There's dust in the air, dirt on the boots, and the booming voices of auctioneers break through the cattle-dung-scented air, but farmers don't want to let go of saleyards despite the boom in online sales.
In the 2021–22 financial year, AuctionsPlus — Australia's largest online platform for selling livestock — recorded a rise of 49 per cent in gross sales to $3.5 billion.
In the age of technology, more graziers are switching online to save costs associated with saleyards and for the accessibility of online purchasing offers.
But the industry fears this will further impact an existing problem — graziers' mental health.
Social scene
The hustle and bustle of auctioning cattle is often second fiddle to the social scene at saleyards.
"It's a feel-good thing while you're here. It's a social gathering," said livestock agent Jim Geaney.
"People are able to talk about a number of things, not only about the cattle of the day but other things like telling their best jokes or when they are going on holidays."
Mr Geaney, North Queensland born and bred, has been attending the Charters Towers cattle sale for over 50 years.
"I've always liked the cattle industry and it's in your blood. You just love being here," he said.
"It's where you meet your friends and see people that you've been dealing with for many years.
"As far as the agents are concerned, there is a comradeship here that we're all in the same industry working and striving to make it better."
For many graziers who live on isolated properties, attending livestock sales helps them battle loneliness, livestock agent Liam Kirkwood says.
"You find that a lot of the older graziers will make this their one day a week that they spend in town," he said.
"They drop their wives off and do the shopping, get the groceries, they come to the sale here, catch up with friends, agents, et cetera."
Mr Kirkwood says the wider community benefits from saleyards because they promote a sharing of knowledge.
"There's definitely a huge social benefit of being here at the yards," he said.
"It gives people an opportunity to be able to talk to buyers and agents … and they get a number of different viewpoints on what might be happening."
Mental health impacts
The impact of saleyards has not gone unnoticed.
Last year the Australian Livestock Markets Association (ALMA) commissioned the Social Values of Saleyards report.
It found that without saleyards there were significant consequences to the mental health of the wider community, said Stephanie Whitaker, the executive officer of ALMA.
"We saw a really clear impact of the lack of access to sales for people," she said.
"People felt that their mental health suffered from not being able to come to the sale."
The report found great benefits in physical touch, Ms Whitaker said.
"We can't underestimate the value of that physical contact that people had, whether it's a pat on the shoulder or shaking your hand," she said.
"The very nature of farming means that a lot of us live out on properties away from other people.
"Coming into the sale — that contact with other people really builds up not just your mental health, but your physical health."
Ms Whitaker, a grazier herself, says saleyards are effective in boosting mental health because they aren't considered frivolous to attend.
"We found that the overwhelming response to the surveys in the research was that people loved sale day," she said.
"It was like a men's shed, but not just for men."
'Not going anywhere'
It's an interesting social scene, often held weekly, where the saleyards will bring graziers, livestock agents, buyers, the general public, and school students together.
It's the kind of atmosphere the industry feels can't be matched by online auctions.
"You can do it online, but you get a feel for it here," Mr Geaney said.
"A lot of producers come here to have a look at the sale and the cattle.
"You don't get that online through a photo and that's why I think the sales will continue on forever."
