AUSTRALIAN livestock producers have today been given a new alternative to selling seedstock with the launch of www.livestock.com.au.
Launched by Elders today, the new selling platform - which has been touted as the "Ebay for livestock" - offers the ability to sell or buy single lots in an online auction in real-time.
Buyers and sellers alike can rest easy with secure payments held in trust until successful delivery of the animal or genetics is completed.
Shorthorn Beef is one of the first to jump on board, utilising livestock.com.au to conduct the Elite Australian Shorthorn Genetics Auction in conjunction with its upcoming breed conference next week.
"Shorthorn Beef is very excited about what livestock.com.au brings to the table for seedstock producers across Australia," Shorthorn Beef president Jason Catts said.
"We are using livestock.com.au to run an elite genetics auction for our members with many leading seedstock producers taking the opportunity to be part of our sale."
One of the vendors is Trent Johnstone, Trojon Shorthorns, Lyndhurst, NSW, who believes there is a big future in online trading of livestock.
"A large network of people are already going online to search for livestock, so now to have the ability to buy and pay for individual animals," Mr Johnstone said.
Other industry heavyweights such as Te Mania Angus, Mortlake, Vic, have also taken up the new platform.
Te Mania posted the first 30 listings on livestock.com.au and plan to use the site on an ongoing basis.
"We will often have animals standing in a paddock which are in fact for sale, so this platform allows us to advertise our stock at any time, without waiting for an auction or sale event," principal Tom Gubbins said.
Livestock.com.au spokesperson Chris Howie said the platform was designed to provide market access to vendors who want flexibility and control in the sale of each individual animal.
"Livestock.com.au is a simple solution for producers wanting to sell single high-end animals or genetics, or those who may not have sufficient scale to run their own auction," Mr Howie said.
"The vendor has full control of their sale, from listing through to delivery, and they have the ability to set a minimum price and a buy-now function on their animal.
"Buyers can browse listings on the site free-of-charge, and can bid on animals at a time and place that suits them.
"This method of sale has expanded rapidly in the United States and Europe and so the opportunity to offer a similar option to Australian producers is truly exciting."