New Zealand livestock company joins ecommerce world, says online auctioning is growing

An interesting item is being traded online with increasing frequently in New Zealand - livestock.

Livestock giant PGG Wrighton estimates that more than $5 million worth of cattle, sheep and other livestock has been auctioned online though its recently-introduced service, according to Radio New Zealand.

The company's auctioning website, AgOnline, was launched last year for the purpose of trading dairy cows through ecommerce. It has since expanded to include steers, deer and sheep.

Although the online sales are still outpaced by what PGG Wrighton sells during its traditional sales, the service is growing rapidly, according to the source.

PGG Wrighton dairy livestock manager Paul Edwards told Radio New Zealand that the company also plans to expand into selling feed, rural services and other products online.

PGG Wrighton is New Zealand's largest and only nationwide provider to the agricultural sector. According to the company's website, it employs 2,700 staff to provide for 90,000 clients across the country, with growing operations in Australia and South America.