Market stampede hails rebirth of business

To market, to market... that’s where farmers are returning in full force after Foot and Mouth wiped out the trade just two years ago.

The Livestock Auctioneers Association of England and Wales is posting an overall boost in trade of 25% as it continues to win back loyal business.

For the year end 2003 the Association’s 140 member markets saw store and breeding stock trade figures rocket in every area – with head of cattle at 696,000 (up 111,000 on 2002 trading figures) while sheep numbers rose by 495,000 to 2.16 million.

Chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association of England and Wales, Bruce Daniel said: “We are well on the road to recovery after the disastrous year of 2001. It has been a struggle but farmers are returning to the fold in their droves and once again putting their trust in markets.

“We knew it would never be easy to rebuild from what was effectively ground zero but throughput is improving week after week. Also feedback from farmers tells us that our intermediary role in ensuring the best price is reached and in guaranteeing immediate payment is more important than ever for their recovery after those tough times.”

He added: “In a sense we are the victims of our own success – we worked very hard during Foot and Mouth to put farmers in touch with one another so they could deal direct – and now we have to win back this business.

“We recognise that the marketplace has changed and in this post Foot and Mouth era there are more sole traders who simply can’t make it to market.

“However, we have much to offer and we are confident that we will return to the trading figures we saw before Foot and Mouth in the very near future.”