Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T21:21:50.480Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Factors associated with selling price of cattle at livestock marts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2010

N. Mc Hugh
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
A. G. Fahey
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
R. D. Evans
Affiliation:
Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Highfield House, Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland
D. P. Berry*
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
*
Get access

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with selling price of animals at livestock marts around Ireland. Data consisted of four distinct maturity categories: calves (2 to 84 days of age, n = 53 838); weanlings (6 to 12 months of age, n = 19 972); post-weanlings (12 to 36 months of age, n = 93 081) and cows (>30 months to 12 years of age, n = 94 839); sold through livestock marts between 2000 and 2008. Factors associated with animal price were determined within each maturity category separately using mixed models; random effects were mart, date of sale nested within mart, and herd of origin nested within year of sale. Mean selling price was €157, €580, €655 and €592 for calves, weanlings, post-weanlings and cows, respectively. The greatest prices were paid for singleton crossbred male calves, weanlings and post-weanlings from older dams. With the exception of the Aberdeen Angus, beef breeds and their crosses consistently received higher prices than their dairy counterparts across all four maturity categories; increased proportion of Belgian Blue and Charolais was associated with greater prices compared with other beef breeds. When live-weight was included in the multiple regression models the association between price and all factors regressed toward zero but most factors remained associated with price. The highest price was recorded in the spring months for calves, post-weanlings and cows, and in the autumn months for weanlings. Results from this study may be used to help farmers make more informed management decisions, as well as provide information for bio-economic models for evaluating alternative production systems or estimating economic values.

Type
Full Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alberti, P, Panea, B, Sanudo, C, Olleta, JL, Ripoll, G, Ertbjerg, P, Christensen, M, Gigli, S, Failla, S, Concetti, S, Hocquette, JF, Jailler, R, Rudel, S, Renand, G, Nute, GR, Richardson, RI, Williams, JL 2008. Live weight, body size and carcass characteristics of young bulls of fifteen European breeds. Livestock Science 114, 1930.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barham, BL, Troxel, TR 2007. Factors affecting the selling price of feeder cattle sold at Arkansas livestock auctions in 2005. Journal of Animal Science 85, 34343441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, DP, Cromie, AR 2007. Artificial insemination increases the probability of a male calf in dairy and beef cattle. Theriogenology 67, 346352.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berry, DP, Harris, BL, Winkelman, AM, Montgomerie, W 2005. Phenotypic associations between traits other than production and longevity in New Zealand dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 29622974.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berry, DP, Lonergan, P, Butler, ST, Cromie, AR, Fair, T, Mossa, F, Evans, ACO 2008. Negative influence of high maternal milk production before and after conception on offspring survival and milk production in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 329337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Campion, B, Keane, MG, Kenny, DA, Berry, DP 2009. Evaluation of estimated genetic merit for carcass weight in beef cattle: live weights, feed intake, body measurements, skeletal and muscular scores, and carcass characteristics. Livestock Science 126, 8799.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, AM, Drennan, MJ, McGee, M, Kenny, DA, Evans, RD, Berry, DP 2009. Intake, live animal scores/measurements and carcass composition and value of late-maturing beef and dairy breeds. Livestock Science 126, 5768.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dal Zotto, R, Penasa, M, De Marchi, M, Cassandro, M, Lopez-Villalobos, N, Bittante, G 2009. Use of crossbreeding with beef bulls in dairy herds: effect on age, body weight, price, and market value of calves sold at livestock auctions. Journal of Animal Science 87, 30533059.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dematawewa, CMB, Berger, PJ 1997. Effect of dystocia on yield, fertility, and cow losses and an economic evaluation of dystocia scores for Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 754761.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) 2008. CMMS statistics report 2008. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Dublin, Ireland.Google Scholar
Drennan, MJ, McGee, M 2009. Performance of spring-calving beef suckler cows and their progeny to slaughter on intensive and extensive grassland management systems. Livestock Science 120, 112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Echternkamp, SE, Gregory, KE 2002. Reproductive, growth, feedlot and carcass traits of twin vs single births in cattle. Journal of Animal Science 80 (E. Suppl. 2), E64E73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elzo, MA, Quaas, RL, Pollak, EJ 1987. Effects of age of dam on weight traits in the Simmental population. Journal of Animal Science 64, 9921001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faminow, MD, Gum, RL 1986. Feeder cattle price differentials in Arizona auction markets. Western Journal of Agricultural Economics 11, 156163.Google Scholar
Gilmour, AR, Gogel, BJ, Cullis, BR, Welham, SJ, Thompson, R 2007. ASReml reference manual, 2nd edition. New South Wales Agriculture, Orange Agricultural Institute, NSW, Australia.Google Scholar
Gregory, KE, Echternkamp, SE, Dickerson, GE, Cundiff, LV, Koch, RM, Van Vleck, LD 1990. Twinning in cattle: III. Effects of twinning on dystocia, reproductive traits, calf survival, calf growth and cow productivity. Journal of Animal Science 68, 31333144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gregory, KE, Echternkamp, SE, Cundiff, LV 1996. Effects of twinning on dystocia, calf survival, calf growth, carcass traits, and cow productivity. Journal of Animal Science 74, 12231233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hallford, DM, Turman, EJ, Selk, GE, Walters, LE, Stephens, DF 1976. Carcass composition in single and multiple birth cattle. Journal of Animal Science 42, 10981103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holland, MD, Odde, KG 1992. Factors affecting calf birth: a review. Theriogenology 38, 769798.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keane, MG 2003. Beef production from Holstein-Friesian bulls and steers of New Zealand and European/American descent, and Belgian Blue × Holstein-Friesians, slaughtered at two weights. Livestock Production Science 84, 207218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laster, DB, Gregory, KE 1973. Factors influencing peri- and early postnatal calf mortality. Journal of Animal Science 37, 10921097.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leighton, EA, Wilham, RL, Berger, PJ 1982. Factors influencing weaning weight in the Hereford cattle and adjustment factors to correct records for these effects. Journal of Animal Science 54, 957963.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGee, M, Drennan, MJ, Caffrey, PJ 2005. Effect of suckler cow genotype on milk yield and pre-weaning calf performance. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 44, 185194.Google Scholar
Mee, JF 2008. Prevalence and risk factors for dystocia in dairy cattle: a review. The Veterinary Journal 176, 93101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mee, JF, Berry, DP, Cromie, AR 2008. Prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, perinatal calf mortality in pasture-based Holstein-Friesian cows. Animal 2, 613620.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meijering, A 1984. Dystocia and stillbirth in cattle: a review of causes, relations and implications. Livestock Production Science 11, 143177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pell, EW, Thayne, WV 1978. Factors influencing weaning weight and grade of West Virginia beef calves. Journal of Animal Science 46, 596603.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroeder, T, Mintert, J, Brazle, F, Grunewald, O 1988. Factors affecting feeder cattle price differentials. Western Journal of Agricultural Economics 13, 7181.Google Scholar
Silva del Rio, N, Stewart, S, Rapnicki, P, Chang, M, Fricke, PM 2007. An observational analysis of twin births, calf sex ratio, and calf mortality in Holstein dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 12551264.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Troxel, TR, Barham, BL 2007. Comparing the 2000 and 2005 factors affecting the selling price of feeder cattle sold at Arkansas livestock auctions. Journal of Animal Science 85, 34253433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Troxel, TR, Gadberry, MS, Cline, S, Foley, J, Ford, G, Urell, D, Wiedower, R 2002. Factors affecting the selling price of feeder cattle sold at Arkansas livestock auctions. Professional Animal Scientist 18, 227236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar