Video Auctions for Cattle

In a video sale, buyers bid on cattle they see on screen rather than in a ring. The cattle may stay on your ranch until delivery, so what you promise is what you must ship.

Key points

Video sales rely on honest descriptions and clear contracts.
Uniform, well-presented lots perform best on video.
Read terms on weights, shrink, adjustments and risk transfer.
Follow health program rules and withdrawal times exactly.
Plan for feed and weather between sale and delivery.

How video auctions work

A representative visits your ranch, looks at the cattle and films them. Buyers watch the video and bid from anywhere, often for delivery weeks or months later. The sale describes weights, sex, breed type, health program and delivery dates.

Because buyers do not see cattle in person, trust in the description matters more than at a sale barn.

Companies vary in how they describe cattle, run sales and handle problems. Compare more than one before you choose. Ask the company how many sales it holds, how buyers are approved and how long it has operated, so you know who you are dealing with.

Why producers use them

Cattle can stay at home until shipment, which avoids hauling stress and mixing with other cattle. Larger uniform groups can reach more buyers across regions. Some sellers like setting a delivery date months ahead.

The trade-off is price risk and commitment. You may be bound to deliver a set number of cattle at a set time, even if weather, health or markets change.

Think about feed and pasture. Holding cattle until delivery means your grass and hay must last, and a dry spell can leave you with hungry cattle and a firm delivery date.

Cattle stay home until delivery
Larger uniform lots reach more buyers
Delivery date is set in advance
Contract terms must be honored

Preparing for the video

Show cattle in clean, uncrowded settings with natural movement. Sort them into uniform groups before filming. Poor footage or mixed pens can cost you bids.

Be honest about weights and condition. Overstating cattle can bring discounts, disputes or lost reputation. Ask the company how weights are estimated and verified.

Take care with handling at gathering and weighing. Weight loss and injuries before delivery can cost money and hurt your reputation.

Read the terms carefully

Every company has its own contract. Look at fees, how weights are set, the weight range allowed, the slide or adjustment for weight differences, shrink, payment timing and what happens if cattle do not match the description.

Ask who is responsible if cattle are injured or die before delivery, and when ownership and risk transfer. Have your lender or attorney review anything you do not understand.

Save a copy of the video and the description for your records. If a dispute arises, they show what you offered and what buyers saw. Read the clauses on weight adjustments twice. Small differences in the slide can change your check more than a small difference in the bid.

Health and preconditioning

Many video sales feature calves with a defined health program. Programs and certifications have their own rules and verification, so follow them exactly. Ask your vet to help design a plan that fits your buyers.

Keep detailed records and follow withdrawal times. Cattle must be healthy at delivery, and sick animals should not be shipped.

Weigh cattle on a reliable scale and keep tickets. Ask the company whether a third-party weigh or a seller-supplied weight will be used at delivery.

For buyers

Ask for references, past sale results and health records. Understand how the seller's weights are estimated and how adjustments are handled. Plan for receiving cattle, including quarantine and a health plan from your vet.

Compare the delivered cost, not just the bid price, including freight and shrink.

Ask about trucking, who arranges it and what rules apply for crossing state lines. Check state movement and health requirements before shipment.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Frequent mistakes include overstating weights, selling cattle that are not ready, ignoring contract details and not planning for weather or feed in the months before delivery. Buyers sometimes skip references.

Ask the sale company about their buyers, their track record and how disputes are settled. Ask your accountant how forward sales affect your records.

Visit with other sellers who have used the same company. Ask what surprised them, how weights worked out at delivery and whether they would use the company again.

When to get help: Have a lender or attorney review the contract, ask your veterinarian to design a health program that fits your buyers, and ask the sale company for references and past results.

Sources and further reading

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