Saleyard auction restarts

The sale marks the restart of NZ Farmers Livestock auctions and saw a hybrid of in-yard bidding, along with on-line bidding. 

The Frankton sale is the first of four across the country within the next week. Stratford ran very well the next day with a complete clearance. Morrinsville, and Te Kuiti restart next week with Rongotea the week after.  Normal saleyard and other advertised yard and on-farm sales continue from there.

Bill Sweeney, NZ Farmers Livestock general manager, said both the Frankton and Stratford sales were very successful with both in-yard and on-line bidders competing for stock in a seamless, real-time manner.

“The safety of everyone involved in livestock sales is a constant focus and we devoted a huge amount of time over several weeks ensuring COVID-19 safety for all participants. 

“Having proven that the Level 3 COVID-19 safety arrangements we developed are keeping people safe, NZ Farmers Livestock is now working to bring this capability to other livestock saleyards, and scheduling on-farm sales using the hybrid bidding options.

“There was a very high clearance of the stock on sale at Frankton and we were pleased with prices in what has become a very uncertain market. Sale details will support wider price discovery within the industry, and this performance and level of successful sale completion reinforces the importance of saleyard and on-farm auctions for farmers, particularly when compared to the relatively poor results from the on-line only alternative platforms.”

“A huge team effort brought together the technical capability to support real auctions in NZ with on-line bidding capability with the protocols, arrangements and attendee behaviours to ensure a COVID-safe and successful sale,” Sweeny says. 

“This restart under Level 3 has come in the nick of time for a lot of dairy farmers, with many still needing to sell part or whole dairy herds before the June changeover and start of the 2020-21 season.”