UNITED KINGDOM.
RECORD NUMBERS AT EXMOOR SHEEP FAIR.
Farmers had a record-breaking year in 2008 for their Blackmoor Gate Market, selling more sheep in total than ever before.When my father bough sheep there is the sixties 3,000 was a big number for the sale.
Store lambs hit new heights with 31,772 sold, an increase of more than 50% on 2007 and an increase of 17% on the next highest recent year. There were record numbers of ewes and rams with well in excess of 10,500 sold during the year.
Auctioneer Peter Huntley commented that with large numbers like this being handled, the sale ring system of the sheep coming before the buyers worked extremely well.
As we move into 2009 the trade is beginning to rise considerably and we are still seeing large numbers of store lambs at Blackmoor Gate with 1,400 sold at the first January sale and in excess of 1,500 entered for the second sale. Sales will continue through February and March and on into the spring.