Cattle are sold as listed in the catalog unless the auctioneer makes other announcements. Calves raised at the Hayward station from 1987 to 1989 were sold by video auction. Cattle were picked up on the farm and delivered directly to the feedlot buyer in southern Wisconsin. Satellite marketing Satellite and video marketing operate similarly in preparation, description, sales, delivery, and payment. This marketing technique presents cattle to more buyers in receiver locations throughout the Midwest and the nation.
Buyers can bid from their home or feedlot by calling bids to the auctioneer.
A video film is taken of the cattle and shipped to a video uplink system near Chicago. The auctioneer's voice and buyer instructions are telephoned to Chicago from satellite auction headquarters and coordinated with the video film's broadcast beamed to the satellite. Most cattle are weighed at area Midwest market locations or on local community grain or lumber scales. Market representatives help to arrange cattle pick up and transportation and supervise delivery and weighing. Average gross weight was 533 pounds.