Covid 19 Auction Update.
Following the Prime Ministers announcement tonight we have received the following further guidance from Defra and the Livestock Auctioneers Association.
Defra have confirmed that markets may take place tomorrow, Tuesday 24th March. However we MUST apply strict conditions.
With immediate effect LAA members MUST implement a “drop and go” policy for vendors bringing stock to market for sale.
Vendors:
Members must implement a “drop and go” policy for vendors.
This action is to prevent any sellers from entering the market.
Vendors MUST be instructed to deliver their animals to the loading docks (remaining in their vehicles) whilst the market staff unload the vehicle and take the animals to their pens.
The sale documentation MUST be collected by the auctioneers staff from the vendor’s vehicle when they arrive at the unloading docks – Vendors MUST NOT take the paperwork to the market office themselves, or enter the market pennage area for any reason.
The LAA appreciates that this will create many challenges – no more so than developing a system by which the vendor can accept or reject the price offered at the time of sale.
Unfortunately, if we want to stay in business and protect everyone from the virus we need to find and implement solutions to these challenges.
Buyers:
The number of buyers MUST be restricted to allow Social Distancing (2 meters between each buyer). The number of buyers able to attend may be different between markets, depending upon the size and layout of your sale pens and/or sale rings, and will result in some markets being able to manage slightly more buyers than others.
Markets MUST keep a register of those that attend their sales – contact name, address and telephone number.
At the conclusion of the sale buyers MUST be asked to enter the sales office in a way that does not result in too many entering at any one time.
Buyers should be asked to sanitise on entry to the market and again on exit.
In addition to this The Café will be shut.
Please work with us to help keep the market open and providing you with a open competitive market for your stock.
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89 Cattle included an average entry of 68 cattle with a firmer feel throughout the trade with a strong company of buyers forward and most well short of requirements. Top this week for a smart handy weight Limousin steer from Rip Harvey at 229.5pkg (£1156.68). Tony Evans had 226.5pkg for another Limousin steer both being purchased by Colin Byford of Little Clacton. The Harveys having other steers to 215.5,207.5pkg etc and heifer also to 215.5pkg. Geoff Freeman had steer & heifer to 210.5pkg. Geoff Grover smart handy weight heifer to 213.5, 212.5pkg. Ben Whiting had steers to 213.5 and 207.5pkg. Chris Lock strong heifer to 210.5pkg and very smart Limousin heifer from J R Brown to 215.5pkg. Hagag Ltd to 208.5pkg also for smart heifer. A Hamilton to 208.5pkg as was Colin Clay. Telemara farms Simmental to 206.5pkg. Gary Hubert to 209.5pkg, 205.5pkg for BBx heifers. More commercial cattle 179.5 to 194.5pkg and all found good interest.
17 STORES some not turning up and meeting a fast trade for the quality forward. No strong stores forward. AAx steers to £695. AAx Heifers to £590. Limousin X Bull 6m/o to £640. Hereford steer to £610. Limousin Steer to £580. Hereford bull to £690 (13m/o) Simmental Bull to £690 (12m/o)
376 Sheep another short entry of sheep included a shorter than expected entry of new season lambs which found another strong trade throughout, above Monday quotations and some buyers reflective on the trade with nationwide large numbers coming forward. Superb Bleu de maine lambs from Bures Farm Partnership to £126. Charolais lamb from Jane Barber to £124, £123.5. Suffolk to £120 from Steven Cobbold and Vic Wolton. Usual run of quality medium weight lambs from Mark & Jake Taylor keenly sought to 277pkg. As always finish important. All New Season lamb av £198.14 in the Market. Hoggets a real end of season show to £112 for Hagag Ltd and to 225pkg for K M Mack.
