Now reaching 10,000 users and 400 livestock agents from 11 agencies across the country, bidr a finalist in Federated Farmers’ Primary Industries Awards.

bidr continues to cement its role as New Zealand’s virtual saleyard, securing another success in early July as a finalist in the Primary Industries New Zealand Awards, where the company competed for the AsureQuality Kaitiaki Kai Technology Innovation Award.

In their citation the award judges noted that bidr was in its infancy when the pandemic hit. 

“Initial adversity was turned into an advantage as livestock agents and their clients turned to the online platform to keep trading through lockdowns. bidr is now the largest online trading platform for livestock in the country. 

“It has enabled nationwide reach and accessibility for vendors and buyers. It has helped farmers save travel time and cost, and has had benefits for livestock and the environment through reducing the need for travel to sale yards.”

bidr general manager Liam Beattie said recognition at the Federated Farmers run awards further consolidated the company’s importance to farmers and position within the livestock industry.

“When we launched in June 2019, we had an excellent proposition to farmers and the wider industry, connecting economic advantage and environmental responsibility, saving New Zealand farmers time and money while also reducing their environmental footprint by minimising unnecessary travel and animal cartage associated with livestock sales. 

“Since then, bidr has put that proposition into practice, particularly during the Covid 19 lockdown when we expanded from a platform offering 100 per cent online auctions by developing of our ‘Hybrid’ format. First, we developed a fully integrated audio-visual livestream of traditional on-farm auctions, allowing remote online buyers to participate in sales. Then we introduced our ‘Saleyard’ format, which is now installed in 13 saleyards across the country, enabling online bidding at regular weekly sales.

“Over 10,000 users and 400 livestock agents from 11 agencies across New Zealand now actively engage with bidr, which is scheduled to deliver over 1000 auctions in 2024,” he says.

Congratulations to online dairy farming video learning platform Farm 4 Life Hub, which won the Primary Industries New Zealand AsureQuality Kaitiaki Kai Technology Innovation Award.

You can visit bidr here, or see the AssureQuality categories & finalists here.