NETBIO holds big May sale

Producers sold 5,356 head of preconditioned cattle at the May Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) sale Wednesday at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission.

A total of 255 producers consigned cattle to the sale that had to limit attendance because of the coronavirus that has swept the country. Most of the sellers viewed the sale online along with some of the buyers.

There were 46 buyers who purchased the cattle, seven of them buying over the internet. They ended up paying an average of nearly $706 per head.

“The livestock market was pretty good. We had several buyers on the internet that are usually here in person, so it made the sale go a little slower, but it works well,” said David Fowler, co-owner of the livestock commission.

“We had a lot of good cattle consigned to the sale, and a lot of them sold to go back to grass,” Fowler said. “It was a little muddy from the recent rain, but the cattle held up well and looked good coming through the ring. Our employees again did a great job of taking care of the cattle and keeping the sale moving.”

Auctioneer and co-owner Joe Don Pogue extended appreciation to the buyers and sellers for observing the COVID-19 guidelines that are necessary for gatherings.

The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization holds eight Preconditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sales per year. The sale is the marketing arm for the organization and gives them an opportunity to sell their preconditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities.

The next sale will be at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Wednesday, July 17. The last weaning date for these calves is June 2, and the deadline for booster shots is June 17.

To consign cattle and obtain ear tags for the July sale or future sales, just call 903-885-2455.