Mart network back up to full steam (From Western Telegraph)

Mart network back up to full steam

The livestock market network serving Pembroke-shire is now fully re-opened.

Cardigan and Whitland have followed the lead of Carmarthen and Haverford-west by re-opening for business.

But auctioneers J.J. Morris have changed the format of Cardigan and Whitland to comply with new regulations banning the joint sale of store and slaughter animals.

Stores are now auctioned on a Tuesday while Wednesday is dedicated to the sale of livestock destined for slaughter. An additional sale day has also been created at Cardigan with stores going under the hammer on Monday and slaughter animals on a Tuesday.

Martin Jones, a senior partner with J.J. Morris, is relieved that some normality has returned to the livestock sector.

We have tried to keep the marts open as much as possible as collection centres and to serve the over 30-month scheme but it has been a difficult 12 months, he says.

He urges farmers to complete market entry forms, available from J.J. Morris offices, before they arrive at the markets Dairy stock and young calves were sold at the companys first market at Cardigan.

Eighty calves were sold and J.J. Morris described the trade for rearing calves are extremely encouraging. Belgian Blue bulls peaked at £218 for Messrs Phillips, of Corner Farm, Walton East, and Limousins at £145 for Messrs Lewis, of Stradmore, Cenarth. A maiden heifer sold by Mr Lewis, of Henne Fawr, Tufton, was sold for £560.

On Monday, the mart also opened for entries of store cattle and weaned calves.

A sale of fat cattle, lambs and cull ewes and an Over Thirty-Month cattle collection took place yesterday.