Mastering the art of timing to optimise your cattle sale

By this Friday, September 6, it will only be 109 days to Christmas. This is not meant to frighten you into going out to buy something for you partner, but as a reminder about time on feed for the livestock you are about to sell.

With most “export” feeder cattle getting at least 105 days on feed, cattle getting sold in the next couple of weeks would be due to come out in the middle of the Christmas period.

Christmas, this year, falls on a Wednesday, so depending on your location, the local abattoirs may only have the public holidays off or for northern plants they could shut for several weeks. Regardless of sale channel that you use, these dates are important.

If you are thinking of selling feeder cattle in the next week or so, consider the average weight of the mob.

Keep the weight of the heavy feeders towards the bottom end of the specifications.

This should still allow for full competition as feedlotters can keep them on feed for a few extra days without risking “blowing” the top of the grid.

While you have the Texta out, mark the period in another 30 days for when you are selling domestic feeders.