Auction revenue down

Chronicle Staff

Published: Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

A buffalo bull comes charging out of the holding chute during the annual Custer State Park Buffalo Auction Saturday, Nov. 15, at the corrals in Custer State Park. Although revenue was down slightly from last year, park officials were happy with the money

  By Jason Ferguson   Revenue may have been down $18,000, but Custer State Park Officials are still happy with money made from its annual buffalo auction, held last Saturday morning at the park’s corrals. The auction brought in $150,625 this year, down from $168,270 a year ago. Those figures are a bit deceiving, however, as the wet spring and summer allowed the park to keep more buffalo—850 in all—in its winter herd. Only 190 animals were sold this year, 25 less than the previous year. Becky Grass, business manager for Custer State Park, said the average price per animal was $777.32 this year, down $2.02 per animal from a year ago. In all the classes, there was anywhere from a $1 to $5 difference per animal. “Prices stayed pretty much right on track,” she said. The 85 buyers who attended the auction were treated to a sunny, pleasant day with temperatures in the 40s. The biting wind from the previous day had subsided. Two-year-old breeding bulls were the leading money-maker for the park, averaging $1,350 per animal. Two-year-old grade bulls were next, at $1,189.29 per animal, followed by 2-year-old heifers at $1,157.50 each.  Other animals sold included mature cows at $964.77 each, yearling heifers at $789.81, heifer calves at $489.88, bull calves at $591.57 and yearling bulls at $912.82. Eight burros were sold for $172.50 on average. Grass said in these current economic conditions, the park was pleased with the money it was able to generate for its general operations fund through the sale. “We’re surprised prices stayed the way they were,” she said. “All-in-all, we had a good day.”