Fearn Farm in Easter Ross hooks up with New Zealand Meadowslea Genetics firm to trailblaze coronavirus-busting online auction
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EASTER Ross farmers have launched a world first auction of sheep that allows an innovative mix of online, telephone and in person bidding in response to the covid crisis.
John and Fiona Scott of Fearn Farm have opened the sale of 125 lots of 400 rams and gimmers for bids with the sale concluding on August 28.
It will give ram buyers in the UK the opportunity to bid from their farm office, tractor seat, or in person on-farm where social distancing measures will need to be observed.
The system was developed by David and George Giddings of Meadowslea Genetics, New Zealand, for their recent Angus cattle sales, but the main difference will be that the hammer will come down only once, after there are no further bids on any lot.
This gives the potential buyer every chance to keep bidding, either on your first choice or to change to another lot either later or earlier in the catalogue.
"Hopefully they will come in person in future years and spend money not just with us but with other local businesses.” - John Scott
Videos of the sheep with commentary on their performance figures are now available and stock can be viewed in person by arrangement.
Mr Scott said: “Bidding is now up and running, but things should get interesting in the last hour or so on sale day.
"Due to the coronavirus pandemic we understand buyers may be reluctant to attend in person, so this system allows them to bid from home after viewing the rams via video with commentary from local sheep guru Rod Mackenzie of Muirton and Emily Grant of Forrit Consultancy.”
Prospective buyers attending on-farm will need to pre-register and will be able to view a large screen where they can bid, using either a smart phone or bidding slips through auctioneers.
Dingwall Highland Marts will still be involved accepting bidding slips and telephone bids from those less comfortable with technology on the day and to manage the financial side of the sale.
Mr Scott added: “This is an exciting time for us as a business. We believe in our product and are delighted to be working with other like-minded families to bring this concept to the UK, giving farmers and crofters the opportunity to buy the genetics they need to drive their flocks and herds forward in uncertain times.
"By embracing technology we are able to open up our sale, our farm and the north of Scotland to buyers from all over the UK who might not normally attend in person.
"Hopefully they will come in person in future years and spend money not just with us but with other local businesses.”
New Zealand bull and ram breeder, David Giddings said: "Our ram sale has been run very successfully as a helmsman style auction for a number of years and we had always planned to integrate an online bidding option.
"Covid forced us to develop the ‘yourbid’ online sales platform for our stud Angus female sale in May 6 while NZ was in total lockdown. The sale achieved a record result attracting new buyers from all around NZ and also Australia.
"We further developed the system for our Angus bull sale on June 19 and again it proved a tremendous success for both online and on-farm buyers.
"On the back of that success both Mr Scott and Neil McGowan of Incheoch farm got in touch and we decided that developing ‘yourbid’ for others including the UK market was a natural step for us. We will be pulling out all the stops with our IT people to make these sales a success and look forward to building relationships with others in the UK."
Fearn will have 120 NZ Suffolk, Texel, Aberfield and Beltex rams and 300 NZ Suffolk and Aberfield gimmers for sale.
To register and bid visit www.fearnfarm.com
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