‘Sell live and thrive’ at mart

The surge in popularity of collection schemes has had a direct effect on live sales at marts in recent years.

However, farmers are being encouraged to return to selling at marts, as the best way to achieve the true value for their stock.

Huw Evans, market manager at Carmarthen mart said: “Sale rings surrounded by buyers are the only way to get the true value for your stock. Try and value your stock at home at your own risk, and anyone who says they can estimate a value on your behalf makes a bold statement indeed. Sell live and thrive.”

Many farmers believe calf collection scheme payments are more transparent than selling at a mart, but this is refuted by auctioneers.

Huw Evans added: “What could be more transparent than the sale ring at a live auction? There is a fixed 3% commission and 50p per calf biosecurity cost, but before that the price stated at the fall of the hammer is the price given.

“This is not an estimation before the calf leaves the market, the calf is not graded again and revalued once it arrives home with its new owner.

“And although not called bonuses the premiums on selected breeds and calves from registered sires are very much noticeable in the live auction.”

Although numbers at Carmarthen mart are down slightly compared to last year, prices have increased considerably.

Beef calves have leaped £70 on last year’s average to £180, while dairy bull calves have also risen from £6 each in 2008 to £44 in 2009.

On March 4th, the top 50 beef breed bull calves averaged more than £200 even after commission and biosecurity costs, with heifer calves realising more than £160 and dairy bulls averaging more than £40 after deductions.

Huw Evans said: “The top price of the day was an amazing £422 (£408.84 after deductions) for a Belgian Blue heifer calf.

“Can any farmer in the country say that they realised over £400 for a three-week-old heifer calf through a private sale or any other livestock marketing initiative?”