Consignment Sales Advantages For Beef Cattle Marketing

CONSIGNMENT SALES

ADVANTAGES OF CONSIGNMENT SALES
There are numerous advantages to consigning cattle to a well-operated consignment auction:

1. Exposure ... Establishing a marketing outlet, offering the opportunity to participate in a sale when they do not have enough cattle to put on their own production sale. In addition, consignment sales allow a large number of potential customers the opportunity to appraise the offering of several different breeders in one location at one time.

2. Potential generation of future private treaty sales as a direct result of the consignment sale exposure. It is not uncommon for people attending the sale to contact breeders whose consignment has been especially impressive for additional purchases.

3. Establish market value for cattle at home ... becomes easier to ask a certain price for similar breeding and quality at home if the cattle have already brought the same price at public auction. This advantage should not be underrated, because it impacts the whole herd.

4. Expand your marketing area ... Often sales will be made to customers within a 100 mile radius of your ranch. Consignment sales offer breeders the opportunity to expose their cattle on a limited basis to a larger market area with many more potential customers, anywhere in the country.

5. Develop a reputation for quality ... a means to develop a loyal customer base as well as increase the number of potential customers who know that you have quality livestock and would be willing to purchase cattle from you in the future, possibly at your first production sale.