Across the country, dozens of breed society sales have been called off over the past two months. The timing of the lockdown, peak bull trading season for most societies, means that over 1,000 bulls have had to find an alternative to live auctions. While some have gone down the route of online sales, other societies try to encourage farm-to-farm trading. To get a feel of how the season has gone to date, the Irish Farmers Journal spoke to some society representatives. Here is what they had to say.
Over the past two months, what has the society done to combat this loss?
Irish Angus (IA): The society set up a free cattle for sale page on the Irish Angus website. This offers breeders the opportunity to advertise their bulls on our website and the society advertised and promoted the page across various media platforms including the Irish Farmers Journal.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA): IHFA field staff engaged and communicated as a direct link between vendors and interested buyers on bulls entered for the association’s premier that was cancelled. The feld staff had completed prior inspections (pre-lockdown) to visually assess each bull and the cow family. They were very familiar with the breeding qualities of each bull and this level of knowledge and first-hand information proved helpful.
One week after the sale date, a follow-up was completed and a revised listing of bulls still available to purchase was published. The IHFA also created a new tab on its website with open invites for vendors and purchasers to post a notice regarding stock for sale.
Irish Charolais (IC): The society gave breeders the option of advertising pictures and videos of their bulls, along with their pedigrees, €uroStar indexes and their own contact details on the society’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Irish Simmental (IS): We have run web catalogues to coincide with these sale dates where customers can see the breeding and evaluations of a number of bulls before making a decision to follow up with the seller.
Irish Hereford (IH): We have been advertising bulls for sale privately on our website, social media sites and advertising through farming newspapers and online news and media platforms.
Irish Limousin (IL): We have organised an online premier sale, promoted our Limo Locator, a facility on the website which enables customers to look at the map of Ireland and click on counties, which then display the contact details of breeders within each county that have been willing to provide their contact details.
Have these alternatives seen a good response?
IA: There has been a good response to the website as bulls are selling from it. Buyers tended to buy locally due to the 2km driving restrictions, implemented by the Government, preventing buyers from travelling long distances.
IHFA: Responses and feedback received so far have been very positive.
IC: From speaking to breeders, the response has been good to date. We are lucky as a society in that we have built up a strong social media base in recent years, especially our Facebook page, which has over 13,000 followers, the largest cattle breed society page in Ireland.
IS: The web catalogues are only alternatives as there is no substitute for purchasers being able to view a number of bulls before making a decision to purchase.
IH: Eighty-five percent of bulls are sold privately from farm to farm in an ordinary year. Many breeders have regular customers so we have seen a lot of repeat buyers, which is a healthy sign with prices realised very similar to last year.
IL: In general, we have received a good response. Whether or not it has turned into successful sales is another question. There is no doubt that while all the alternatives are a help and we must look at adopting the latest technology to move with the times. The majority of buyers and sellers would be hesitant in moving away from the current auction situation where they can see the animals in reality and have the comfort of the usual bidding system.
How much has the pandemic affected your society?
IA: The majority of the summer shows in which the society would have been associated with have been cancelled. These include various local shows around the country and the Aldi Irish Angus All-Ireland Bull Calf Championships in Iverk this show alone will be a loss of over €33,000 in prize funds to our members. A decision has not yet been made on Strokestown show. The Irish Angus exhibition at the Ploughing and planned Irish Angus YDP events have also been cancelled.
IHFA: It is a challenge to maintain the normal level of service and we thank our members for their continued understanding in this regard.
IC: Like every other business and organisation, it has slowed down the overall running of the society.
IS: Bar the cancellation of sales, it is business as usual with staff working from home.
IH: The pandemic has had a major effect as the society’s office has had to close temporarily in the interests of health and safety and within the confines of recommendations of the HSE.
IL:The fact that we lost most of our spring sales was a major blow as not only did it mean breeders weren’t able to sell bulls and customers weren’t able to purchase, but another factor is that sales are a very important opportunity to meet both our breeders and customers to receive feedback on the breed and most critical to view progeny of our breed.
Does the society have any other plans for upcoming events or ways of promoting bulls for breeders?
IC: The society will be running a sale of Charolais bulls in Tullamore Mart on Saturday 23 May. This sale will be run in accordance with Government and HSE guidelines.
IS: The society will continue to assist breeders where possible and will also be available to help any customers regarding bull purchasing
IH: The society is considering all options and will weigh up those options as time passes and restrictions ease. Customers can also contact GVM Kilmallock for details of our upcoming sale on Thursday 28 May and to make an appointment to attend and view the bulls that will be up for auction.
IL: We still have two sales to conduct and we will look at whatever mediums are available to try and promote the animals and complete these sales.
If someone is interested in purchasing a bull, what’s the best way to go about it?
All of the societies suggested the best way to purchase a bull is to contact the relevant society and they will assist you the best they can.
If someone is interested in purchasing a bull, what’s the best way to go about it?
All of the societies suggested the best way to purchase a bull is to contact the relevant society and they will assist you the best they can.
Across the country, dozens of breed society sales have been called off over the past two months. The timing of the lockdown, peak bull trading season for most societies, means that over 1,000 bulls have had to find an alternative to live auctions. While some have gone down the route of online sales, other societies try to encourage farm-to-farm trading. To get a feel of how the season has gone to date, the Irish Farmers Journal spoke to some society representatives. Here is what they had to say.
Over the past two months, what has the society done to combat this loss?
Irish Angus (IA): The society set up a free cattle for sale page on the Irish Angus website. This offers breeders the opportunity to advertise their bulls on our website and the society advertised and promoted the page across various media platforms including the Irish Farmers Journal.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA): IHFA field staff engaged and communicated as a direct link between vendors and interested buyers on bulls entered for the association’s premier that was cancelled. The feld staff had completed prior inspections (pre-lockdown) to visually assess each bull and the cow family. They were very familiar with the breeding qualities of each bull and this level of knowledge and first-hand information proved helpful.
One week after the sale date, a follow-up was completed and a revised listing of bulls still available to purchase was published. The IHFA also created a new tab on its website with open invites for vendors and purchasers to post a notice regarding stock for sale.
Irish Charolais (IC): The society gave breeders the option of advertising pictures and videos of their bulls, along with their pedigrees, €uroStar indexes and their own contact details on the society’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Irish Simmental (IS): We have run web catalogues to coincide with these sale dates where customers can see the breeding and evaluations of a number of bulls before making a decision to follow up with the seller.
Irish Hereford (IH): We have been advertising bulls for sale privately on our website, social media sites and advertising through farming newspapers and online news and media platforms.
Irish Limousin (IL): We have organised an online premier sale, promoted our Limo Locator, a facility on the website which enables customers to look at the map of Ireland and click on counties, which then display the contact details of breeders within each county that have been willing to provide their contact details.
Have these alternatives seen a good response?
IA: There has been a good response to the website as bulls are selling from it. Buyers tended to buy locally due to the 2km driving restrictions, implemented by the Government, preventing buyers from travelling long distances.
IHFA: Responses and feedback received so far have been very positive.
IC: From speaking to breeders, the response has been good to date. We are lucky as a society in that we have built up a strong social media base in recent years, especially our Facebook page, which has over 13,000 followers, the largest cattle breed society page in Ireland.
IS: The web catalogues are only alternatives as there is no substitute for purchasers being able to view a number of bulls before making a decision to purchase.
IH: Eighty-five percent of bulls are sold privately from farm to farm in an ordinary year. Many breeders have regular customers so we have seen a lot of repeat buyers, which is a healthy sign with prices realised very similar to last year.
IL: In general, we have received a good response. Whether or not it has turned into successful sales is another question. There is no doubt that while all the alternatives are a help and we must look at adopting the latest technology to move with the times. The majority of buyers and sellers would be hesitant in moving away from the current auction situation where they can see the animals in reality and have the comfort of the usual bidding system.
How much has the pandemic affected your society?
IA: The majority of the summer shows in which the society would have been associated with have been cancelled. These include various local shows around the country and the Aldi Irish Angus All-Ireland Bull Calf Championships in Iverk this show alone will be a loss of over €33,000 in prize funds to our members. A decision has not yet been made on Strokestown show. The Irish Angus exhibition at the Ploughing and planned Irish Angus YDP events have also been cancelled.
IHFA: It is a challenge to maintain the normal level of service and we thank our members for their continued understanding in this regard.
IC: Like every other business and organisation, it has slowed down the overall running of the society.
IS: Bar the cancellation of sales, it is business as usual with staff working from home.
IH: The pandemic has had a major effect as the society’s office has had to close temporarily in the interests of health and safety and within the confines of recommendations of the HSE.
IL:The fact that we lost most of our spring sales was a major blow as not only did it mean breeders weren’t able to sell bulls and customers weren’t able to purchase, but another factor is that sales are a very important opportunity to meet both our breeders and customers to receive feedback on the breed and most critical to view progeny of our breed.
Does the society have any other plans for upcoming events or ways of promoting bulls for breeders?
IC: The society will be running a sale of Charolais bulls in Tullamore Mart on Saturday 23 May. This sale will be run in accordance with Government and HSE guidelines.
IS: The society will continue to assist breeders where possible and will also be available to help any customers regarding bull purchasing
IH: The society is considering all options and will weigh up those options as time passes and restrictions ease. Customers can also contact GVM Kilmallock for details of our upcoming sale on Thursday 28 May and to make an appointment to attend and view the bulls that will be up for auction.
IL: We still have two sales to conduct and we will look at whatever mediums are available to try and promote the animals and complete these sales.
If someone is interested in purchasing a bull, what’s the best way to go about it?
All of the societies suggested the best way to purchase a bull is to contact the relevant society and they will assist you the best they can.
If someone is interested in purchasing a bull, what’s the best way to go about it?
All of the societies suggested the best way to purchase a bull is to contact the relevant society and they will assist you the best they can.
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