​Maryland Small Ruminant Page

There are many advantages to marketing livestock through a public livestock auction, sale barn, or stockyard. It is convenient and easy. There are usually regular weekly sales. Sometimes, there are special graded sales or sales that cator to the increased demand for sheep and goats prior to various religious holidays.
 

When you sell at a stockyard, you get prompt payment and you are protected by the Packers and Stockyards Act. Public auctions are an ideal place for "price discovery." Price discovery is the process of determining the price level of a commodity based on supply and demand factors. Price discovery is public. It needs to occur somewhere and is often what many direct sales are based upon

There are also disadvanges for this marketing option. You do not know what price you are going to receive before-hand. You are subject to wide fluctuations in the market. You have little control over price. This is why farmers are often called "price-takers." Sales commisions can be high, especially if you are selling light weight lambs or kids.

Depending upon the location of the auction, shrink and transportation costs could be substantial. This marketing option can be very stressful to the livestock. Sale barns are usually not the best place to purchase breeding stock, due to the potential disease risks.

 

Here are some tips for maximizing your returns when taking sheep and/or goats to a livestock auction/stockyard:

 

Consider the major Muslim, Christian, and Jewish holidays when marketing sheep and goats. Eid ul-Adha or the "Festival of Sacrifice," a Muslim holiday, is usually the best time to place sheep and goats in the market place. Eid ul-Fidr or the "Festival of Fast-breaking" follows the month of Ramadan and is another good time to sell sheep and goats. Easter is obviously an important holiday for marketing lamb and goat. There is a usually a greater demand at Greek or Eastern Orthodox Easter as compared to Western or Roman Easter. Minor holidays (e.g. Mother's Day, 4th of July, etc.) can also be a good time to sell sheep and goats.

 

When targetting a holiday, put your livestock into the market place at least one week before the holiday.

 

Do not castrate males, especially bucks, unless you have to. Intact males grow faster and more efficiently. They are preferred by many ethnic buyers. A wether is a blemished animal.

 

Do not dock lambs unless you have to. Tails sell for the same price as the rest of the lamb. Many ethnic buyers prefer tailed lambs. A docked lamb is a blemished lamb.

 

Do not sell animals with dirty butts or hocks. They will be considered unhealthy by the buyers, even if the soiled parts are dry.
 

Consider shearing sheep/lambs that are neither too fat nor too thin. They look better to buyers.
 

Consider color when breeding meat goats. Colored goats are often preferred by ethnic buyers. Solid-white goats are less desired. A goat with a brown/dark head usually brings more money because it is presumed to be of Boer breeding.

 

There is as much difference among breeds as between breeds. Some breeds or types may sell at a discount until buyers learn more about them. Short-earred goats (i.e. La Mancha) may sell at a discount because their lack of ears makes them appear blemished to ethnic buyers.

 

When selling suckling lambs or kids, sell them directly off their dams. If you wean them, they will lose their "bloom."

 

Consider body condition of cull animals. Overly fat and thin animals will bring less money.

 

Learn how to mouth sheep and goats. If you have a big lamb or kid, make sure you mark it and it gets sold as a lamb or kid, not a mature animal (especially lambs).

 

Mark your animals according to how you want them sorted and sold.