Statistics have shown that most sheep owners are selling their livestock through public auctions or sale barns. This is also true of goats, given that these animals are frequently sold at public auctions, however, many goats are alternatively slaughtered on the farm.
Selling livestock of any type through a stockyard, public auction or sale barn is a very convenient and easy way to generate profits. Sales are virtually guaranteed to increase throughout the religious holidays when the demand for sheep and goats tends to soar. Another benefit of selling sheep or goats at a public auction is the ability to instantly collect payments. There is also the protection that you get from the Packers and Stockyards law to consider.
In order to optimize your profits when selling goats or sheep at a public auction or stockyard market, be sure to keep the guidelines that follow in mind:
– When breeding goats for meat, opt for colored goats given that buyers tend to prefer colored goats over white ones when buying for meat.
– Wait until the reported prices are noticeably low before selling your sheep or goats. During the next sale, prices are likely to increase and not as many farm animals are going to be sold.
– Build a strong and positive reputation for yourself as a seller. Find out what buyers want in their goats and sheep. Ask your customers for feedback as well so that you have a better idea of what to offer in the future.
– Consider the religious holidays when selling goats or sheep. The Festival of Fast-Breaking (Eid ul-Fidr) and The Festival of Sacrifice (Eid ul-Adha) as well as other Muslim holidays are all great times for selling goats and sheep at a public auction. More importantly, when preparing for any specific holiday, be sure to put your goats and sheep on the market one full week in advance of the sale or more.
– Stay up to date on market reports, but do not rely solely on these. While they can be good indicators of market trends, they are not entirely objective nor are they completely accurate all of the time.
– Before taking them to auction, make sure that the buttocks or hocks of your animals are clean. Buyers will not be interested in buying dirty animals.
– Do not place your goats or sheep at the very last minute because this could cause them to be sold at a lower price, especially when you place them just before the sale’s end.
– Sheep and goats that aren’t too thin or too fit can be sheared ahead of auctioning so that they have a better look for prospective buyers.
– Ethnic buyers tend to find male goats and sheep that are non-neutered preferable given that these animals often grow really fast. As such, you should avoid castrating your males if you intend to take them to public auctions.
– After you’ve dropped your goats and sheep off at the stockyard, check in on them to ensure that they are getting sufficient food and care and that they’re being kept in a large, clean storage area. This way, you can be sure that your animals will generate lots of profits and sales.
Use these tips when selling your goats and sheep at a public livestock auction and you’ll be sure to bring in consistent sales and considerable profits over time.
Related resources:
- All You Need To Know About Livestock Judging
- Guide To Selling Livestock For Profit: Different Breeds Of Beef Cattle
