DairyTalk 278: Auction, Direct Sale, or Online? The New Rules of Cattle Marketing - by Helmut Demmelhuber

This article explores the changing landscape of livestock
marketing, comparing traditional live auctions with direct farm
sales and emerging digital platforms. While physical auctions
remain a crucial price benchmark and can generate top values
through competitive bidding, they face mounting pressure from
rising transport costs and stricter animal welfare regulations.
Direct and online sales offer greater flexibility and lower
effort, but often lack the price tension that drives premium
results. The analysis also highlights the continued importance of
export markets such as Italy and the Netherlands for sustaining
demand. The key takeaway is clear: marketing strategy has become
a decisive factor in livestock value, not just animal quality
alone. With comments on a "Milchkuh Magazine"-article (1/2026) by
A. Fry and S. Lehnert: https://milchkuh-magazin.de/