Live market is future of farm 8 M M iW (DOlDHimY mM M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ^ ---------------- <-vs- - ^
Farmers parade their cattle around the ring at Gisburn Auction Mart i$i
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Word and pictures by Linda Clough
’HE auction mart at Gisburn is unique in many ways. Owned by the peopie who use it, it is the
iargest livestock auction market in the Northwest. Prices and the high stan dard of stock are drawing in the buyers from far and wide. It is regularly in the top three auctions for best prices throughout the country. Besides locals, buyers and sellers
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Auction mart director David Moorhouse isl
come from Cumbria, Yorkshire and Cheshire and this is in relation to the quality of stock coming through the market. Pricewise, there is something for every buyer, but one of the biggest incentives is being paid on the day. The seller can be paid just 10 minutes after selling stock and then can be on his
way.There is no waiting around here until the end of the sale to collect your money! Chaiman of the Auction Mart, local
farmer David Moorhouse, tells me that; "The live market" is the future of farm
ing. "At Gisburn we are dedicated to live weight. Live markets control the prices throughout the country, without them there would be no guide price. This has been proven through the foot and mouth crisis." David is one of seven directors of the
company owned by farmer sharehold ers. RichardTurner and Son have been the auctioneers and secretaries since 1952. One of three cattle marts in the area,
it is the only one not to diversify. Twenty five staff are employed by both Richard Turner and Son and the auction mart to run sales on Monday, Thursday and
Gisl)urn, Clitlieroe, Lancashire BB7 4IIW Tclcplionc and Fax 01200 445426
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Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
6 p.m.
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.30.io.M am O TI Cattle Collection iiam 2000 Prime Lambs & Cast Sheep
Thuiilfs^"io730mWPlmeCaW ; 11.30am 40 Dairy Cows, , i 2.30pm Straw & Hay
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Saturdays | lo.ooain 1,000 Breeding & Store Sheep I12noon
4 ■. "V ■ ^MuctBrieeMlSecpelams
every other Saturday. Thursday is the main sale day, selling beef and dairy cat tle, rearing calves, lambs, hoggs and sheep, and hay and straw. Machinery and special breed sales run regularly throughout the year. The fortnightly Sat urday sale of sheep and cattle is proving popular with families and part-time farmers. The auction has three auctioneers -
RichardTurner, Rachel Capstick and John Prickett. Rachel is one of the very few female auctioneers in the country. Married to a beef and sheep farmer, the couple have two young boys and live on the outskirts of Gisburn. She now works part-time for Richard
selling calves, pedigree iivestock and produce at the auction and farm sales. Born in Chipping, she was involved in the Young Farmers' Club and went on to become chairperson of the Bowland
region, at that time covering Clitheroe, Slaidburn, Boiton-by-Bowland and Chip ping.
Rachei says that she always wanted
to be an auctioneer and has worked for Richard for the past 16 years. Asked how she fares doing a "man's
job" in a typically male environment, she admits that she takes plenty of stick. She also gives them as good as she gets and had me laughing with her quick thinking sales patter. "I will take as much care selling a £10 calf as I would a £200 calf," she adds. This has earned her the respect of the farmers over the years working hard to get them the best prices for their livestock. Just over a year ago, RichardTurner
employed Jane Holden to head promo tions and marketing. Jane puts together incentives to draw customers to the market.
Weekly newsletters, compet-
itions,sponsors, special shows and sales all encourage farmers and buyers to the market. Sponsors are approached for prize money for shows and competitions and you will regularly see trade stands inside the market. These local or national companies can be there selling anything from feeds to animal health products. Chris Pearson from Farm Sense is
one such trader and tells me that on a typical day he could go out calling at 10 tol 5 farms, but can see 50 to 100 farm ers at the auction. When calling at farms, the farmer may feel that he has to buy, whereas at the auction he is under no pressure. On the outside of the auction you will find regular trade stands. A butcher, clothing company and animal health supplier are all on hand
and around six loads of hay and straw will be sold each week, coming mainly from the East Coast. The auction is usually the social
event of the week for the farmer and you will find plenty of characters here both young and old. Although a big social event, it is also a place where a lot of business is done. Buyers, sellers, part-time farmers, butchers, breeders and calf rearers are all looking for a good deal, a bit of shopping and maybe a bit of gossip. Ask any farmer why he is at the auc
tion and he will reply "for my dinner'.' That is hardly surprising as Gill Armer runs the cafe on sale days and in 2003 won the title "National Auction Cafe of the Year'.' She has an excellent reputation
throughout the area for home-cooked food. Farmer portions and great value
for money make it extremely popular and busy among farmers and passing
trade alike. Shareholders have invested a huge
£400,000 into improving the auction mart and vow to keep it purely as a farmers' market as it has been since 1911. With capacity for selling 1,000 cattle
or 5,000 sheep on any given sale date, and regularly achieving top market prices nationally, the auction seems to be achieving everything it set out to
do. At a time when auctions are closing
down, or having to diversify to survive, this auction is going from strength to strength. This surely comes from the dedication of the auctioneers and shareholders alike. ■The spotlight will fall on Clitheroe Auction Mart in our Autumn edition.
9
Farmers at the ring side discuss the latest news (si
The auctioneers at work as they sell off prized animals (s)
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