For the first time, a bull retirement/ trade-in program was implemented. Customers who delivered and sold their bulls to an on-site buyer from Caviness Packers received a voucher to use toward the purchase of a bull at the sale.
At the open house and field day held the day prior to the sale, a panel of some of the most prominent marketing organizations in the country gathered to present a discussion on marketing commercial cattle to the large crowd in attendance.
Members of the panel included: Ray Etheredge, Etheredge Cattle Co., Abilene, Texas; Mike Heard, Cattle Town Feeders, Hereford, Texas; Ben Hale, Western Livestock Commission Co. & Order Buying, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ken Jordan, Jordan Livestock Auction, San Saba, Texas; Ed Murray, Superior Livestock Auction, Fort Worth, Texas; Dale Moore, Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard, Gage, Oklahoma; and Terry Caviness, Caviness Beef Packers, Hereford, Texas.
Discussion topics included source and age verification, genetics, export markets for beef, timing of marketing, cattle health, value added premiums, raising beef to meet the demands of a given market, and others. The panel was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Genetics, CattleFax and R.A. Brown Ranch.
The session was put together by Donnell Brown who noted that his specialty lies in providing the best of seedstock, and he wanted to put his customers together with experts in the field of marketing to help them maximize their profitability. 
PHOTOS:
Top: Ring action at the R.A. Brown Ranch with a bull in the ring.
Bottom: Visitors to the R.A. Brown Ranch look over a pen of heifers
-- Photos by Julie Brown
