 1999. Influence of body condition score on carcass characteristics and subprimal yield from cull beef cows. J. Anim. Sci. 77:2260.

4. National Animal Health Monitoring System. 1997. Part 1: Reference of 1997 Beef Cow-Calf Management Practices. National Animal Health Monitoring System, USDA:APHIS:VS, Fort Collins, CO.

5. National Market Cow and Bull Quality Audit. 1999. Cattlemen's Beef Association, Englewood, CO.

6. SAS. 1992. SAS Procedures Guide (Version 3 Ed.). SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC.