Small is beautiful at Bryncir Market

Legislation and movement restrictions dictated the site was initially used as a foot-and-mouth cleaning and disinfection centre, but the firm staged a machinery sale in November 2001 and carried out some dispersals, as well as facilitating farm to farm livestock sales.

It was not until March 2002 the first livestock sale was held at the site – a sale of store cattle.

The region is historically store cattle country – and this is what the market specialises in.

Between 5,000 and 6,000 stores go through Bryncir a year, peaking at up to 500 per week in September and October.

Mr Lloyd Willams said: “All our cattle sales are catalogued, enabling orderly marketing. We do the numbering and lotting on Monday mornings. This ensures a seller’s stock are all put through the ring together, because farmers save money in coming to their local market, and some might make several journeys with loads of stock. We are lucky the market here is supported so well by the locals.

“We are in a good location. We cover the whole of North Wales, from the Lleyn across to Anglesey and to Meirionydd in the South.”

Mr Hughes, said: “We have been able to keep up the strong numbers from when we first reopened.

Quality stock attracts buyers and many of the stores which go through the ring at Bryncir end up in Anglesey or on the Lleyn Peninsula, but also into England and as far as Scotland.

We are the most westerly market in Wales and the quality of stock draws buyers in.”