ONE of the biggest markets in the Jamestown saleyard's history will trial the use of the online platform AuctionsPlus tomorrow.
It will also be AuctionsPlus' biggest saleyard interface sale to date, with about 20,000 of the 30,000-plus yarding being assessed to go online.
But it will not be the first time AuctionsPlus has been used in a SA saleyard as it was interfaced with two SA off-shears sales for the first time last year. It was used successfully at both the Murray Bridge Merino ewe sale and Lameroo off-shears in 2018. Both sales attracted more than 60 online viewers.
AuctionsPlus regional sales associate Ed Murphy said use of the online platform was growing in popularity Australia-wide, with a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in the amount of sheep sales being interfaced on it.
"It was used at the Forbes (NSW) first-cross sale earlier this year for upwards of 15,000 head," he said.
"AuctionsPlus can just provide that floor in the market for a saleyard. It may not be that we purchase a heap but it adds that extra competition from people who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend the sale. Especially in a tougher season like this, when people are busy feeding, it just helps if people can log in through their phone while they're out and about.
"Even with people attending the sale, they can have a read of all the assessments online before they head along."
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Agents believe it will be a good sale to add extra competition into, with ongoing dry seasonal conditions and tight feed supplies in many areas still affecting many buyers' ability to operate.
Landmark Jamestown livestock manager Tom Allen said the main aim was to open up the saleyard to greater competition.
“It’s definitely worth a try,” he said.
“A few other saleyards had tried it and we thought we had sheep suitable to put on AuctionsPlus. While it doesn’t suit all of our market, and there is more work involved, we felt it was worth the effort. It’s definitely a trial to see how it does go, then we can sit down and work out whether it is worth the extra work and look at doing it again."
We’re keen to keep expanding the Jamestown saleyards and turn it into an iconic selling centre in Australia.
- JACK COLEMAN
Elders Jamestown livestock manager Jack Coleman is hoping for extra competition at tomorrow's sale, particularly from interstate.
"We’ve been discussing this for a while, between Elders and Landmark," he said.
"We were thinking of using it going into the spring selling season, so we thought it would be good to trial it at this point of time.
"We just think the market has been going well, but this opens up the yarding to a larger array of buyers.
"Sometimes it's just too far for buyers to travel, but by looking on AuctionsPlus it makes it easier for them.
"It’s an opportunity to keep improving the market and keep moving with the times. It also makes the most of opportunities for our vendors.
"We’re keen to keep expanding the Jamestown saleyards and turn it into an iconic selling centre in Australia, where people can operate with confidence."
Related reading: Jamestown wethers sell to $140
The stock being listed online is being assessed at Jamestown, with mostly bigger lines being posted.
Some of the biggest will be in from CC Cooper & Co, Jamestown, with about 8500 Lines Gum Hill/Gunbar-blood, January-shorn, June/July 2018-drop feeder Merino lambs being offered.
Other big lines of breeding ewes and wether lambs are coming in from Jumbuck Pastoral's Mulgathing and Bulgunnia stations. Stock will not be reserved, meaning buyers can operate freely.
"While we had a few 23,000 to 27,000 head sales at Jamestown through the spring last year, we haven’t had a sale with these numbers at this time of year for at least four years," Mr Coleman said.
"Obviously with the season, we expect it to be a tougher sale than usual, but hopefully AuctionsPlus brings in a range of new buyers."
