THE weather has taken it's toll on auction marts with some sale cancellations already this week, more to come, and reduced livestock numbers forward.
This week saw the cancellation of two large dairy sales - the Deehaven dispersal in South Wirral,
The auctioneers have now announced at new date for the Deehaven sale - Wednesday 20 January - and entries for the Western sale will be transferred to the sale due to take place at the end of the month.
Store sales at Hexham market in Northumberland and Thame market in Oxfordshire due to take place tomorrow (Friday) have been cancelled due to the weather.
In Gloucestershire a sale of hay, straw and fodder due to take place tomorrow in Stow-on-the-Wold has been postponed. Auctioneers, Tayler and Fletcher, say the postponement is due to weather conditions making it difficult for buyers to inspect lots. The new sale date is January 13.
For some markets it is, however, business as usual and the Scottish National Texel in-lamb sale at Lanark will go ahead on Saturday as planned, with auctioneers reporting 'little disruption' to the mart.
Another pedigree sheep sale, with over 200 entries of
Some markets have, however, seen reduced throughputs and buyer numbers so far this week.
At Market Drayton on Wednesday auctioneers were pleased with prime cattle entries despite the conditions but only half the expected entry of calves were forward and auctioneer, Ben Baggott, says many vendors were 'snow bound'. Those who did manage to brave the elements were well rewarded with a relatively small number of buyers competing well to secure all the calves and trade was good throughout.
Weather also affected calf numbers at
Newark auctioneer, Paul Gentry, reports on a 'vastly reduced entry' of OTM cattle on Wednesday and says low entries in all cattle sections was down to poor road conditions in the area. "Those who did brave the icy conditions were exceptionally well rewarded with an electric trade," he says.
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