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The more information available when selling cattle
through livestock markets the more value that can
be added
Encouraging UK farmers to enrol on schemes such as BVD free England for example, allows
individual animal health information to be openly disclosed before committing to purchase, said
Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association.
e believe that the more animal
health information we can
display in the sale ring at the
time of sale the better informed
prospective purchasers will be
when making that decision to
bid, giving them greater confidence and
therefore better value,” he added.
W
“There is a vital role for markets to play in
helping buyers and sellers recognise the
value of identification of health status in
cattle and reward them by not just getting
potentially improved prices but by having a
healthier herd at home too”
“By announcing at the point of sale in
auction markets the disease status of
potentially every animal again demonstrates the
strength of selling through livestock markets
which highlights the growing importance of
participating in such schemes, which is very
often rewarded by improved prices.”
“We will continue to promote best practice in
the industry which is the cornerstone to
scheme participation and help add value to
both the vendor and the purchaser by helping
them articulate as much information on animals
as possible,” he added, reiterating that in doing
so it boosts overall confidence in our selling
method.
“With a Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV)
animal for example it is the Persistent Infected
(PI) animal in the herd that needs identifying, so
that purchasers do not bring them back to
farms to infect the rest of the herd,” explained
Mr Dodds.
“There is already evidence of cattle selling at
a premium price if they are confirmed to have
been tested BVD free and there are clear
economic implications of removing PI animals
off farms across the industry.”
“We need everyone's participation in this
eradication scheme for the true benefits to be
seen and we need an effective database so that
the correct health status information can be
electronically displayed within auction market
sale rings, for everyone to see.
“We are of course waiting for some of the
finer points of the scheme to be concluded, but
there is a vital role for markets to play in helping
buyers and sellers recognise the value of
identification of health status in cattle and
reward them by not just getting potentially
improved prices but by having a healthier herd
at home too, until the database is in place we
are relying on manual checking,” he
concluded.
Addington Fund launch ‘Tup 1 Ewe’ Campaign
Farming charity, The Addington Fund, has launched a new and innovative initiative to help raise vital funds for farmers
in need, which will see sheep farmers donate live animals through auction markets around England and Wales.
he new scheme,
titled Tup 1 Ewe,
enables sheep
farmers to
nominate the sale
proceeds of ewes
or lambs to the charity when
arriving at participating livestock
markets around England and
Wales, from September 2016.
“Farmers can donate a ewe and
lamb or lambs or they can give the
progeny of the ewe as a store or
finished lamb,” explains Ian Bell,
Chief Executive, the Addington
Fund. “The proceeds will then be
sent to the Addington Fund direct
from the auctioneer and the funds
raised will support farming families
in the region of the market.”
T
“The Livestock Auctioneers
Association Council is
backing this new campaign
and we hope to add more
markets to our list of
participating partners in the
coming months”
The Addington Fund, which
offers a lifeline to farmers in
desperate need of housing or
emergency funds, has worked
closely with the Livestock
Auctioneers Association Council
(Strutt & Parker LLP, Shearwell
Data and JG Animal Health are
also supporting the scheme) to
formulate this new scheme and
ensure it is convenient and
workable on busy sale days.
“We want to make donations
easy and practical for the farming
community. Livestock farmers
have always been incredibly
supportive of our charity and this
offers a new and unique method of
giving money to a worthy and
much needed cause,” says Ian.
“This predominately results in
the Addington Fund working to
provide housing for farmers who
are forced to leave their homes,”
adds Ian. “However, in certain
counties, we also offer affordable
housing to anyone currently
working in, or retired from, an
agricultural or a land based
industry. A donation of just one
animal could make a huge
difference to someone’s future.
“The Livestock Auctioneers
Association Council is backing this
new campaign and we hope to
add more markets to our list of
participating partners in the
coming months. Farmers should
look out for details at their local
market or ask their auctioneer,”
concludes Ian.
More information can be found
at www.addingtonfund.org.uk
08 | Farming Monthly | September 2016
Ian Bell, Chief Executive, Addington Fund
www.farmingmonthly.co.uk