Q.---WHAT IS THE 4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION?
A.---The 4-H livestock auction is the culmination of a long project year for many 4-H members. At the auction, they have the opportunity to sell their animals and learn first hand how the marketing process works. It is an educational project that begins with the selection of an animal many months before and continues until the animal is shipped to the slaughter house for you at the end of the fair, or you take home a dairy feeder calf to raise for slaughter later.
Q.---WHY SHOULD I PURCHASE AN ANIMAL FROM THE 4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION?
A.---You will receive personal satisfaction through: 1). Helping to promote 4-H youth "learn by doing" programs. 2). Obtaining high quality meat for your freezer or locker. 3). Free advertising you will receive as a buyer, both in various news papers and the 4-H showbook.
Q.---WHAT TYPES OF ANIMALS WILL BE SOLD?
A.---Steers, sheep, swine, and dairy beef feeders.
Q.--- AS A POTENTIAL BUYER, SHOULD I PLAN TO ARRIVE EARLY?
A.---It is a good idea to arrive early enough to view the sale animals and/or talk to the 4-H members/owners (Livestock auction booklets are available at the clerk's table). A signup sheet will be in the show area so that you can obtain a buyers number.
Q.---CAN MORE THAN ONE PERSON PURCHASE THE SAME ANIMAL?
A.---Yes, but make sure you provide all names, addresses and phone numbers to the clerk.
Q.---SO, I'VE BOUGHT AN ANIMAL, NOW WHAT?
A.---You will be asked to sign a bill of sale and indicate the following: 1). Indicate whether you would like the animal processed for your personal use, resold at a stockyard or donated to charity. 2). Indicate your choice of processor or livestock yard. 3). Indicate method of payment. You can either pay at the auction or be billed later.
Q.---WHO WILL HANDLE MY PAYMENT AND/OR BILLING QUESTIONS?
A.---Macatawa Bank will be clerking the sale. The bank will send you a bill following the sale, or you may pay that evening by check only.
Q.---HOW DO I TRANSPORT THE ANIMAL TO THE PROCESSING PLANT OR LIVESTOCK YARD?
A.---4-H coordinates free trucking on the Saturday morning after the livestock auction for the animals being processed or resold. Feeder calves may be picked up by the buyer on Saturday.
Q.---IF I DECIDE TO HAVE MY ANIMAL PROCESSED, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
A.---Indicate on the bill of sale your processing choice. Contact the processor Monday morning following the auction sale to inform them of the number and species of the animals you are having processed at their plant, with instructions on types of cuts, thickness, packaging materials,etc. that you desire. Make arrangements to pick up your packaged meat from the processor.
Q.---CAN I BUY AN ANIMAL AND NOT KEEP IT?
A.---YES, you hace two options: 1.)You can market your animal. This means reselling it to another buyer.Trucking and reselling will be handled for you. You will receive a check in the mail from the second buyer, less any marketing fee. 2.) You can donate your animal back to 4-H. If you chooseto do this, indicate your decision to the auctioneer or the ring personel at the time your final bid is taken. You should then check with the clerk to finalize payment.
Q.---WHAT IS THE LIVE WEIGHT VS. HANGING WEIGHT, AND WHAT KIND OF YEILD CAN I EXPECT?
A.---Live weight is the weight of the animal before killing it. The hanging weight or carcass weight is the weight of the slaughtered animal as it hangs from the rail. At this state, the hide and viscera have been removed. The animal is then taken down and cut into saleable meat. The following are samples of average yields. ** A 1,200 lb. steer = 720 lb. carcass=575 lbs. saleable meat. **A 230 lb. hog =172 lb. carcass=138 lbs. saleable meat.
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