When selling cattle at the livestock exchange in Australia, farmers pay a whole gamut of fees, commisions and charges.To give you an idea of these fees. We sold 12 (twelve) cattle and it cost:
Commission to selling agency: $203.10 (that was 5.3% two years ago when we sold 12 cattle).
Government transaction Levy: $60.00
Cattle Compensation: $10.25
Saleyard Fees $100.80 (that was for 4 (four) cows to stay overnight at the yards. They were sold the next day because they were feeding mothers (eg. their bags hang down too low; dead giveaway) and could not be sold in the "Fats" sales on the Tuesday and were held over for the "Cow and Calf" Sales on the Wednesday.
Cartage to saleyards $120.00 (30 kms travel including pickup from farm and delivery to Livestock Selling Complex)
TOTAL: $435.35
The cost of selling the cattle equates to one and a half beasts sacrificied for selling fees each time we sell twelve cattle.
What other industry would accept a hit like that?
Note:
Commission to selling agent can vary from 3% to 10% or more.The costs associated with rearing and caring for the animals are a whole 'nother set of costs before we even get to a sale.
They can include:
- Injections/Vaccinations (Vitamins/Protection against diseases)
- Feed (In drought and in good times)
- Drenching (ringworm, tapeworm, liver fluke, lice, ticks, etc)
- Fence repairs (some cattle like to break-out occassionally)
- Maintenance: (New Gates, stockyard repairs, etc)
- Artificial Insemination or Bulls (there are costs with both methods)
- Days away from the farm to attend sales (yes, this has a cost too).
- Fuels: (Diesel, Unleaded petrol, oils, insurance, registration, etc).
- Veterinary fees (Injuries, pregnancy testing and any other events)
Advice: Don't become a farmer unless you have a lot of money that you don't need and love animals.
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