Cattle auctions boom as sales head online

SOUTHERN Downs farmers have welcomed a growing shift to online auctions as saleyard coronavirus restrictions leave buyers seeking alternate markets.

In the wake of restricted yard entry since March and no sign of easing restrictions soon, many online auction houses such as AuctionPlus and Farmgate Auctions have recorded exponential turnover.

Greymare farmer John Cleary started selling his cattle using AuctionPlus before the pandemic but said, following closures nationwide, he had seen sites boom in interest.

“We did notice that as soon as coronavirus hit, the demand obviously increased and daily no-through sales increased,” Mr Cleary said.

“There was massive growth in that division.”

In an interview earlier this

year, online auction house Farmgate Auctions director Guy Gallen said the pandemic had paved way for the future of farm sales.

“COVID-19 has certainly shone a light on selling livestock online and people are looking beyond traditional methods,” Mr Gallen said.

“Anything can be sold by auction – we’re not limited by time, space or place and we don’t have to meet such common saleyard requirements as EPA rules, effluent run-off, repairs or maintenance.”

In a recent sale, three-fifths of Mr Cleary’s stock went to interstate buyers in Glen Innes and Legume, an option that wouldn’t have been possible without the platform.

It was a welcome alternative he encouraged more producers to seek out, even after

the virus ended.