Stock saleyards restart trade
Waikato farmers missing the smell, sight and sound of a stock saleyard are now getting back into the swing of buying and selling under Covid-19’s alert level three.
But those wishing to remain in the safety of their own bubbles aren’t going to miss out either.
NZ Farmers Livestock has introduced a hybrid online-onsite auction system for its saleyards around the country.
Its new MyLiveStock app allows buyers and sellers to attend auctions or bid on stock from the comfort of their home bubbles.
NZ Farmers Livestock General Manager Bill Sweeney, who is based in Morrinsville, said the new system was a first for the company and perhaps a first for New Zealand, as stock companies adapt to new ways of trade.
‘‘There are other online trading systems but farmers who can’t go online, or who are uncomfortable with technology, still want to be active in the yards, they want to view the cattle. So we developed an online trade platform which we launched when we reopened our saleyards, it means you can come to the saleyard to bid, or you can bid online at home.’’
Sweeney said it also meant bidding became available to people outside the region, attracting a new group of customers.
NZ Farmers Livestock restarted trade at saleyards on April 29 after nearly five weeks’ break.
‘‘We started back at Frankton, that was our first sale then we did Stratford in Taranaki and this week we are going back to Frankton and then Stortford (Hastings), Morrinsville and Te Kuiti.’’
The company has eight major saleyards around the country and a group of smaller pilot yards, where the new online auction would be used in tandem with traditional selling.
Sweeney said the company introduced some strict rules to comply with level three regulations.
‘‘We’re not allowing anyone from the public to attend the saleyard auctions, just the buyers.
‘‘We have marshals there, we’re using the 2m social distancing rule and everyone who comes on site has to register.’’
Sweeney said the new software system was developed by Bruce Trevarthen from Hamilton tech company LayerX.