Effects of selected variables on prices received for calves in the Cookville Demonstrational Feeder Calf Sales

Records of 1,049 lots of steers and heifers sold in the Cookeville Demonstrational Feeder Calf Sales held each fall from 1964 through 1968 were studied to determine the effects of grade, sex, pen size, and the average weight per pen on the prices received per hundredweight and on the prices received per head for feeder calves sold.

Choice calves sold for an average of $2.24 per hundredweight more than calves of the medium grade. The choice calves sold also for an average of $0.60 per hundredweight more than the calves in the good grade. Medium calves sold for an average of $1.64 less per hundred weight than good calves.

Choice calves sold for $11.45 more per head than the medium grade calves. The choice calves sold also for $3.31 more per head than those calves grading good. Medium calves sold for an average of $8.14 less per head than calves grading good.

Steer calves sold for significantly (P < .01) higher prices than did heifer calves. Steer calves, on the average, sold for $3.64 and $15.14 more per hundredweight and per head, respectively, than did heifers of a comparable grade.

The data indicate that calves in pen sizes greater than 91 sold for more per hundredweight and more per head than calves in any other pen size group. However, the differences in price per head were not significant.

When the price received per hundredweight was regressed on the average weight per pen, all other sources of variation held constant; these data indicate that as average weight per pen increased, the price received per hundredweight decreased.

When the price received per head was regressed on the average weight per pen; within the range of the data, as average weight per pen increased, so did the average price received per head.