Beef Cattlemen Seeing "Green"
After Record NETBIO Sale
On Wednesday

by: Bobby McDonald

"Quality from end to end and record prices," were the comments from auctioneer and co-owner of Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Company, Joe Don Pogue. "As the cattle started entering the ring, it was very evident that cattle producers in Northeast Texas had brought their very best and the market responded to the demand for these outstanding cattle. Beef producers in Northeast Texas should be really proud of the cattle they presented and the prices they received in this record breaking sale!"

Twenty-two feedlot buyers purchased the 4687 head sold on Wednesday, with Sellers Cattle Company of Amarillo and Hamlin, Texas, being the volume buyer of the sale. And buyers paid a record $730.22 per head for the cattle. Gross volume of the sale was $3,422,577.35. "And, that will buy lots of feed and hay for the drouth stricken Northeast Texas area," denoted David Fowler, co-owner of Sulphur Springs Livestock. "It's great to be able to conduct a record sale like this, when beef cattlemen are suffering from the weather extremes and need to the money to stay in business. That's when marketing cattle is fun!"

The uniform lots that the NETBIO organization is noted all across the country for presenting, were heavily sought after and went to such distant locations as Guyman, Oklahoma, Kansas, Grand Island, Nebraska, and then, of course, many went to the Texas Panhandle for finish feeding. "We had interest from all across the country," denoted Pogue. "When you assemble a group of cattle with the quality we offered in this sale, you have interest from everywhere!"

"This sale bested the next highest NETBIO sale by about twelve-dollars a head," denoted Fowler. "That sale ironically was held in September of 2004, so I guess we might assume the best time to market feeder cattle is September!"

An outstanding group of replacement quality heifers were again offered
at the NETBIO Sale and local cattlemen were able to "cull" their herds
and replace the cows with top quality heifers.

The replacement heifer segment of the sale has been popular, as cattlemen are always looking for quality replacements for their herds. "And, with this sale, we had some really outstanding groups of heifers, because local cattlemen were thinning their herds because of drouth conditions and the scarcity of hay," denoted Fowler. "Cattlemen received good prices for those heifers that they might have normally retained for their own herds!"

The trademark of the NETBIO Sales has been the uniform grouping of cattle so that feeder buyers could come to the sale and purchase large groups of cattle for their needs. This sale reflected the uniformity and the extra care that producers are implementing on the farm and ranch. Cattle were grouped according to size and weight and reflected the quality that began when local beef cattle producers made a concerted effort to purchase bulls to complement their cow herds, to produce calves that would meet the buyer's demands. "I can't praise the local producers enough for the quality they brought to the market with this sale," stated Pogue. "It was just an outstanding group of cattle and I think the record price proved the value of the cattle presented!"

The next NETBIO Sale is scheduled for November 16, 2005, at Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Company, and fits nicely into the scheduled weaning dates, for fall calves. "The November Sale has always been popular, as it works for producers to wean their calves in time for their mama cows to gain a little bit of weight and conditioning before winter sets-in here in Northeast Texas," stated Fowler. "I expect another good sale in November!"

For information about consigning your cattle to the November Sale and the necessary weaning, vaccination, and feeding requirements, contact the personnel at Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Company, by calling (903)885-2455. They can assist you in meeting the criteria for the sale.