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Technology Changing Livestock Sales

published: November 24th 2009
by: Megan Lawrence
source: Tulsa World

With the slam of the gate, the bull runs into the sale ring, the auctioneer begins to shout, and ringmen begin to yell as the audience bids on the animal.

However, the only sound of gates opening and slamming shut at the Fink Beef Genetics Bull Sale in Randolph, Kan., is people walking in and out of the pens outside the building to look at the bulls before the sale.

Fink, like other cattle producers, has gone to pre-filming its livestock before a sale. When the sale begins, livestock appear on a TV monitor — live animals are not brought out in front of the bidders.

"This is our third sale (where) we have not run an animal through the ring," said Galen Fink, the owner of Fink Beef Genetics. "We have a 95 percent rate of repeat customers, and we have had no complaints from them."

Companies that run livestock auctions not only have to get livestock ready for it, but they must hire extra help to get the animal through the sale pens on the day of the sale.

So, Fink hired a production company in 2008 to film bulls for the sale.

"It is easier on the animal and the customer is able to see the true temperament of the bulls in their natural environment," said Karl Harborth, a Kansas State University Southeast Kansas Extension livestock specialist.

Wade Fisher, the owner of Ideal Video Productions, said pre-filming of animals "is becoming more popular for the ease of the sale."

"Animals are less likely to get hurt during the sale, and the customer is

able to see the animal in a natural state and view the animal in a familiar environment," Fisher said.

Fink has its animals available the day before and the morning of the sale for potential customers to examine and compare the bulls.

Ideal Video Productions is one of four companies that offer pre-filming of livestock. It is working with 25 customers in Texas, Kansas and Iowa.

"Pre-filming and the Internet allows potential buyers to view the animals before the sale and narrow down what animals they want to focus on," Fisher said.

Bidder Stanley Keller of St. Francis, Kan., said, " as long as I can still go and look at the animal in person before the sale, I will get along just fine."