Add cattle to the growing list of things you can buy online.
Vold, Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. of Ponoka made the jump to cyberspace last Wednesday, when it offered real-time Internet bidding at its regular sale of pre-weighed catalogued cattle.
In addition to those at the auction mart, buyers at computer screens miles away were able to watch the proceedings and take part.
“Lots of markets you can watch the sales online, but to bid with the auctioneer in real time, this is the first one you can do it right here live in the ring,” said Blair Vold, owner of Vold, Jones & Vold.
Not only do Internet participants receive live video and audio streams of the auction, they’re fed continuous information about pricing, animal histories and other data. Bids from off-site buyers are announced on two giant monitors in the auction ring, ensuring everyone is kept abreast of what’s happening.
“It’s kind of interesting to watch,” said Vold.
He expects the system, called OnLine Ringman, to attract users from across Western Canada and even Ontario.
“Anybody can bid on this thing — all over the world, in fact.”
With it, some buyers can avoid the need to travel to Ponoka to take part in sales. Distant sellers can also save miles.
“Instead of them travelling to watch their cattle sell, they can watch it on the computer,” said Vold.
Ultimately, he added, Internet selling should expose cattle in the ring to a lot more buyers — which is good for sellers and the industry.
“The genetics in this (area) are the best cattle, I think, in North America. We’ve got to showcase them the right way.”
Vold, Jones & Vold was actually approached by OnLine Ringman developer Xcira Inc., a Florida-based giant in the Internet auction industry.
“They do the Ritchie Bros. (Auctioneers) sales . . . and they do Christie’s art auctions,” said Vold.
“They’re the biggest in the world.”
Vold, Jones & Vold planned to implement the OnLine Ringman system at its Dawson Creek, B.C., operations today, and was going to do the same at its Stavely auction next week.
“I’m thinking this is the new future in the cattle business,” said Vold. “You’ll see a lot more cattle sell online like this.”
More information about Vold, Jones & Vold and its Internet auction can be found online at www.vjvauction.com.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com