By Ntambo Mabuza
The Xplore-Agri article, “Under the Livestock Auctioneer’s Hammer: Unveiling the Hidden Dynamics of Livestock Auctions”, advised newcomers to immerse themselves in the world of livestock auctions and learn as much as possible before
buying an animal. This is crucial because it takes years of experience to develop the instinct needed to tell the difference between a bargain bull and one that won’t deliver the goods.
Purchasing Objective
The success of your first bid depends on how well prepared you are. Whether the
cow is destined for the pot, the butchery, or the kraal, you should know exactly what
your ideal cow looks like long before the bidding starts. A key part of preparation involves gaining a good understanding of the livestock trade, including its language and terminology. This knowledge will guide both the strategic and operational aspects of your farm, while helping to refine your purchasing goals and approach to bidding.
Credibility of the Auction
As with any situation involving money, livestock auctions can also attract the
unscrupulous. While the relaxed atmosphere allows for networking and free advice,
these events can also be a draw for fraudsters targeting the inexperienced. Even at well-organised auctions with high security, beginners should be cautious of
side deals that seem too good to be true. It’s important to assess the professionalism and organisation of the livestock auction house beforehand.
A chaotic environment could be a warning sign of potential credibility issues. On the positive side, most livestock auctioneers build their reputations on ethical business practices and quality service. A legitimate livestock auction house will be registered with the Agricultural Produce Agents Council, with paperwork and operations that comply with laws ensuring animal welfare and protecting both buyers and sellers.
Walking the Pens
The auction house would have advertised the number and types of animals available for sale on a specific day. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, buyers must carefully inspect the livestock they wish to bid on after registering and receiving a bid number. Once the hammer falls, the winning bidder is fully responsible for any defects or issues that may go wrong after the sale.
Making your first bid
Once seated at the auction ringside, the action begins. All your previous efforts lead
to this moment. Your focus should be on the livestock entering the ring, the
auctioneer, and the scale screen above the auction platform. It’s crucial to listen
carefully to the auctioneer amid the noise of the auction. Typically, the auctioneer
provides detailed information about each animal, such as health records and notable traits, to help you make informed buying decisions and avoid surprises after the auction. Unless stated otherwise, most auction houses sell cattle in batches and use the average price and weight for a single animal. For instance, the auctioneer might announce an average price of R15 000 for a lot of 20 cattle, which could be
misinterpreted as R15 000 for the entire lot rather than R300 000.
Bringing the Cows Home
Buying livestock comes with significant responsibilities that are also governed by law. Once the excitement of the bidding fades, the reality of safe and humane
transportation of livestock takes over and requires its own skill set. In farming, it is
expected that the new home for your livestock will be ready to receive the animals.
Do you have questions about livestock auctions or other Agri-related topics?
Email us at [email protected]—we’re here to help!
