Heiferette Clarification

This is the most misunderstood grouping of cattle sold at the auction. We get more calls and complaints about them than anything else we sell. And….there is absolutely nothing in this world that we can do on our end. Their value is directly related to how old they look now, or how old they will look when finish fed. At the slaughter plant the inspector, a federal employee of the USDA, will make the age call after the animal is slaughtered determining in his mind and eye if she is 30 months of age or older. In his opinion if she exceeds the limit, she will be side railed and valued as a cow unacceptable to our best customer importing countries as they will not accept anything over the age limit, and it all goes back to the BSE scare of a few years ago.

Now, back to the older looking heifers at auction. Buyers of fats (fed) cattle in attendance—and we regularly have 5 or 6—have to consider this age factor when bidding. They strictly make their decisions based on the age they think the heiferette is based on her looks. They know how the inspector makes his decisions and are at his mercy after the fact when the animal gets to the slaughter plant. They have also found out the hard way the penalty for being wrong at purchase time. Losing $300 per head or more on a carcass is not unusual. Their job depends on their judgement and those coming to Fairview have been at it for a long time and know their business. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have a job. Seldom are they fooled in their judgement.

Steers are pretty much non factors as they are usually neutered at a young age eliminating any possible parenting and enter the feedlot at a younger age. It is the heifer that we consider here. Almost all heiferettes went on finishing feed at an older age. Some were kept back as possible cow replacement. The owner possibly changed his mind and took them to feed looking more adult than a calf or young yearling. Others didn’t or wouldn’t breed and then went to the feed lot as mature heifers. Others lost calves and rather than being carried over, went to the feedlot. Everything mentioned here has the potential to be discounted because of the age factor if finish fed. The bigger and thinner a heifer is when she is started on feed, the more likely she will become a heiferette or cow when fed out. Or, if she is sold before being fed, she will likely sell as a cow and bring cow price.

We cannot change how an animal looks.  It is what it is and if you have the ability as a producer to convince buyers to change their minds about what works for them, you are better than me. I’ve been involved in this business for 55 years and some things have not changed and it’s doubtful if they ever will.