Black and white images show livestock marts in all their former glory

The marts are still as important as ever to the rural community. And these classic images show they always have been.

clock • 1 min read
Black and white images show livestock marts in all their former glory

Although times have moved on and technology has taken over many parts of the farming sector, livestock auction marts are still vitally important to the farming community.

Gone are the days when farmers donned a full suit to go and sell their stock, but the marts still give farmers the chance to meet up with others and, in terms of business, they are a great shop window. 

But community has always been at the heart of farming, and always will be. Take a trip down memory lane with some black and white classics from the Farmers Guardian archive.

null
Jerseys, 1959
null
Champion Swaledale ram, 1962, shown by Stanley Harker at Kirby Stephen

See also: 88-year-old farmer shares passion for farming in heartwarming video: 'Keep flying the flag'

null
Machinery tractor sale, 1989
null
Welshpool sheep sale, 1982
null
Melton Mowbray, 1988
null
Classic pig show, 1939
null

More on Farm Life

VIDEO: Christmas cookalong at Cannon Hall Farm - "Cooking from scratch and using great ingredients is something we should encourage"

VIDEO: Christmas cookalong at Cannon Hall Farm - "Cooking from scratch and using great ingredients is something we should encourage"

Watch along as digital editor Emily Ashworth gets in the kitchen with the Nicholson family. The Cannon Hall Cookbook, written by Richard Nicholson, is a memoir which pays homage to his mother’s cooking

clock 16 December 2025 • 1 min read
Farm School helps to inspire more than 1,200 children to connect with farming and the countryside

Farm School helps to inspire more than 1,200 children to connect with farming and the countryside

Farmers are helping schoolchildren to experience the joy of farming

Farmers Guardian
clock 15 December 2025 • 3 min read
Family farm tax: Finance Bill gets Second Reading

Family farm tax: Finance Bill gets Second Reading

FG explains what happens next as proposed Inheritance Tax changes move through Parliament

clock 14 December 2025 • 3 min read