Auction marts continue to adapt to latest Covid-19 rules

No change

For livestock marts in Scotland and Wales, there are no plans to change the current rules in place.

Neil Wilson, executive director at the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers of Scotland (IAAS), said members will make ‘no changes’ until First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces the next step in the Government’s roadmap out of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Mr Wilson said: “I am delighted with the way everyone has stuck to the rules on social distancing.

“Of course it has taken the social aspect out of a day at the market but it has allowed us to keep operating live sales and that has been vital.”

Mr Wilson added he had heard of very few problems apart from one or two instances at breeding sales where vendors had temporarily forgotten to comply with the rules.

Welshpool auctioneer Jonathan Evans said: “The drop and go policy remains in place for Welsh livestock marts.

“Farmers have been understanding about the situation and trade has remained strong. In fact, we are seeing more throughput than previous years to date, with 4,100 lambs and 2,700 ewes this week.”

Autumn sales

While there is uncertainty about how the autumn breeding sheep sales will go ahead, CCM livestock sales manager Ted Ogden wished to ‘allay the fears of vendors’ and was sure ‘live sales will take place in the normal pattern’.

He urged vendors to prepare as they usually would for autumn sales.

CCM, along with a number of other markets have installed live streaming cameras in the main sales rings to enable virtual sales.

NFU uplands chairman, Thomas Binns, said it was good to see auction marts being innovative in their approach to the busy autumn breeding sales.