Over 300 online bids were placed during an on-farm breeding cattle sale using the new Yourbid system developed to run sales during the pandemic.
The sale, hosted by Fearn Farm, in Ross-Shire, included beef shorthorn bulls, in calf heifers and maiden heifers reared by the Scott family.
It was the first 100% cattle sale in Scotland to use Yourbid, which was developed by a farming family in New Zealand to run livestock sales during the lockdown.
The transparent bidding model allows all lots to be visible simultaneously, helping establish relative market values.
Nine two-year-old beef shorthorn bulls sold to a top of £9,600 for Fearn NC 500, which went to Gill and Co, Brucefield, Portmahomack.
His half-brother Nonu was just behind at £9,400, sold to Harry Strawson, Hexgreave Estate, Nottinghamshire, whilst another, Nevis sold at £7,600 to Antrim Estates, Glenarm, Northern Ireland.
All three of these bulls were by the £20,000 Fearn Godfather whose females and semen were also in demand selling to a top of £5,100 for Fearn Isobel to George Shanks, Northern Ireland and £4,050 to Eric Evans, Wales, whilst semen hit £55 per straw on four occasions for lots of 5.
Fearn Elmer also made his mark in the sale with sons selling to £6,300 for Fearn North Star to the Green family, Corskie whilst an unregistered bull made £5,300 again to Gill and Co Brucefield.
Three-year-old bulls sold to £4,400 for the favourite Fearn Mey who heads north to Mackintosh, Glengolly in Caithness.
For John Scott, who has been organising on-farm ram sales since 2012 with his wife Fiona, the Yourbid system has allowed them to continue selling their stock whilst adhering to lockdown regulations.
“This format is a fantastic solution for the challenging times we live in at the moment and offers a long-term alternative method to selling livestock with many benefits," he said.
“We have dreamt of having our own cattle sale now for some time and although we had envisaged it being more of a social occasion, the day worked well and we have been able to sell cattle all over the UK and Ireland in a clear and transparent manner.”
The sale included Luing bulls and heifers which, on this occasion, did not sell but according to John, it was just not the right time.
"Unfortunately, it was too early in the season for the Luing animals, however, one of the benefits of these sales is we can be confident in our high health status as the animals have not left the farm.”
Over 300 online bids were placed during the on-farm sale, hosted by Fearn Farm, Ross-Shire on 22 January 2021.
