The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) pre-conditioned stocker and feeder sale is in the habit of setting records, and the September 21 sale was no exception.
STANDING TALL This Brahman heifer was keeping an eye on sale barn co-owners David Fowler, bottom right, and auctioneer Joe Don Pogue.
Not only was there a full house of buyers, sellers and interested cattle producers, but also the 5,715 head of cattle consigned was a record for this fall sale. The number of sellers (shippers) continues to grow. A total of 256 sellers consigned cattle to the sale.
“The quality of cattle overall was very good,” said David Fowler, co-owner of the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission where the NETBIO sale is conducted six times a year. “There is always some plainer cattle, but there is a market for those, too. There is still a good demand for replacement heifers as well.”
Fowler added that some of the lighter cattle purchased were destined to pasture for grazing.
There was excellent buyer attendance, along with some buyers bidding over the Internet. Fowler said there were several livestock feed yard representatives at the sale. There were a total of 38 buyers who purchased cattle at an average of $805.70 per head. This was slightly below the average per head in July but strong for today’s market.
“The market (for NETBIO calves) was sure better than on un-weaned calves,” Fowler said of the pre-conditioned and weaned calves that went through the sale. “Producers are sure being rewarded for their efforts and that is what the NETBIO pre-conditioned sale is all about.”
QUALITY CATTLE This pen of 27 Brings heifers drew a lot of interest from bidders.
The NETBIO Sale gives producers a market to offer their pre-conditioned and weaned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities. NETBIO membership has grown continuously since its inception in 1998, representing dozens of Texas counties and several states.
The final sale of the year is the anniversary sale that will be held on November 16. The weaning deadline for calves entering this sale is Oct. 2. The deadline for the last booster is Oct. 17.
This anniversary sale will continue its tradition of providing a BBQ lunch with all the trimmings for the participants. All the sales are held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission and auctioneer Joe Don Pogue’s gavel falls at 1 p.m.
