Though beef cattle raised in Laurel County are of the highest quality, opportunities for marketing beef herds can be costly.  The time and expense of transporting the animals to sale facilities can cause a substantial decrease in profits.  In an ongoing effort to highlight the quality of animals available in Laurel County and offer a local sale opportunity, the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Service and the Laurel County Cattlemen’s Association conducted the ninth annual Open Heifer Sale in April. 

Twelve producers from around the area offered a total of 78 quality heifers at the sale.  Each animal was rigorously screened and was subject to a high standard of health and reproductive criteria.  The sale’s health requirements met or exceeded the requirements of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Herd Building Replacement Program.  The sale, which was advertised through Cow Country News, social media, radio, flyer distribution, and direct mailing brought in 28 bidders from around the state. The average price per head of the animals that were sold was $1,153, which was significantly more than the producers would have received if they sold the animals at stockyards.  Additionally, the sale highlighted the quality of animals that are available in Laurel County in hopes that buyers will seek out our local producers for future purchases.  A follow-up evaluation of the heifer suppliers found that all producers were pleased with the sales and are looking forward to selling again next spring.