COVID-19 restrictions mean that auctioneers are having to find new ways to match up buyers and sellers at pedigree spring sales this year.

The flagship Stirling bull sales are being run through an online catalogue with 100 bulls being sold so far.

The catalogue has the pedigree and figures as normal but we are also providing a photo as a rough guide to the bull

United Auctions advertise bulls for sale on their website, inviting interested buyers to contact auctioneers for more information, arrange a visit or make a bid. The 300 strong catalogue is updated daily as bulls are sold or withdrawn.

Raymond Kennedy, UA auctioneer said: “The catalogue has the pedigree and figures as normal but we are also providing a photo as a rough guide to the bull. But we understand the importance of seeing a bull in the flesh before making a decision, so we can arrange safe viewing for the buyer or a representative.”

Prices have been similar to last year, although fewer bulls have been sold at the lower end and top end of the market.

Elsewhere Harrison and Hetherington have been running timed sales for their pedigree cattle. Farmers can see videos and photos of the bulls and females for sale, then make their bid online before a set closing date, similar to an e-bay auction.

The average for the 34 bulls sold was £5,439.41, with a top price of £15,000, and across 28 females the average was £3,125

Their recent limousin sale ran from Friday 1 May to Tuesday 5 May and saw a clearance rate of 44% with 34 bulls and 28 females sold online, and four bulls making over £10,000.

The average for the 34 bulls sold was £5,439.41, with a top price of £15,000, and across 28 females the average was £3,125.

Meanwhile Aberdeen Northern Marts are running online pedigree sales where bulls are shown on a video alongside pictures, pedigree and figures.

The sale is then held online with bidding through their website. The sale on Tuesday saw 14 pedigree breeding bulls sold to a top price of 8,000gns for a Limousin bull, and a Charolais making a top price of 3,800gns.