NFUS Says Auction Market System is Essential
SCOTLAND, UK - National Farmers Union Scotland has highlighted the importance of the auction market system to the Scottish livestock sector at the opening of United Auctions' new £15 million Agricultural Centre outside Stirling.As well as replacing United Auction’s former site in Stirling, the new agricultural centre will also mark the closure of the Perth market and see the world famous Perth Bull Sales move to the new venue.
Speaking at the official opening, NFU Scotland Vice-President Nigel Miller said: “The live auction system may be as old as the hills, but livestock farmers in Scotland still value and support Scotland’s network of auction markets in huge numbers. Last year more than three million sheep and half-a-million cattle passed through Scottish auction mart rings, providing a valuable shop window for the quality of stock we produce and attracting buyers from home, the rest of the UK and beyond.
“Live selling in this manner delivers the ultimate in transparency. The stock on offer are in full view to all interested parties, including the general public, and it is the buyers round the ringside who determine and set the true market value. This goes on to provide the benchmark for all other forms of transaction.
“This multi-million pound investment in a new centre for Stirling shows that the auction mart system in Scotland has continues to evolve and new market premises erected in Scotland in recent times now provide a far greater range of services than simply the trading of livestock. Having top class trading facilities like these are vital if the Scottish livestock sector is stop the decline in numbers being kept and start to recover.”
TheCattleSite News Desk