Going to Texas livestock auctions for the first time can be a confusing experience if a person is not well versed in the jargon used by the auctioneers. It is also very important to know what qualities to look for in the different animals being sold. Much will be determined by what function the animal will be serving after the purchase is made.

Animals that are being purchased in order to breed them, such as a bull, will be viewed differently than animals that are being purchased for meat. The price of animals who are going to be bred will usually be higher and greater attention will be paid to their health and ability to breed.

Most of the time these events will have cows, bulls, yearling steers, heifers and bottle calves for sale. To make sure that the animals they are interested in will be shown, most attendees get a list of available animals from the event coordinator prior to the show.

Females bovines are called cows, and they have already had at least one calf. These versatile animals can be used for meat, milk, breeding or, in some rare cases, as pets. Breeders will often take a young cow over a heifer because she already has one successful birth on her record, and the second birth for bovines is usually much easier on them than the first.

A heifer is also a female bovine, but has not had any calves and is under three years of age. Heifers can be used for breeding very successfully, but care must be taken with them during their first pregnancy and birthing. Often times they will need assistance in delivering the calf.

Male bovines that are able to breed are called bulls, and bulls who have been castrated are called steers. Yearling steers are simply steers that are one year old. Steers are usually sold for meat or as rodeo participants, while bulls are usually sold for stud service. Bulls will be the most expensive animals at most auctions.

Bottle calves are also present at many Texas livestock auctions and they are usually purchased to build up a herd. They can be a great deal of fun for their owners and since the calf will be fed by them out of a bottle for quite some time, they bond quickly with each other. These animals are very time consuming to raise, however, and should be sold only to owners who are aware of the commitment they are making. Read more about: texas livestock auctions

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