The University of Arkansas animal science researchers conducted sale barn surveys in Arkansas to study factors affecting feeder-calf prices at livestock auctions. The surveys were conducted in 2010 and collected from 14 Arkansas livestock auctions. Data was collected from 38,346 lots consisting of 79,822 head of cattle representing 19 percent of total calves sold. Information was collected on body condition, castration, horn status, fill, health and individual or group selling. All prices were based on dollars per 45.45 kg of live weight.
Highlights of the survey are listed below:
Body condition affected selling price with fat, very thin, fleshy, average and thin calves selling for $94.40, $98.05, $102.23, $108.36 and $110.11, respectively. Steers sold for $6.31 more than bulls. Polled calves sold for $8.03 more than horned calves. Preconditioned calves sold for a higher price than healthy calves. Cattle classified as calves sold for $110.29, which was higher than cattle classified as yearlings that sold for $104.81.
Color affected selling price of the calves sold. Black-white faced calves sold the highest at $111.74, followed by black at $110.23, yellow at $110.09 and yellow-white faced at $109.81. However, spotted calves received the lowest price selling for $82.16.
