United Auctions will be enforcing a strict set of regulations and security controls to ensure the safety of staff and customers in order to facilitate a live bull sale this month.
The business-only auction, which does not include a pre-sale show, will see 635 pedigree bulls and females on sale at Stirling Agricultural Centre.
The programme has been carefully designed by Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers to focus on safety, ensuring that customers are only present in the market to conduct their transactions.
Pedigree Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn, Lincoln Red, British Blue and Limousin breeds will be sold in week one from Saturday, February 20, to Monday, February 22.
Week two takes place from Saturday, February 27, to Sunday, February 28, with the sales of pedigree Simmental, Salers and Charolais breeds.
There is no spectator element to the sales so the general public, trade and others not directly involved in sales must not attend.
United Auctions has said that customers must only register to attend the sale if they have a genuine intention to buy a bull with only one customer per farming enterprise permitted and no under 16’s allowed.
Respecting Covid-19 guidelines
All pre-registered buyers must respect the 2m social distancing and facemasks must be worn at all times. Press attendance will also be limited and there will be reduced catering available and no bar.
In the event of buyer registrations exceeding capacity, a ballot will be drawn to determine attendance.
In addition, an online bidding facility will be available for the February bull sales. All buyers must pre-register for the online bidding facility and complete the ‘Know Your Customer’ checks in good time before the sales take place.
John Roberts, group sales director for United Auctions, said:
“This February, the Stirling bull sales is strictly business-only to protect staff and customers.
We’ll be enforcing rigorous security controls so if you have no transactional business here, please act responsibly and do not come.
“You must not just turn up. If you’re not pre-registered as a buyer, journalist or photographer, you will be turned away.
“Buyers must only attend for the scheduled sale times to transact their business then leave. If we all work together and stick to the rules, we can keep one another safe and ensure that live sales can continue.
“Agricultural journalists and photographers must pre-register to attend and only one journalist per publication is permitted.
“Eight socially distanced tables will be available for press use in the conference room, which will stream the sale ring on a screen.
Neither journalists nor photographers will be allowed in the sale ring or the pens. Bulls can only be photographed at the picture board outside.
“No catering is available in the conference room. Sale reports can be sent to press at the end of the day on request,” he concluded.
