While quite a few sales are now run with in-person and online options, the cattle do not always have to be in a yard. “Some farmers can be sitting in their tractor, getting on with work and making a bid on their mobiles.”Īt the Yalcara sale, 70 per cent of lots were sold online. “Farmers seem to be getting more accustomed to the technology, so it’s easier for them to make a bid without having to attend the sale,” he said.

Mr Lord said the company had already begun using the technology, and the restrictions due to COVID-19 appeared to have accelerated the uptake. Livestock companies like Dairy Livestock Services are using technology to make it easier for farmers to buy and sell stock over the internet. We’re also seeing some who had de-stocked coming back into the market,” Mr Lord said.ĭespite COVID-19 restrictions, sales are still being held across the region as food production is considered an essential service. “People are wanting to put more milk in the vat.

Bidders could see the lots on the monitor.ĭairy Livestock Services manager Scott Lord said the demand was being driven by improved milk prices and seasonal conditions including better water availability. Virtual reality: There were no cattle in the auction shed for this sale held earlier this year at Toolamba. Mr Sprunt said he knew the Valentino heifer would do well but was surprised at the final price.ĭairy auctioneer Brian Leslie said recent sales had demonstrated strong demand for quality cows. While there has been a steady flow of retirements from the dairy industry during the past 12 months, established farms are snapping up new cows, particularly those with good breeding.Īt Nathalia on Thursday, September 2, the top heifer from Peter Sprunt’s Yalcara Jerseys stud sale sold for $9000, and a recent sale of 350 head at Echuca saw a gross return of close to three quarters of a million dollars.

Dairy cow auction prices