Hampshire Down online sale planned

The HDSBA is believed to be the first of the sheep breed organisations to launch a virtual sale, with the event intended to replace the Premier Breeders Sale usually held at the end of June.

Taking place on the weekend of 12-14 June, the virtual sale has attracted a large number of Hampshire Down breeders since entries were launched on 5 May.

The Association is working with auctioneer, Harrison and Hetherington (H&H), which has an online livestock sales portal on its company website.

The lots put forward will go live on the H&H auction section from the end of May, while the full colour catalogue (a first for the Association) will be available on the HDSBA and H&H sites from the beginning of June.

The auction itself opens at 10am on Friday 12 June and closes at one-minute intervals from 12.00 on Sunday, 14 June.

HDSBA president Judith Galbraith said: “Our premier sale is a major highlight for the society and having to cancel it was a huge blow. Our aim is to try and replicate it using an online, timed auction.

“We wanted to produce a really attractive catalogue full of details about the lots, to engage both present members and prospective flock keepers.

“We hope this will encourage them to support the sale. Making the catalogue available online for two weeks prior to the event will give potential purchasers plenty of time for browsing.

“The sale will also provide an opportunity to market this year’s lamb crop and shearling ewes and rams, as well as acting as a shop window for flock keepers who traditionally attend agricultural shows and pedigree sales,” said Mrs Galbraith.

A further new development by the HDSBA has been to upgrade its web-based ‘Sheep for Sale’ pages.

Additional space has been allocated for pedigree details and breeders can now upload their own sheep data and up to seven images per animal.

Listings also include links to the Grassroots pedigree database, plus performance records for breeders using the Signet system.