So I catfish often and like to use livers. I want to pitch and flip livers under docks. Not sure of a good set up.

I'm assuming you're bagging them? Can't think of any other way to keep livers on a hook to get them under a dock. I use a 7' MH Ugly Stick Lite spinning rod and Okuma Avenger 30 baitfeeder with 30lb PP and skip chunks of cutbait under overhangs and docks. 

what gear ratio would be best for flipping livers?

Remember to rig your livers on an arkie head

I've also used shad guts. Take white sewing thread and wrap it around the guts to a circle hook. Skip under overhangs, docks, rocks, and hold on.

I've read recently that shad is much more effective than chicken livers.  Do you have any idea what kind of places might sell them? I've never seen them for sale. 

I've read recently that shad is much more effective than chicken livers.  Do you have any idea what kind of places might sell them? I've never seen them for sale. 

Catching your own is the way to go if you can. Fresh cut shad is deadly on cats, and it's not nearly as gross as chicken liver or stinkbait. You will never see me go anywhere near chicken liver or stinkbait.

Cut carp works very well also if you can't get shad. Fresh cut bait has been proven time and time again to be better for big fish than prepared baits or anything rotten/smelly (livers).