Hereford Times - 28th January 2016 - Page 52
Hereford Times - 28th January 2016 - Page 52
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Image Details
| Date | 28/01/2016 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Language | English |
| Area | Hereford Times |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date of Publication | 28th January 2016 |
| Transcription |
52 THE HEREFORD TIMES Hereford Market, off Roman Road By‘Jessica Phillips FARMERS are looking ahead to another busy year at Hereford Market after a successful 2015. Hereford Market Auction- eers Ltd said throughput was increased in most sec- tions last year, with more than 375,000 animals sold and buyers and vendors travelling from across the country to the under—cover premises off Roman Road. The biggest weekly event is the Wednesday sheep market, with prime lambs. cull ewes and an increas ing breeding section of ewes, both dry and in~lamb, ewes with lambs and store lambs/hoggetts. Last year, it attracted an average of just under 7,000 head every week, with the highest daily entry of 10,958 on October 7. Sheep prices have fluctuat- ed and at times were £10 to £20 less than 2014, with cull ewes remaining most stable and meeting a constant de- mand. The highest weekly aver— age was £94.26 per head — and for a market that at— Thursday, January 28, 2016 herefordtimescom tracts a fair proportion of hill ewes this was quite some trade. These prices have all con- tributed to building confi- dence and stable prices for breeding ewes, and consist- ent numbers throughout the year have left Hereford one of the top three centres in the country for cull ewes. Depreciation has never been better, with strong low~ land ewes often making as much as culls as when they were yearlings. There was a marked rise in through- put of breeding ewes with in-lambers in January and ewes with lambs from Feb— ruary to May. ~..L.’ i a- n, - i. ll _ it x as; l Hereford cattle market Stock rams from August to November ensured cus- tomers had rams avail- able whenever they wanted them and £861 was topped for a yearling Border Leicester ram. The autumn again saw large numbers of ewe lambs being sold, with 4,693 penned and sold on Septem- ber 15 topping at £104 for Suffolk cross. ‘ Store lambs showed in- creased throughput in the first four and the last four months of the year, with the covered extension being filled weekly from Septem- ber to December. The cattle section saw nearly 9,000 bovines of all ages, with store cattle, beef type cows with calves, barren cows, rearing and weaned calves showing in— creased entries on the year. Prices were also improved throughout the year, with many highlights in all sec- tions. Heifers met demand for bulling as well as feed- ing and sold to £1,345, while 625 beef type cows/heifers sold either with or in calf topping at £2,500 twice for a top quality consignment of Limousin and British Blue x heifers with Limousin calves at foot in June. Several dispersals were forward during the year, with the pedigree Beef Shorthorns locally con- signed on September 17 attracting customers from Sussex to Anglesey and selling to £4,100. Rearing c‘alves attracted entries each week and sold to £460 for a British Blue x bull. Monthly sales of TB- restricted cattle have all ‘been well supported with a top price of £1,375 for a Limousin steer in March. Pig sales have been held on Thursdays — the highlight being £385 for an Oxford Sandy and Black sow with 11 piglets, together with £365 for a farmhouse bacon pig at the December sale. New unit will promote best of British across globe A NEW Great British Food Unit has been launched by Defra. The aim of the unit is to match France and Germa- ny, which both currently export more than double the UK in terms of the val- ue of food and drink. Defra (Department for En- vironment, Food and Rural Affairs) says it will bring together experts in exports and investment from Defra and across government to help more businesses sell their world—class produce around the globe. The unit will support fur- ther Foreign Direct Invest- ment (FDI) into a food in- dustry which stood at £60 billion in 2014. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “We produce more new food products each year than France and Germany com- bined. “My long-term aspiration is for the UK to match both these countries in terms of the value of exports so our food and drink becomes a worldwide phenomenon. “Through the creation of the new Great British Food Unit, companies large and small will now find it easier to export overseas and re ceive foreign investment.” The launch of the new unit comes as the govern- ment announced 2016 as the Year of Great British Food. It also follows last Novem- ber’s launch of the first food and drink pioneers, who will promote the very best in British food across the country and overseas, inspiring people every— where to choose British. NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “With 2016 being designated the year of British food, I am en- couraged by the govern ment’s move in establishing a unit which will help pro- mote and celebrate great British food. “Anything which can _L_ t showcase British farming and farmers, not just for they food they produce, but for the value the British farming industry adds to the economy, employment and our 'beautiful and di- verse countryside, is a step in the right direction. “What 1 want to see now is more export markets being made available to British farmers to sell to countries such as China, Japan, the USA and Saudi Arabia, “Over the past 18 months, all sectors, particularly livestock and dairy, have been under financial pres- sure from low prices. “That’s why we need to create more opportunities to get more great British products into new global markets. “I am also pleased that the unit will focus on appren- ticeships and entrepre- neurialism. “Business management and leadership skills are crucial to taking agricul- tural businesses forward and improving perfor- mance to achieve a profes- sional and efficient work- force. “The NFU, as part of the AgriSkills forum, will help ensure that training is easi- ly accessible and affordable for farm businesses.” Ian Wright CBE, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “We strongly share the gov- ernment’s commitment to making the UK the invest- ment destination of choice, and agree that a growing and sustainable food and drink industry is vital to our shared economic fu- ture. “Through the industry and government partner- ship promised by the unit — kicked off in this, the Year of Great British Food — we .will work to give Britain’s makers, bakers and bot- tlers the support they need to thrive.” |
| Newspaper name | Hereford Times |