From the Cornell Goat & Sheep Program. This year April is full of holidays when goat and sheep are in demand. Western (Roman) Easter is on April 9 
while Greek (Orthodox) Easter is on April 16. Passover runs from Wed. evening April 5 to Thurs. evening April 13. Ramadan started in the evening on Mar 22 and ends the evening of Apr 21. Remember that market demand for the breaking of the fast at Ramadan will be for weaned market kids & lambs and/or mature animals rather than for the suckling lambs & kids in such demand for the traditional Spring holidays. Demand can sometimes be high for goat, mutton and market lambs/kids after dusk on dates when extended Muslim families can get together to break their fast, for example this year during Spring Break vacation. Demand is also up at the beginning of Ramadan and should also up at the Eid al-Fitr Festival marking the end of Ramadan ~Apr 22 or 23 although some buyers say they did not see a lift at the end of Ramadan last year. Regardless of which holiday you target this Spring, be sure to check with your customers as to what type, age, sex of goat and sheep they are wanting as demand can vary from family to family and region to region.
The Cornell Sheep & Goat Program has compiled the following list of Easter/Spring sales. Keep in mind that your local auction barn may also have more buyers lined up as Easter approaches even if they are not holding a special Easter sale. It is a good idea to call ahead and alert the sale barn if you plan to bring in a large group of animals so that they have the opportunity to advertise your group on their Facebook page or newspaper ads and line up a good set of buyers for your group.
More info about the pluses and minuses of selling slaughter goats and sheep at auctions is available on the web at http://www.sheepgoatmarketing.info/education/livestockauction.php and http://www.sheepgoatmarketing.info/education/NEauctionbarns.php . The education section of that web site also has several articles on evaluating lambs and kids and on marketing them through various channels. The market directory at http://sheepgoatmarketing.info/marketing_dir.php?col=categories lists buyers and slaughter houses as well as auctions. However, many listings there are VERY out of date (we are just starting to update them) so please be sure to call them to double check on info listed. If possible, be sure to have your animals properly scrapie tagged prior to the sale otherwise the sale may charge to tag for you. LaMancha goats can have their scrapie tag clipped around their neck or in hand rather than in an ear. Remember if bringing lambs or sheep, the lamb check off fee is assessed at .007 cents/pound and $0.42./first handler fee.
2023 List of Easter Sales for Goats & Sheep
Empire Livestock Bath Market
Mike Phair
7418 Rt. 415 North, Bath NY 14810 (Steuben County)
sales barn (607) 776-2000
https://www.empirelivestock.com/our-network/bath
Easter auction: Thurs. Mar 30, 6 pm. Goats by the head, sheep by the lb., barn opens 8 am, best to bring in by 5 pm so buyers get good chance to view. Suggest calling ahead if bringing a bigger group of lambs, kids or sheep so they can promote.
Commission: 7% of selling value with an $8/head minimum fee + 1/hd tagging fee for animals without scrapie tag
Empire Livestock Central Bridge Market
Dave Sherwood
872 Rt.30A, PO Box 279, Central Bridge, NY 12035 (Schoharie County)
Cell (315) 436-0804 or sales barn (518) 868-2006
https://www.empirelivestock.com/our-network/central-bridge
Easter auction: Tues. Mar 28, 1 pm. Goats by the head, lambs and sheep by the lb., check in on Monday from 8:30 am to 2 pm or Tuesday 8 am to noon, earlier best. Can call in ahead if bringing in big group.
Commission: 10% with a $10/hd minimum fee + $1/hd tagging fee for animals without scrapie tag
Empire Livestock Dryden Market
Mike Phair
49 East Main Street, PO Box 387, Dryden NY 13053 (Tompkins County)
Sales barn (607) 844-9104
https://www.empirelivestock.com/our-network/dryden
Regular auction: Mon Apr. 3, 2 PM. Goats by the head, sheep by the lb. Check in starting 7 AM. Can call in ahead if bringing big group.
Commission: 7% with a $8/hd minimum fee + $1/hd tagging fee for animals without scrapie tag
Empire Livestock Pavilion Market
Rob Bannister
357 Lake Street, PO Box 423, Pavilion NY 14525 (Genesee County)
cell (585) 356-8077 or salesbarn (585) 584-3033
https://www.empirelivestock.com/our-network/pavilion
Easter auction: Mon. Apr 3, 2 pm. Check in starting at 8 am until 1 pm or so, goats will be sold by the head and sheep by the lb. Suggest calling Rob ahead if bringing a bigger group of lambs, kids or sheep so he can promote.
Commission: 7% with a $8/hd minimum fee + $1/hd tagging fee for animals without scrapie tag
Empire Livestock Vernon Market
David Sherwood
11 Ruth St., Vernon, NY 13476 (Oneida County)
Cell (315) 436-0804 or sales barn (315) 829-3105
https://www.empirelivestock.com/our-network/vernon
Regular auction: Mon. March 30 12:30 pm. Check in starting at 8 am until ~11:30 am, goats sold by the head and sheep by the lb.
Commission: 10% with a $10 minimum fee + $1/hd tagging fee for animals without scrapie tag
Canandaigua Stockyards
Randal Weaver
3865 Rts 5 & 20 Geneva Turnpike, Canandaigua, NY 14424 (Ontario County)
(585) 394-1515 cdgastockyards@yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/canandaigua.stockyards/
Easter auction: Wed. Mar 29, 5 pm. All goats sold by the head, lambs and sheep by the lb., check in 8 am to 2 pm, can also come in on Tuesday.
Commission: $8 /hd
Gentners Commission Market
Damon Gentner
341 W. Main St., Springville NY 14141 (Erie County)
(716) 592-4062 or (716)698-8130 info@gentnerspringvilleauction.com
https://www.facebook.com/GENTNERSCOMMISSIONMARKET/
Easter auction: Sat. Apr 1, 11 am (livestock 2 pm), check in Fri. noon to 6 pm or Sat. 7 am to 2 pm
Commission: 10%/hd, goats and sheep sold by the head
“Please call ahead with large consignments so that we can advertise”
Hosking Sales
The Hoskings
6071 NYS Rte. 8, New Berlin, NY 13411 (Chenango County)
(607) 847-8800 or Dan’s cell (607) 972-18773 or Brenda’s cell (607) 972-1771
http://www.hoskingsales.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Hoskingsalesauction/
Two Easter Sheep, Lamb, Goat & Pig Sales: Monday March 27 and Monday Apr 3, ~2 PM, check in Sunday (call to set up time), or Monday 8 AM – noon. Goats sold by the head, lambs and sheep by the lb. If you have a group of animals you would like advertised ahead, please call or facebook them.
Commission is a sliding scale based on the price the animal sells for: ≤$20 commission is $3/hd, >S20 to $60 is $5/hd, >$60 to $100 is $7/hd, >$100 to $150 is $9/hd, >$150 to $200 is $11/hd and >$200 to $300 is $13/hd, >$300 is $15/hd.
Unadilla Livestock Company, LLC
Nelson Weaver (cow sale manager), Kaitie Rubin (owner, horse sale manager)
76 Maples Avenue, Unadilla NY 13849 (Otsego County) (845) 798-2509
(315) 719-3459 (Nelson) or (845) 798-2509 (Kaitie) day of sales (607) 369-8231
http://www.unadillalivestockcompany.com
https://www.facebook.com/UnadillaLivestockCompany/
Spring Lamb & Goat Special Sale: Wed. Mar 29, 10 am (goats & sheep 12 noon) Goats, lambs and sheep all sold by the head, animals can start coming in at 8 am.
Commission: 10%
New Holland Sales Stables
Tim Baumert
101 W Fulton St.
New Holland, Pennsylvania 17557
(717) 354-4341
Goat & Sheep Sale: Monday Mar. 27 (Passover & Palm Sunday), April 3 (Roman Easter). Apr 10 (Greek Easter). Saw demand for Ramadan on Mon Mar. 20. Sales start at 9 am, 24 hr. check-in starting Sunday morning. Goats sold by the head. Sheep sold by the pound. Please note, if there are excessive numbers of goats, sheep may not sell until Tues. but should still come in before Monday morning in case all animals sell on Monday.
Commission: $7/hd, yardage fee for feed/water $0.50 hd/day.
