The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2014 - Issue 32 | Page 48

longtown mart 750,000 sheep can’t be wrong! Chris Berry talks with Archie Hamilton of Longtown Mart, now looking to the future following an in-depth review of its business. January and February may not be the biggest months for throughput of sheep in livestock marts throughout the UK but up at Longtown on the England/Scotland border, every week sees tens of thousands sold -regardless of the time of year. Auctioneer Archie Hamilton was in ebullient mood both on the rostrum, and when I spoke with him. He came to Longtown from Lanark 11 years ago and is totally immersed in, and part of, the mart’s ongoing success. Archie led with an astonishing couple of facts: “We sold three-quarters of a million sheep through Longtown last year and while many farmers will have read along the way that we are the largest sheep market in Europe, we were recently told that Longtown is the second biggest in the world, with just one in New Zealand above us!” It has certainly been a remarkable return to their status since the dark days when foot and mouth disease restrictions almost decimated the live auction industry throughout the country in 2001. “Around this time of year our throughput is between 10,000 and 15,000 every week,” Archie explained. “But at our peak we get up to anywhere between 20,000 and 30,000. We averaged 11,700 prime sheep on a Thursday last year and attract vendors from as far as the Orkneys, Devon and the Isle of Man. We regularly have as many as 15-16 buyers around the sale ring. PRICES HOLDING WELL “Prices have been holding up, too. We are well above last year with hoggs around 30p higher and ewes around £7 up on 2013. That is all good news but we are aware of how the money market can dictate future prices and how strong the pound is at present,” Archie added. “We are also seeing a greater percentage of sheep staying in the UK than we have seen before. “One of the other interesting factors at present is the demand for lamb amongst the younger generation, preferring lamb rather than mutton.” March sees two important sheep sales at Longtown. The first of those is the annual show and sale of Blackface prime hoggets on Thursday 6 March; followed by the annual show and sale of Hill Cheviot prime hoggets on Thursday 13 March. Archie is also looking forward to the autumn when Longtown will host its inaugural Blue Faced Leicester sale along with a number of other annual sales. BIG CATTLE SALE IN APRIL While Longtown’s reputation is for sheep it is also a centre for cattle sales. Last year saw a throughput of 10,000 cattle with an average of around 200 stores and between 50 and 80 prime cattle sold every week. “Cattle are also still a very good trade and they always do well here. We recognise that the likes of Carlisle and Stirling have strong numbers and we would very much like to see even greater throughput We are proud to be associated with Longtown farmers mart, wishing them success for the future Tel: [phone] Email: [email protected] Livestock Hauliers, Stonehouse, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5HE 48 Feb/Mar 2014 FarmersMart Proud to be associated with Longtown Mart & wish them continued success www.logic-ltd.co.uk Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Twitter: @logicbsl Logic House, Allenbrook Road, Rosehill, Carlisle, CA1 2UT To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk