Thursday, March 18, 2010

Livestock Auction



The Lemay's......... and waiting for the breakfast.....

The Marana Stockyards hold a livestock auction just about every Thursday morning... except last week when we where there with our neighbors John & Kathy. Not deterred by last weeks disappointment, we were good to go again this morning. And this time, we brought relatives. Kathy and John have family visiting from Minnesota, so the more the merrier. While none of us had experienced this before or had a clue as to what was going to happen, we knew breakfast was part of the ritual before the 10:30am auction and that would be a good start to the day. And, little did we know, the fella pouring the coffee would be the auctioneer. (Seems everyone is cross trained at this place.) The coffee was good and so was the auctioneer.

To get a little info before the auction started, Ada quickly made friends with three locals sitting in front of her that looked like they knew what was about to take place. It seems they auction cattle, steer, and bulls based on age, weight, and pedigree. Some are auctioned by the head (total price) and others might be auctioned by $$'s per hundred pounds. As at any auction, the process is fast and you have to size up the animal in warp speed. No time to blink or think twice. Probably, this is how most ranchers in southern Arizona got started, and continue to suppliment their herds at auctions just like this. I expect these ranchers came prepared with a shopping list. One brama bull, two steer, and a calf.....

2 comments:

TerriD said...

It sounds like he is singing. How much do one of the cattle actually end up going for?

Ada May & Donald Roberts @ Amelia Payson House B&B said...

Most weigh anywhere from 600 to 1400 pounds. Usually, the price is about $45 per 100 pounds. Some are sold by the head, and depending on the expected reproductive life span, could go for a high price in the thousands or for as litte as $250. The big brama bulls are very expensive. The more ornery the better.