RECORD numbers of livestock producers are flocking to online sales.
And AuctionsPlus is not only selling big numbers of stock, but also attracting its largest fields of buyers.
Last week, the online selling system sold a record 81,000 sheep. And late last month 338 buyers logged in for a cattle sale, the biggest number ever.
Industry players say the scarcity of regular store sheep sales had forced the hand of buyers, with small, infrequent physical store markets allowing limited opportunities to buy.
It has meant sheep offered on AuctionsPlus has now swapped from 40 per cent prime stock and 60 per cent store stock, to 80 per cent store stock, with about 20,000 offered each week.
Most of the cattle offered are prime cattle, but store stock are also increasing.
AuctionsPlus general manager Gary Dick said the addition this year of limit bidding, where buyers can put their highest offer in and not participate in bidding, was also being taken up by some producers, but its use was not widespread.
Mr Dick said the greatest influence in increasing yardings and bidding was the inclusion of stock photos and videos.
"The past five years we have kept setting new records for the numbers of stock through AuctionsPlus, and this year we are going to run lineball with last year, if not set a new record," Mr Dick said.
He said the AuctionsPlus website averaged eight million hits a month, with 25,000-30,000 individual users accessing the site monthly.
Landmark AuctionsPlus co-ordinator for Victoria, David Welsh, said results such as last week's Benalla lamb finishers sale held on AuctionsPlus - where 18,000 lambs averaged $94 - spoke for themselves.
