THE Roma Saleyards will become the first store selling centre in Queensland to live stream sales when the new initiative kicks off on Tuesday February 16.
Buyers and sellers will be able to watch the sale pen-by-pen in real time via a video stream on the internet.
The live stream won’t yet include a facility for buyers to bid online, but Roma Saleyards operations manager Terry Hyland said it was the first step towards such a concept.
“There is no doubt that will happen one day but we need to make sure we have this process working well first,” he said.
“We will have a staff member filming every pen as the sale progresses so anyone will be able to jump on the internet and watch the store sale as it happens.”
Mr Hyland said the Roma Saleyards hoped to add improvements to the initiative such as a preliminary viewing of pens, prior to the start of the store sale.
He said the feedback from local agents was that the live streaming would be welcomed by many buyers and producers.
“It’s an additional tool for both buyers and vendors and we’re looking forward to being the first saleyards, certainly in Queensland, to roll it out permanently.”
Just under 410,000 head of cattle were sold through the Roma Saleyards in the 2015 calendar year with another 75,000 head spelled at the facility during that period.
It’s an additional tool for both buyers and vendors.
- Terry Hyland
Selling innovations at the centre are also being matched by improvements to infrastructure on the site with a $3m truck wash opened last November.
A large roadhouse and truck stop has also been passed by the Maranoa Regional Council, tenders have been awarded and construction is due to start this year. A new canteen and administration block is also being designed and Council hope to have it in place by the end of 2018.
