Help
Frequently asked questions
The answers below cover the questions buyers ask us most often. If yours is not here, we are always glad to help in person.
Buying
- What am I actually buying?
- A live animal, or a defined share of a lot of animals. The Cattle Exchange is the seller in every transaction, so your agreement is with us.
- How do I know an animal is as described?
- Every animal is examined before it is listed, and its breed, age, live weight, body condition and identification are recorded and shown with real photographs. Our descriptions are written as an honest account of the animal rather than as marketing, and if one proves materially inaccurate we will put it right.
- Can I buy only part of a lot?
- Yes. A lot of twenty ewes, for instance, is a single listing from which you may take any number, from one animal to the full pen. Availability updates as animals sell, and a lot is never oversold.
- What does it mean when an animal is available on request?
- Some animals are offered on request rather than for immediate purchase. You tell us what you are looking for, we source it for you, and we confirm a price for your approval before any payment is taken. Nothing is charged until you accept the quotation.
Payment
- How do I pay, and is it secure?
- Payment is made to The Cattle Exchange through PayFast. Your card details are entered within PayFast’s own secure window and never reach our systems, so the security of your payment rests with an established provider rather than with us. Your order is confirmed the moment payment succeeds.
- Can the price change after I have paid?
- For the great majority of animals, no: the price you see is the price you pay. A small number are sold by live weight, in which case the final amount is determined on a certified scale and settled against a published tolerance band. Our pricing and weigh-in policy explains this in full.
- What happens if I reserve an animal but do not pay?
- The reservation simply lapses after a short while and the animal returns to sale. Nothing is charged.
Delivery and collection
- How does delivery work, and what does it cost?
- You may collect from the point shown on a listing, or ask us to arrange delivery by livestock transport. Delivery is priced according to the distance to be travelled and the number of animals, and we confirm both the cost and the timing with you before anything is charged.
- When does an animal become my responsibility?
- Responsibility passes to you when the animal is handed over, whether on collection or on delivery and acceptance. Until that point it remains at our risk, as set out in our mortality and risk transfer policy.
Health and welfare
- How do I know the animal is healthy?
- Every animal is examined before sale, and its health and vaccination status are recorded. That information reflects the animal’s condition at the point we hand it over; it is an honest account rather than a guarantee of future health, which depends on how the animal is cared for once it is with you. Our health and biosecurity policy sets out what to check on arrival.
Selling and your information
- How do I sell my livestock through The Cattle Exchange?
- If you would like to supply livestock, you can apply through our partner portal, where you complete a short verification. Our Sell with us page explains how it works and what is involved.
- What do you do with my personal information?
- We collect only what we need to fulfil your order and to meet our legal obligations, we never sell it, and we protect it carefully. Our privacy policy explains exactly what we hold, why we hold it, and the rights you have over it.