Adversity is the mother of invention is a saying ringing true at saleyards as coronavirus restrictions hit home.
In some cases it has been a "back to the future" moment as saleyards with ring selling facilities opt to put cattle through the ring.
In other centres it has been strict enforcement of coronavirus restrictions - around social distancing in particular.
Australian Livestock and Property Agents association southern region chairman, Warren Clark, said safety was the key issue for all centres.
He said the safety and well-being of agents and buyers was paramount.
"Buyers in particular are vulnerable as they go to more than one selling centre. Their attendance is critical to the selling of livestock," he said.
He said a national phone hook up revealed all states and centres were in a similar boat.
Social distancing was paramount and while some centres were operating with spare pens between lots, and some through the selling ring, all were within the restrictions.
Mr Clark said buyers needed to have confidence that yards were operating safely. "Principals of these buyers are keen to operate at all centres and needed all their buyers available to do that," he said.
"The prime sales are easier to control the buying gallery," he said.
Buyers in particular are vulnerable as they go to more than one selling centre. Their attendance is critical to the selling of livestock.
- Warren Clark, ALPA southern region chairman
At Yea a council employee strictly policed social distancing rules at the recent store cattle sale.
Nutrien Ag's Chris Pollard said the council representative would blow a whistle if buyers wandered to close to one-another.
He said the sale would be halted until space had been created.
A live stream to a video screen away from the pens was also a benefit with buyers operating from that location.
At the Western Victorian Livestock Exchange at Mortlake it was a "no declaration, no entry" policy.
Entrance into WVLX complex was manned and buyers and agents were told to expect delays.
Mortlake Associated Agents president Alister Nash, said the change to ring selling "wasn't by choice, but you have to do what you have to do".
The centre introduced ring selling for its prime sale on March 30 when 1000 cattle were sold via the ring. This week there was a smaller yarding of 493 cattle.
The MLA's National Livestock Reporting Service said all processors and restockers operated in a firm to dearer sale with feeders operating strongly.
He said the ring selling was slightly slower overall - slower bringing the cattle into the ring, but faster from the ring to the scales.
Mr Nash said a store sale scheduled for April 16 expected around 2000 cattle to be put through the ring, but also live streamed through AuctionsPlus.
"We didn't want to restrict competition or buyers coming to the sale," he asid.
"We can seat 55 buyers and meet the rules of social distancing."