McCartneys Livestock Markets Open Again for Business

20th August 2007

WEEKLY FATSTOCK MARKETS
Operating as red markets or collection centres – contact your local market for details

Thursday 23rd August - Kington & Knighton
Monday 27th August - Ludlow
Tuesday 28th August -Brecon
Wednesday 29th August - Worcester
Thursday 30th August - Kington & Knighton
STORE SALES
Subject to Ministry regulations:
Friday 14th September - Ludlow
Sale of store cattle and store sheep,
including annual sale of Clun Forest Sheep both ewes and rams and main ewe sale.
Entries close Monday 10th September at 5.00pm.
Saturday 15th September - Worcester Market Hop and Cheese Fair
Store lambs, breeding ewes and rams.

RE: Foot and Mouth Situation.

20th August 2007

Dear Client,

Since I last wrote to you, the foot and mouth outbreak thankfully hasn’t got any worse. The result of this improvement is that we can now open up our livestock markets again. We are disappointed with the current situation but feel we must provide a service to our clients. As at today’s date, we can operate collection centres from Thursday 23rd August. The position concerning red markets is being discussed. The following will therefore apply to fatstock “sales” until further notice. From 23rd August we will be operating collection centres at all of our markets. The collection centre day will be the same day as the normal market takes place and will cover all of the stock normally sold by that centre. On Thursday 23rd August there will therefore be Kington and Knighton, on 27th August Ludlow, 28th August Brecon, 29th Worcester, 30th Kington and Knighton and so on.

It is hoped that we will be able to operate red markets soon and there is pressure on the Ministry to allow us to operate red markets – in our opinion no different from collection centres from a disease control point of view – from the same time we can operate a collection centre. We hope we shall have news on this in the next few days.

As regards store cattle sales and store sheep sales, if the disease position continues as it is then we should be able to have these sales from 8th September onwards. If you look at your calendar, the same dates for sales will apply. 14th September will be Ludlow, 15th Worcester and so on. These are obviously collective sales. The licensing procedure and so on will depend upon the disease situation in the country and if there are any more outbreaks. From the 8th September we should be able to start to trade. As regards on farm sales where there is not a collection then we will be having the sale as indicated in our advertisements.

For any further information on a daily basis please contact your local McCartney market or look at our website on www.mccartneys.co.uk.

To summarise, the weekly sales will be to start with collection centres and hopefully red markets. Sale days will be exactly the same as previous. We hope to start collective store sales from 8th September.

On farm sales where there is no gathering of livestock from different premises will continue as advertised. We thank you for your co-operation. We very much hope that export of lambs will soon start up again, this will formally be considered on 23rd August. The current restriction terminates on 24th August. Hopefully we will be able to put the two together and open up with effective outlets for the lambs in particular at the same time as we start to sell them again.

Yours sincerely
John Uffold
Chairman McCartneys LLP

Foot and Mouth Latest as at 5.00pm on 15/08/07

15th August 2007

Movement restrictions being eased.
McCartneys partners will inform clients on Thursday of marketing arrangements for next week and thereafter. Read more...

Cecil Retires from Ludlow Market

13th August 2007

Cecil (Mr Pitt) has retired from McCartneys LLP after 35 years service. He worked for many years in the accounts department and more recently added Bio Security Officer and Animal Welfare Officer to his range of duties. Cecil was well respected by colleagues, farmers and purchasers alike, always handling situations with tact and diplomacy and reaching conclusions satisfactory to all parties. Those who worked with him at the Ox Pasture will particularly miss his famous jokes! John Uffold, Chairman of McCartneys (right), is shown presenting Cecil (left) with a carriage clock from the partners in appreciation of his long service. All at McCartneys wish him a long and happy retirement. Read more...

Foot and Mouth Latest as at 3.00pm on 10/08/07

10th August 2007

No further news.
Please continue to check this website for further developments. Read more...

Foot and Mouth Latest as at 3.05pm on 8th August

8th August 2007

Slaughtering will be allowed from midnight tonight. Movements direct from farm to abattoir. No special licences required - normal sheep licence, normal passport for cattle. No multiple pickups allowed.

Collection centres to follow in time.
If you have livestock you want sold now, please telephone your local McCartneys Market or Ludlow 01584 872251.

Foot and Mouth Latest as at 10.20am on 7th August 2007

7th August 2007

Some relaxation of total movement ban seems fairly iminent. Perhaps in next couple of days. Movement s direct to slaughter to start with but with out multiple pickups. There after collections centers seem most probable.

If you have any livestock to sell and would like to use our services please contact you local McCartneys Market Office or Michael Thomas or John Uffold on 01584 872251.

Foot and Mouth Latest Update as at 10.00am Monday 6th August

6th August 2007

Ministry and Trade Meetings taking place today to investigate opportunities of livestock movement resuming depending on how the foot and mouth outbreak develops. Read more...

And so it Comes to Pass

5th August 2007 - T. Wyn Jones

I was talking last week to an acquaintance who had since the 1930s been keeping records of the weather in his area. Read more...

Foot and Mouth Regulations

4th August 2007

Due to new Foot and Mouth regulations all livestock sales will be cancelled untill further notice.
Please check this website regulary for further up to date information. Read more...