SELLING livestock using a computer-aided system is not new.
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In fact CALM – or as it was first known, Computer Aided Livestock marketing – was first introduced in Australia some 30 years ago.
The system has evolved over the years and AuctionsPlus has become an integral part of buying and selling.
Livestock can be bought and sold using AuctionsPlus at both a stud and a commercial level.
However, interfacing a sale with AuctionsPlus during the regular sheep and lamb market at Wagga is something new. Wagga holds pride of place in being the largest sheep selling centre in Australia, if not the world.
And big numbers of sheep and lambs go under the hammer each week. So when a draft of 3800 lambs was sold recently the interest generated on AuctionsPlus was considered worthwhile.
Vendor TA Field Estates of Wyvern Station at Carrathool sold lambs (to the trade market) for a high of $123. The lambs were estimated to weigh 19-kilograms dressed.
Elders Wagga livestock manager Joe Wilks was at the rail taking bids during the sale.
He said the technology had added to bidding support and selling went off without a hitch.
Mr Wilks said the additional competition generated from AuctionsPlus buyers combined with bidders who were physically at the sale was certainly a boost.
“It ran very smoothly and it was no slower, or faster (than normal) and it was done via an iPad,” he said.
“If anything it did create more atmosphere and there was more of a spotlight on the stock,” he said.
Mr Wilks commended the vendors on the condition of the stock and he said there was a good range for buyers to secure.
He said there was something for everyone from restockers through to lambs that were killable.
“I think we will see more of this (selling) happening maybe in feature store sale environments where there are large numbers,” he said.