A total of 17,111 feeder calves and 947 yearlings were sold in the fall of 1999 through 20 graded cattle sales across North Carolina. These sales are designed to provide a marketing outlet for small to medium sized beef operations, where producers can co-mingle their calves into larger, uniform lots of similar type cattle. Increased lot size is critically important in the current beef cattle marketing system. Graded sales were initiated in North Carolina in 1952 and have remained a viable marketing alternative for commercial producers since that time. 

A comparison of sale averages from graded cattle sales and similar averages for weekly auctions demonstrates that cattle sold through the graded sales system consistently outsell weekly auction cattle. In the fall of 1999, this graded cattle premium averaged approximately $31.50 per head for steers and $23.50 for heifers. When attributed to all graded cattle sold last fall, this financial difference allowed graded sale consignors to retain an additional $478,000. 

We also know that in most instances, graded sale cattle shrink less prior to weigh-in than do weekly auction cattle. This difference arises because graded cattle are weighed in upon delivery whereas weekly sale cattle are weighed just prior to sale. We estimate this difference saves approximately 2% on an average basis, meaning weekly auction cattle typically loose 10 additional pounds per head while waiting to be weighed. Naturally at some sales this may not happen while at others there would be a considerably larger shrink difference. 

This 2% shrink savings would add another $8 to $10 per head to graded sale consignor returns, or an additional $150,000 for the season. 

Unfortunately, most commercial cattlemen in North Carolina do not take advantage of this sale opportunity. Assuming North Carolina has approximately 500,000 cows and weans around 400,000 calves, the graded sale system only sold about 4% of the calve produced last year. Of course many well-managed calves are sold private treaty or through other organized sale systems. However, a large percentage of feeder calves produced in North Carolina are sold at lighter than optimum weights, untreated for internal and external parasites and unexposed to a host of bacterial and viral agents. Experienced N.C. stocker cattle operators estimate over 70% of male calves sold through weekly auctions are sold as intact bulls. We have delivered educational programs for decades detailing the financial advantages of managing these problems but have failed to significantly change many management programs. Hopefully the demand for consistent beef quality will somehow create an incentive for more producers to improve their management and marketing programs.

To view the 1999 North Carolina Feeder Calf
and Yearling Cattle Sale Summaries. Click below

Johne's Brochure 
There was an article in the January, 2000 issue of the Carolina Cattle Connection. Near the end of the article, there was a reference to a brochure on Johne's disease in cattle and producers were asked to contact their livestock agents for copies. I had planned to get the brochures mailed to you before the article was published. However, my operating budget is depleted and I have been delayed in mailing those to you. 

I hope to have them to you soon.