Sheep

While recent years has seen many auction marts to move out of town centres, the opposite is true of Melton Mowbray which is bucking the trend.

Participation in GrassCheckGB has helped Welsh sheep producer, Anwen Hughes, slash costs of production simply through better management and utilisation of grass.

In the first in a series looking at how markets have stood the test of time, supported by the Livestock Auctioneers Association and Shearwell, we look at how they have evolved, adapted and thrived.

Almost two years into the role of chief executive at Harrison and Hetherington (H&H), Richard Rankin, is steering the company through one of its biggest challenges as the far reaching consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the business.

Essential oils have been used for their medicinal and flavouring properties for hundreds of years, but a new market is emerging within the livestock sector in pursuit of a replacement for prophylactic antibiotic therapy.

Male animals that produce sperm carrying only the genetic traits of elite donor animals could hold the key to genetically improving livestock of the future.

As I write this, we are busy preparing for our annual gimmer lamb sales at Junction 36 and Lancaster.

Beef and lamb prices have remained strong, resulting in some cautious optimism for producers, although in such a volatile market it would be foolish to rule out the prospect of clouds on the horizon.

Despite the Met Office’s ninja showers, we have now completed our harvest.