Animals - Sale of Livestock

Effective: Moved to Policy Library from ISU Surplus (Formerly Asset Recovery)
Reviewed and Updated: April 19, 2017
Contact: Logistics and Support Services - ISU Surplus

Contents

INTRODUCTION
POLICY STATEMENT
--Definitions
--Prohibited Sales
--Sales
--Ag 450 Farm
RESOURCES

Introduction

In the course of its research and teaching activities, Iowa State University has ownership of various species of livestock. This policy addresses the sale of livestock, not other animals or companion animals as defined below. Guidelines for the sale or disposition of research animals and companion animals are available from the Office of the Vice President for Research. When livestock has become surplus to the institution, all livestock with commercial value is to be sold. This policy provides guidance for appropriate livestock sales and describes sales that are prohibited to avoid conflicts of interest.

Policy Statement

All sales of livestock must comply with this policy. Livestock which have been part of a research study, teaching activities or extension/continuing education activities may only be sold if they pose no threat to human or animal health and welfare as determined by the university’s attending veterinarian, the unit manager or the principal investigator consistent with the approval granted by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC). The unit manager or the principal investigator shall contact the university’s attending veterinarian or another licensed veterinarian to obtain health certificates for sales to other than processors/packers. For all sales the names of all purchasers (i.e., name, company), a justification of sale price, market documentation and any conditions of sale must be maintained as a part of the unit's business records. ISU Surplus is available to assist with sales or provide policy guidance. top

Definitions

Livestock is defined as agricultural production animals, breeding stock or regular farm animals from any of the following groups: beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, chickens, turkeys, goats, horses, and sheep (ewes, lambs, rams) as included in the Controller’s Department Livestock Inventory Report. Animal is defined as all vertebrate animals owned by Iowa State University, including livestock. Companion animal is defined as a dog, cat and other non-livestock vertebrate approved as companion animals by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the appropriate dean, and the director of ISU Surplus.

Prohibited sales

Prohibited sales of livestock include the following:

  • Persons conducting livestock sales may not directly sell to themselves, other faculty and staff, anyone else in or associated with their department, including students, family members, business associates, or other parties which may be viewed as creating a conflict of interest.
  • Sales to business associates or a business entity, where any ISU faculty or staff member is part of a partnership or limited liability company are prohibited.
  • Livestock is not to be sold to ISU employees, who fall outside the prohibited groups stated above, unless the livestock is purchased at a public auction or through a written competitive bid process conducted by ISU Surplus and the ISU employee is the highest bidder.
  • With the exception of cull livestock, sales to brokers are prohibited unless this is the only commercial outlet available. Before using a broker the unit manager or principal investigator is to consult with the director of ISU Surplus.

Note, while not prohibited, use of ISU facilities to provide breeding/boarding services or short-term animal care services for faculty, staff and students shall be provided at the same rates charged for members of the general public. top

Sales

Units shall utilize one or more of the following market sites to assist in determining market pricing as appropriate:

  • USDA Iowa Department of Agriculture Market News
  • Iowa Department of Agriculture Marketing and Promotion
  • Local livestock exchange reports

Sales shall be conducted as follows:

Horse Unit

Horses are to be sold at public auction or by private treaty. The unit manager or principal investigator, in counsel with the herdsman of the unit, is responsible for pricing at competitive rates in the industry.

Sheep Unit

Sheep are to be sold at public auction, by private treaty or to packers. The unit manager or principal investigator is responsible, with counsel from the shepherd, for establishing prices of animals sold by private treaty and for evaluating bids by packers. top

Swine Units

Hogs, sows and boars are to be sold directly to packers on a grade and yield basis, unless the swine can be sold for greater return as breeding stock. Cull animals are sold by contacting brokers or buyers for prices. Prices are evaluated by the unit manager or principal investigator and staff members with knowledge of market prices. In many cases, collection of carcass data is required for research programs, thereby determining the marketing outlet.

Feeder pigs and excess breeding stock may also be sold at auction or by private treaty based on highest anticipated return. The unit manager or principal investigator, with the counsel of staff members, is responsible for establishing the selling price based on the current market.

Dairy Units

Excess dairy cows and calves deemed to be culls are to be sold at auction. Cows and calves with value in excess of processor/packer market value are to be sold at public auction or by private treaty based on prices established by the unit manager or principal investigator, with the counsel of staff members. Prices are based on the current market. Day-old bull calves are to be sold at public auction or by private treaty based on staff members' knowledge of sale barn prices.

Beef Units

Steers, heifers, cows, bulls and calves of above processor/packer market value are to be sold at public auction or by private treaty. Prices for private treaty are established by the professors in charge of the units, with the counsel of staff members, based on knowledge of the market. Other beef animals are to be sold directly to packers on a grade and yield basis. The market outlet may be determined by price, as well as the ability to obtain carcass data for research programs. top

Goats

Goats are sold at public auction and by private treaty. The unit manager or principal investigator, with the counsel of staff members and based on the market knowledge, is responsible for establishing prices of animals sold by private treaty. If neither option is available, goats may be sold by utilizing brokers.

Chickens and Turkeys    

Chickens and turkeys are sold to packers/processors, as determined by the unit manager or principal investigator, with the counsel of staff members and based on the market knowledge.

Ag 450 Farm

Livestock of all types are sold directly to packers on a grade and yield basis, when appropriate to maximize return. Cull animals are sold by contacting brokers or buyers by telephone. Prices are evaluated by student farm committees and/or the entire AgEdS 450 class, with final approval of the sale given by the unit manager or professor in charge of the Ag 450 Farm. Carcass data for evaluation purposes is often collected and may determine the marketing outlet. top

Resources