Zanna Dennis on the work of auction marts.
Recently, the deadweight lamb price dropped 50p/kg within a week, with farmers responding by restricting supply.
The live auction ring reacted immediately, with the golden rule of supply and demand proving superior and an immediate lift in trade was experienced.
Once again, the live auction ring demonstrated its crucial role in setting and leading market values, ensuring farmers receive a fair reward for the livestock they work tirelessly to produce.
At the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA), we work on behalf of livestock markets across England and Wales and also for Britain’s livestock producers, protecting farmers’ interests and ensuring they have a competitive platform through which to trade their stock.
Part of our remit includes engaging with governments on their future agricultural policies. A perfect example being current dialogue following the 2020 Defra Improvements to Animal Welfare in Transport consultation, in which proposals included reducing journey times and restricting livestock transportation outside of a limited temperature range.
These proposals have the potential to create a disastrous effect across the whole of our industry and, if left unchallenged, could result in livestock markets being unable to effectively operate and restricting how, when, and where a farmer may transport or trade their livestock, to their financial disadvantage.
All the while, the UK Government has signed trade deals with nations that have significantly lower welfare standards than those in the UK, which actively undermines our livestock industry and the food production systems we see in the UK.
It begs the questions as to how such demands can be made of our British farmers who are already working to some of the world’s highest standards.
Safeguard
The LAA is steadfast in its commitment to uphold the interests of British agriculture, to safeguard the future of our industry and to ensure farmers retain the opportunity and choice to sell through the competitive, open and transparent forum the live auction ring provides.
Government must heed the knowledge and expertise of our industry as it seeks to move forward, to ensure policy is rooted in real working practices and genuinely promotes welfare.
The LAA continues to work to further strengthen, support and develop our livestock markets. Our recent MartSafe initiative to #HammerItHome promotes safe and successful market operations and provides livestock markets with practical advice and guidance on health and safety.
While our MartSafe training aims to further enhance the skillset, knowledge and expertise of our market staff in understanding animal behaviour, safe handling and promoting animal welfare.
Our LAA Next Generation group for young auctioneers and fieldsmen in England and Wales continues to gain momentum, meeting again next month.
The group provides a platform for Next Generation members to voice their views, opinions and concerns on all industry matters, which is fed back to the national LAA council. This helps drive our livestock markets forward and secure their future while also allowing members the opportunity to share knowledge and develop a social and professional network.
As confidence in trade remains high, we can look ahead with assurance that although challenges exist, the live auction ring continues to provide the most effective and competitive platform for farmers to market their livestock.
