15 Factors affecting the sale price of bred heifers sold through Superior Livestock video auctions from 2010 through 2017

Abstract The objective was to evaluate potential factors influencing sale price of bred heifers sold through a video auction service. Descriptive characteristics of lots were obtained through a livestock video auction service. Data were available on 1,779 lots of bred heifers sold through video auctions from 2010 through 2017. Multiple regression with a backwards selection procedure was used to determine factors influencing sale price. Eleven factors were included in the original model. These were year, weight (linear and quadratic), region, breed description, weight variation, origin, frame score, flesh score, and size of lot (linear and quadratic). Size of lot (linear and quadratic) and weight (quadratic) did not affect sale price (P > 0.05) and therefore were not included in the final model. Breed description of the lots was characterized into five groups: English-English cross, English-Continental cross, Black Angus sired out of dams with no Brahman influence, Red Angus sired out of dams with no Brahman influence, and Brahman influenced. The United States was divided into five regions: West Coast, Rocky Mountain/North Central, South Central, South East, and Northeast, which was excluded from analysis due to few lots originating from this region. Lots of bred heifers sold for the lowest sale price (P < 0.05) in 2010 at $955/head (Table 1). In 2015, lots sold for the highest price (P < 0.05) compared with all other years ($2,725/head). Those lots originating from the Rocky Mountain/North Central region sold for the highest price (P < 0.05, $1,677/head). Red Angus sired lots sold for the highest price (P < 0.05, $1,711/head) compared with all other breed descriptions. There was an $85.00 increase in price for every 45.36 kg increase in weight. Understanding factors influencing sale price of bred heifers will allow producers to make more informed decisions.