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Livestock Auction
Market Popular
The livestock auction market is the most popular outlet for livestock sales in Virginia, according to recently compiled results of a survey of some 7,000 farms in 47 Virginia counties. J. D. Johnson, agricultural economist at the VPI .Agricultural Experiment Station, says further about 80 percent of the farmers selling livestock through auction markets live within 30 miles of the auction. Many farmers, the study also showed, were relying on the buyer to transport their livestock in 1950. About 33 percent of the cattle, 23 per cent of the calves, 39 percent of the hogs and 16 percent of the lambs were moved from the farm in the buyer’s truck. The livestock producer selling only a few animals for slaughter purposes tends to depend more on the buyer’s mode of transportation than does the larger producer.
About 1/3 of the slaughter cattle and calves sold by Virginia farmers in 1950 were classed as dairy* type animals. Nearly 1/4 of all cattle and calves were less than 6 months old when sold. However, the largest percentage of slaughter cattle were sold when two years old or older. Only 8 percent of the beef-type animals were sold when less than 6 months old, whereas 42 percent of the mixed-type and 55 percent of the dairy-type were less than 6 months old when sold.
Farmers reported very little grain finishing of slaughter cattle or lambs. Slightly over 88 percent of the slaughter cattle, and 93 percent of the lambs were finished on grass.
About 63 percent of the slaughter hogs were sold when they were "between 5 and 12 months of age at average of 205 pounds. (Josnson notes that these lighter weights are recommended, and have proved more profitable.) About 63 percent of Virginia's lambs were sold when less than 6 months old, at average weight of 85 pounds. Most of the slaughter cattle sold in Virginia were sold by farmers reporting sales of 10 animals or more in 1950. About 314 of the slaughter cattle were sold by 1/4 of the farmers reporting. The same general pattern, though not as pronounced, existed with respect to veal calves and stockers and feeders.
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