Livestock Markets.

[Bury the Trash]

A new research project by Exeter University, looking at the social side of LM's .
About the research

Livestock auction marts have acted as significant meeting points for rural communities for over 200 years. Despite facing various challenges including disease outbreak and the rise of electronic auctions, the sale of livestock at auction marts is still a prevalent practice in UK farming. However, since 1963, auction marts have declined by over 80% in England and Wales. This is largely due to changes in transportation, challenges in accessing town locations, and the rise of purpose-built agri-business centres outside of town centres. The purpose of this research project is to identify the role, importance, and practice of livestock auction marts (AMs) in terms of their social relevance to attendees, value to the wider rural community, and opportunities for ‘best practice’ going forward.

The main outputs of the project will be:
1) To evidence the role of auction marts within rural communities, and the importance of diversification to the sustainability of the markets within the current climate.
2) To use the findings to inspire markets to explore new options and means of engaging with the wider rural community.
3) To provide a case for improved service integration through change.
The project has a 7 month timescale until April 2020. The Prince’s Countryside Fund is providing £20,000, while the John Oldacre Foundation is providing £19,831.
Call for evidence on prospects for livestock auction marts in the UK
As part of this project, the researchers are launching a call for evidence on the following key questions:

1. What do livestock auction marts contribute to the agricultural sector, the rural economy and communities, and the countryside, the absence of which might be felt were they to no longer exist as business entities within our communities?
2. What do you think livestock auction marts contribute to the social lives, health, and well-being of those who attend them, if anything?
3. How might livestock auction marts be encouraged and supported in order to survive into the future? What opportunities might they explore over and above their purpose of facilitating the sale of livestock? (examples might be as a site for farmer health hubs or business advice, other sales events, or opening a café/restaurant)
4. Can you name or list any examples of good practice that you have witnessed where an auction mart is successfully employing a number of functions over and above the sale of livestock?

Evidence should be submitted by February 28th 2020 and sent by email to [email protected] or sent by post to:
Professor Michael Winter OBE
Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR)
University of Exeter
Lazenby House, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PJ



Read more at http://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/.../project/index.php?id=653#Vp58av1YpI9eP7EJ.99

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Thanks for puttng that up . Will send my thoughts off .i

 

[Poorbuthappy]

How many livestock markets are still associated with pannier markets?
And I guess these days farmers markets?

Used to be an all day job at Barnstaple market for my grandparents. Nan would mind the stall (eggs, oven ready chicken, jams, maybe some veg) whilst Grandad sold stock in the LM, then dinner in the market cafe with his pals, then he'd mind the stall for a bit while Nan did the shopping. They both regularly met up with their friends there each week.
Lot of livestock markets out of town these days I guess?

 

[Bury the Trash]

How many livestock markets are still associated with pannier markets?
And I guess these days farmers markets?

Used to be an all day job at Barnstaple market for my grandparents. Nan would mind the stall (eggs, oven ready chicken, jams, maybe some veg) whilst Grandad sold stock in the LM, then dinner in the market cafe with his pals, then he'd mind the stall for a bit while Nan did the shopping. They both regularly met up with their friends there each week.
Lot of livestock markets out of town these days I guess?

ditto , my grandparents earned a lot of their living from the farm at Barnstaple and Exeter pannier markets.

other Grandfather never missed Exeter when he was in his prime... and would buy a fair bit of stock and just send it home,

I have no doubt they also loved the social side.

but times do change I guess...…...

 

[Agrivator]

There is a need to distinguish between store sales and primestock sales.

Store sales are mostly farmer-to-farmers sales, and without them, there would be little guidance on:

1. What type of stock is in demand.

2. What prices are achieved for various classes of stock.

3. What measures some of the less successful sellers can take to emulate the successful sellers. In other words, store sales are a far better educational method than the current fad of ''Monitor farms'', and there are none of the associated costs.

4.Live fatstock sales are the only way of gauging a fair price for direct deadweight sales.

 

[primmiemoo]

There's definitely a difference between going to a Livestock Market that is integral to a market town, and going to a modern Livestock Centre.

I know the LCs are well thought through for logistics relating to vehicles and animals, but they aren't substitutes for a traditionally sited market at a cultural level because they are located so far out of town. You can't nip to carry out other business, visit the shops, buy from the pannier market, or go for a meal other than at the market canteen (no criticism of market canteens, just an observation about choice) without a vehicle being involved. No more walks. Fewer chances to see somebody you know.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

3. What measures some of the less successful sellers can take to emulate the successful sellers. In other words, store sales are a far better educational method than the current fad of ''Monitor farms'', and there are none of the associated costs.

How are you defining success?
Just because they achieve a higher price at market does it mean they're more profitable?

 

[Danllan]

How many livestock markets are still associated with pannier markets?
And I guess these days farmers markets?

Used to be an all day job at Barnstaple market for my grandparents. Nan would mind the stall (eggs, oven ready chicken, jams, maybe some veg) whilst Grandad sold stock in the LM, then dinner in the market cafe with his pals, then he'd mind the stall for a bit while Nan did the shopping. They both regularly met up with their friends there each week.
Lot of livestock markets out of town these days I guess?

That's pulled a memory from somewhere... I can just remember Tring mart back in the late 70's, there was still a 'Farmers' Ordinary' in a pub by the mart, I think The Robin Hood (but am happy to be corrected if anyone has a clear memory from back then), and my father used to say it was the best part of the day - probably because someone ese would be driving home...

 

[Agrivator]

How are you defining success?
Just because they achieve a higher price at market does it mean they're more profitable?

So you don't think there's much to learn from the folk who consistently produce stock that other farmers are willing to pay a premium for.

I am often impressed by the ability of some stockmen to produce quality from their own (often average) resources. And like a lot of other farmers, I can distinguish between that type of very capable stockmen, and others who produce good quality stock through heavy feeding and by paying very high prices for their breeding stock.

I once asked a farmer, who was selling yet another good pen of Texel cross lambs, where he got his tups from. He thought for a minute, and then he said: ''Kelso''.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

So you don't think there's much to learn from the folk who consistently produce stock that other farmers are willing to pay a premium for.

I am often impressed by the ability of some stockmen to produce quality from their own (often average) resources. And like a lot of other farmers, I can distinguish between that type of very capable stockmen, and others who produce good quality stock through heavy feeding and by paying very high prices for their breeding stock.

I once asked a farmer, who was selling yet another good pen of Texel cross lambs, where he got his tups from. He thought for a minute, and then he said: ''Kelso''.

I'm willing to learn from anyone if it adds to my bottom line.
Do you not think there's much to learn from someone who's consistently making a good profit from selling average R grade lambs to supermarket spec?

 

[Al R]

So you don't think there's much to learn from the folk who consistently produce stock that other farmers are willing to pay a premium for.

I am often impressed by the ability of some stockmen to produce quality from their own (often average) resources. And like a lot of other farmers, I can distinguish between that type of very capable stockmen, and others who produce good quality stock through heavy feeding and by paying very high prices for their breeding stock.

I once asked a farmer, who was selling yet another good pen of Texel cross lambs, where he got his tups from. He thought for a minute, and then he said: ''Kelso''.

Location is a big thing, there’s no good fat marts anywhere near me, and it’s the best part of the day wasted for to many variables. Selling dead I pretty much know where I am, especially on the E/U’s.

there is also no option these days to bring stock home if whatever your selling doesn’t hit your desired price!!

 

[Hilly]

So you don't think there's much to learn from the folk who consistently produce stock that other farmers are willing to pay a premium for.

I am often impressed by the ability of some stockmen to produce quality from their own (often average) resources. And like a lot of other farmers, I can distinguish between that type of very capable stockmen, and others who produce good quality stock through heavy feeding and by paying very high prices for their breeding stock.

I once asked a farmer, who was selling yet another good pen of Texel cross lambs, where he got his tups from. He thought for a minute, and then he said: ''Kelso''.

Is their something unusual about buying a Texel at Kelso ?

 

[unlacedgecko]

I'm willing to learn from anyone if it adds to my bottom line.
Do you not think there's much to learn from someone who's consistently making a good profit from selling average R grade lambs to supermarket spec?

I learn a hell of a lot from such people.

Funnily enough, the majority of my day contracting customers come under this heading.