A 2007 Merritt 20’ aluminum livestock trailer sold for $15,000 on a north-central Colorado auction last Saturday, October, 13, 2012. How does that sale price stack up? Very strong, I’d say.

The vast majority of Merritt livestock trailers I’ve seen sell at auction over the past 10-plus years have been much larger, in the 45’-53’ range. Below are a few of the highest auction sale prices I’ve seen over the past few years:

• $14,000: 2/7/12 sale in west-central Oklahoma, 1996 model, 50’ cattle pot
• $10,000: 3/23/11 Bigiron.com online sale (NE), 1988 model, 48’
• $14,455: 5/11/11 Bigiron.com online sale (NE), 1996 model, 50’
• $17,500: 5/7/11 sale in southwest Manitoba, triple-axle cattle pot
• $14,500: 9/1/11 sale in southwest Montana, 1998 model, 53’
• $17,500: 4/9/10 sale in west-central Nebraska, 1999 model, 48’
• $10,500: 11/19/09 sale in south-central Kansas, 1977 model, 52’
• $35,000: 1/25/07 sale in east-central Nebraska, 1999 model, 53’

If you are looking for a good used livestock trailer, go to www.machinerypete.com, click on “upcoming auctions," then click on TRAILERS and particular MAKE / MODEL to view trailers available on upcoming auctions all over the country. This searchable database is updated daily, so check back often.