Move cattle quietly and quickly avoiding excitement or running of the animals to avoid excess shrinkage and "dark cutters." Do not bruise the cattle. Make sure facilities are in good repair. Make sure the trucker can load the cattle "quietly." Do not mix bullers with the other cattle if possible. Keep careful medical records on any cattle that are treated to insure withdrawal requirements are met.
All the cattle can be sold from the pen if they all appear to be done. The alternative is to "Top Out" or Top Off" cattle in a pen. Topping off pens should be considered when a pen has differences in age, weight, and condition present. A feeder can top off a pen once or twice and then sell the remainder.
Selling Direct: The feeder needs to have knowledge of carcass beef price, the strength of the dressed beef market, and the potential quality and yield grades of the cattle owned (Fox, 1976). A 1000 lb steer at about the fatness of low choice can be expected to have a carcass weight of about 600 lbs or a dressing percent of 60%. If the price quoted is 70 cents per pound of live weight, then the carcass value is .70/.60 = $1.17 per pound.
It may be advisable to sell based on live price and weight if you are concerned about the ability of the cattle to grade or when the market is strong and competition is good. Weighing conditions (shrink) that are fair to all concerned should be agreed upon. If you are not satisfied with the weighing conditions (shrink), you might consider a guaranteed dressing percent. If cattle are muddy or dressing percent is in doubt, then you might sell based on a flat over-all carcass beef price. If you feel that the cattle are better quality than the price offered, sell them based on carcass weight and a price schedule for different quality/yield grades.
It should be agreed upon prior to sale who stands the comdemnation and bruises and if standard slaughtering and trimming procedures are followed for all cattle processed. It should be known how soon the cattle will be processed (tissue shrink probably starts after 12-14 hours off feed), what slaughter information can be obtained, and how soon payment is made.
Selling at Auction: A preferred method of selling cattle may be at a local auction barn. It is a good idea to let your local auciton know when you have cattle ready and they can adivse you when there will be buyers present for your type of cattle.