Stephen Dodsworth on the British beef revival.
The economy devouring craters left by the Covid-19 earthquake will no doubt be deep and take much time to heal.
But if this despicable virus has taught us anything, it is that the live auction is imperative to the survival of livestock farming in the UK.
Cast your mind back to spring last year, when the whole red meat sector took a monumental downward turn.
We were, for a while, uncertain if the auctions could even continue.
Believe me, some deadweight outlets were salivating at another foot-and-mouth scenario unfolding.
It is simple. Auction marts survive on commission. The more the farmer makes, the more the mart makes.
The live auction is the only outlet whose main benefit appears when the farmer takes more to the bank.
Moving into 2021 and beef cattle are superb to sell. We are witnessing great demand for finished beef of all classes and all weights and grades are keenly bid for.
It may even be that the circumstances brought about by the ongoing pandemic have aided the great British beef revival.
Our trade is driven by the independent butchers and wholesalers, a tremendous group of folk we see ringside 52 weeks of the year.
These outlets are certainly enjoying more market share during Covid-19, with the public seemingly more appreciative of a proper traditional butcher. Long may that continue.
As the booming beef trade leaves some prime cattle vendors reporting £200-£300 increases on the year, we are also seeing store cattle sellers breaking records.
Many annual consignments of forward stores and suckled calves are showing significantly improved figures.
The sheep trade moves effortlessly through the gears.
Despite warnings from devout remainers that by February the four horsemen of the apocalypse would have crushed the hogg prices to a horrible halt, we continue to see wonderful returns every week.
Benefits
I understand the export market is moving at a steady pace. The paperwork has become somewhat more difficult to negotiate, but it is more than possible to navigate.
The UK market is flying, the budding lockdown chefs at home are keen to explore the benefits and perhaps break the barriers sometimes associated with cooking lamb.
The arrival of the 2021 lambs is now either underway or on the horizon. Some huge scanning percentages for many of our customers seems to have been the trend.
Let's hope for a warm spring to aid them and a trade to match the last year's.
I will end with an air of excitement at the prospect of reality returning.
We all crave the day when vaccinations take back control from the virus.
We look forward to seeing the sale rings bursting at the seams and with it the unique camaraderie only a trip the livestock mart can bring.
I must take this opportunity to pen thanks to all our amazing customers for their patience and trust during the past 10 months - many of you we have not seen for such a long time, many of you are yet to visit our new auction.
With a brand new mart and modern technology now more than ever enhancing our day-to-day lives we are an auction moving forward.
While this is the case, we remain conscious that we stay true to the traditional values which have seen a livestock mart in Darlington for 1,000 years before us.
Stephen
Stephen Dodsworth is fieldsperson at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. Call 01325 464529 or email [email protected]
