OVER the last few weeks we have managed to continue operating regularly three days a week with the livestock sales at Borderway – Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Since last month, Breeding Cattle and Breeding Sheep sales have also been reintroduced to the markets which has been a great relief to many farmers.

The ‘Drop & Go’ system for consignors to the weekly commercial sales is operating very smoothly and allowing people to drive in and have their livestock unloaded and taken to the allocated pens before setting off home again.

The follow up price service is then either emailed or they receive a text or phone call with the prices and details of their sales on the day.

Our series of May Spring Pedigree Beef Sales have all been marketed on the new Online Timed Auction platform which has been well received from both vendors and purchasers.

During this present time of lockdown, the new system is allowing both parties to be able to do business from their own home and is helping to maintain the social distancing we all have to be aware of.

We are into our third week of Online Timed Beef Sales and prices have been encouraging considering the buyer can only assess the animals available for sale by the images and videos which can be seen via the website.

The first week saw a top price bid of £15,000 for the Limousin bull, Maraiscote Phil, which was offered by Lanarkshire breeders Messrs Nimmo.

The second week was the offering of the Charolais, Aberdeen Angus, Blonde, Beef Shorthorn and Simmental breeds. Heading up the second week was a Charolais bull, Solwayfirth Oneal, from Dumfriesshire breeders Ian and Dorothy Goldie, who sold their bull for £10,000.

The third week of online sales was made up with the British Blues, Hereford, Lincoln Red and Salers. Taking the lead price at £12,000 was a British Blue bull from Messrs Williams of Lampeter.

This new format of marketing our Pedigree Livestock entries has attracted just over 2000 interested potential buyers, which reside from all four corners of the UK, also Ireland and Europe.

One of the Limousin bull entries was successfully purchased and will be heading to Aveyron in France.

Social distancing is one of the key elements in our day-to-day working arrangements and here at Borderway, we have signage to assist and guide the purchasers and hauliers when they are operating in the market.

Let’s hope during the next few weeks that we will see some relaxation in the guidelines and allow us to get back into a form or normality for operating livestock sales.

Until next month, stay safe.

H&H's next livestock bidding sales:

Today at 12 noon, Beef Breeding sale of bulling heifers.

Friday, June 5, Borderway Monthly Dairy Day, sale to commence at 12 noon.

For live ring bidding please remember to pre-register prior to the sale on H&H website