Why Sell Bulls Online?
A bull buyer wants to see the numbers and get a good look at the bull before bidding. An online sale puts all of it in one place, open at any hour, for as long as your catalog is up. Buyers bid from wherever they are, and every one of them lands on your buyer list for next year.
What Does an Online Bull Sale Look Like?
A common schedule, though you pick every date:
- Two to three weeks out: the catalog goes live. Buyers study the bulls, watch the videos and register.
- Several days before the close: bidding opens, so buyers have time to work through the catalog.
- Sale day: every lot closes at the time you set. A bid in the final minutes gives that bull a few more minutes.
- After the close: unsold bulls move to buy-it-now.
What Goes on Each Bull's Page?
As much as you want to show:
- Photos, as many as you like
- YouTube videos
- Pedigree
- EPDs
- Birth, weaning and yearling weights
- Scrotal measurement and semen test results
- Your own notes on the bull
Type or paste the numbers into the lot's details area, or attach a PDF, such as the EPD printout from your breed registry, a semen test or health papers.
How Do Reference Sires Work?
Put your herd sires in a Reference Sires category and mark them display-only. They show in the catalog with their own pages, photos and EPDs, and nobody can bid on them. Buyers can look at the sire behind the sale bulls without leaving the sale.
Categories can hold anything you want, so you can also split the catalog into groups like yearling bulls and two-year-olds.
Buyers can bid from a phone in the pickup without downloading anything. If they can read a text, they can bid on your bulls.
Tom Bruch, founder
What Happens to Bulls That Do Not Sell?
They move to buy-it-now at the price you set and stay at the top of the page until the end date you choose. A buyer who missed the sale can still buy. If you set a reserve price on a bull, he only sells when bidding reaches it, and buyers can see on the lot whether the reserve has been met. A bull that falls short goes to buy-it-now with the rest.
Who Handles Payment, Delivery and Breeding Guarantees?
You do, on your terms. Your sale terms spell out the payment deadline, delivery, health papers and any breeding guarantee. Our Sample Sale Terms give you a starting point, and the Sample Bidding Guide gives your buyers the how-to.
Now Booking Spring 2027 Bull Sales
Most spring bull sales run February through April, and the catalog work starts in the fall. Your sale website can be ready within 7 days of signing, which leaves time to load the lots and get the word out to buyers.
Common Questions About Online Bull Sales
Can buyers see the EPDs before bidding opens?
Yes. Once a lot is visible, buyers can see everything on its page, including EPDs and any PDFs you attach.
Can we show our herd sires without selling them?
Yes. Put them in a Reference Sires category and mark them display-only.
How long should bidding be open?
That is your call. Many sellers open bidding several days before the close so buyers have time to work through the catalog.
Can we require a card on file?
Yes. It is optional, and most sellers turn it on.
Can we sell semen or embryos in the same sale?
Yes. A lot can be anything you want to sell, and categories keep it separate from the bulls.