Comparing the factors affecting the selling price of beef calves sold at Arkansas livestock auctions during a declining cattle inventory

The objectives of this study were to determine how declining calf supplies affected the selling price of calves. Data from 12 weekly Arkansas livestock auctions were collected from January 1 to December 31 in 2000, 2005, and 2010. Data included sex, group size, breed or breed type, color, muscle score, horn status, frame score, fill, condition, health, and BW. Mean selling price for 2000, 2005, and 2010 was $93.94 ± 12.80, $117.00 ± 13.41, and $109.12 ± 13.42 (mean ± SD; US dollars/45.45 kg), respectively. Individual price observations were standardized within year (mean = 0). Calves sold in groups received a premium compared with calves sold as singles (P < 0.01). Steers received the greatest premium in 2010 ($8.21 ± 0.09) compared with 2000 ($5.18 ± 0.07) and 2005 ($6.00 ± 0.07; P < 0.01). Only Angus × Brahman received increased premiums $0.55 ± 0.13, $1.47 ± 0.13, and $3.03 ± 0.19 in 2000, 2005, and 2010, respectively; P < 0.01. The selling price of black-white face and yellow and yellow-white face calves was above the average all 3 yr. Horned calves received greater discounts in 2010 (−$4.25 ± 0.20) than in 2000 (−$1.17 ± 0.09; P < 0.01). Large- and medium-framed calves received premiums in 2005 and 2010, and the price received differed among year (P < 0.01). Number 1 muscle score calves received a premium ($0.51 ± 0.04, $2.75 ± 0.06, and $2.21 ± 0.06 for 2000, 2005, and 2010, respectively; P < 0.01). Premium received for preconditioned calves was greater in 2010 ($6.84 ± 0.31) than in 2005 ($4.68 ± 0.27; P < 0.01). Calves classified as a muscle score 2 or 3, small-framed, full, tanked, fleshy, or fat were discounted all 3 yr. The same factors affecting the selling price of calves sold through Arkansas livestock auction in 2000 continued to affect the selling price in 2010, and in some cases discounts were greater even with a declining United States cattle inventory.