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Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:20 pm
by LewisMoore
hello all,
I've come across a bit of a problem and was looking to seek some advice?
Next year i will be hopefully going to university in either Shropshire or Cirencester, so i will be moving away. Unfortunatly my dad won't be able to cope with the 20+ cattle we have. So we have decided to sell the majority of them.
Could i have a bit of advice on what the best way of selling them is, auction? privately? what time of year is best?
thanks
Lewis
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:15 pm
by Mark Bowles
Hi Lewis, good you have got in at uni but a shame you have to sell some of your cattle.
Beleive it or not the odd animal is selling now.
Best time seems to be late autumn, i don't know why but it seems a good time.
Private sales may be best, you could put a couple in at Melton but you will have to take pot luck, as you are already aware.
Cattle do sell at the shows but i suppose you may not be doing too many this year.
Its the same old story, quality cattle will always sell, especially with a good photo.
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:27 pm
by Saffy
Hello Lewis,
Good to hear about university - what course are you going to do?
As for selling, why not try this site first? I have found it excellent. That way you set your price and if someone wants to offer less - you have time to decide whether you want to take it or not. With a sale there are are costs involved to enter, and more costs to take them to the sale. The decision has to be made what to sell an animal for usually before the auction by putting a reserve. I often hear of people wishing they had put the reserve a little lower, so the animal had sold and they didn't have to take it back home! Although some sales you can stand by the auctioneer and say whether or not you are happy for him to sell for the price people have bid.
If you offer them - or some of them for sale on the site first and they don't sell you can still take them to an auction- and it has cost you nothing.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck with the sale and good luck in university.
Stephanie
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:21 pm
by Broomcroft
Lewis
If you have youngsters suitable for bringing on for beef then one of the best prices you'll get will be to sell them to a finisher / beef producer, especially steers or young bulls. PM me if this is so and I'll send you a list. I might be interested in steers if you have any, possibly heifers depending upon age.
Sell your heifers privately. Local adverts can work quite well and will attract people who never not look at the web and just want some cows.
Do you have a bull? If so, consider OTM if you want to maximise your income from the herd, but it needs to be planned. Bulls can be surprisingly heavy and so may not get downgraded. I sent 2 bulls this year, 1 £600 (3 years old), the other £700 (8 years). Again PM or email me if you want. Just sent a heifers at 3 and got £498. Also sent 2 older, small cows, got peanuts.
PS. Well done with Uni. If you go to Shropshire don't forget to come and see us, we're 10 miles south of Shrewsbury and Telford.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1260980631
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:54 am
by LewisMoore
Thanks for all the replies.
Staffy it's Harper adams uni, i have applied for a couple of courses one in animal science and one in straight agriculture.
Mark, you're right about a few selling now! I was contacted tonight about some of my animals. I think having a range of cattle as in; short and non-short, black and red, haltered etc it may be best in selling in a few different ways maybe put the slightly better quality cattle on the site with a picture and some private advertising.
Clive, i would very much like to visit you and your herd thank you for the invitation.
I would like to make sure you know i'm not completly going out of dexters just downsizing, i'll leave my dad with a few to keep! 
Thanks again
Lewis
p.s. mark i will be on the show circuit for next year hopefully, see if i can promote and sell!!!