Tennessee Livestock Producers Offering Live Internet Sales Starting May 5

Tennessee Farm Bureau News (May 2006) -- Most 72-year-olds don't like to try new things.

But, the 72-year-old Tennessee Livestock Producers, Inc. is always looking for new and better ways to market their customers' livestock. And that's why they've become part of a new, Internet-based live auction service, which can be found at www.lmaauctions.com. Livestock Marketing Association, the national trade association for progressive businesses like TLP, offers the service.

TLP General Manager Darrell Ailshie considers the marketing addition a plus for his customers and buyers. Ailshie said, "It makes a lot of sense for us. It will complement our monthly board sales, which we've been offering for 22 years."

"Just as importantly, Internet sales will be a valuable service for all our consignors," he said. "The key to getting the best price for your livestock is to put them before as many buyers as possible. That's the heart of competitive marketing, which TLP practices at every sale."

Internet marketing will do just that by putting customers' cattle in front of a virtually unlimited number of buyers. TLP's first Internet sale was April 7, and Ailshie said that considering there was no promotion of the sale, beyond the notice on the LMA web site, it went wonderfully well. The site had 70 plus people log in to the sale, which was really no more than a test-run.

The next Internet sale at TLP will be May 5. Ailshie reports that the market will usually run about 2,000 head at a sale.

For this sale, videos of the consigned cattle will be available for viewing at www.lmaauctions.com three to four days ahead of May 5. Viewers can then log in on the 5th for the sale, which starts at 2 p.m. (CDT). Bidding can be done online, or over the phone, but buyers must register prior to the sale, preferably a couple of days ahead of May 5. Registering can be done online.

"All of us at TLP are excited about this new service for our customers," Ailshie said, "It's another way for us to get the best price we can for some of the best cattle produced anywhere."

For more information, call TLP at 931-388-7872, ext. 2235.