Countdown to Carmarthen mart reopening in March

Livestock trading is to resume at Carmarthen Mart on 2 March, more than 18 months after it hosted its last sale.

The lease for the out-of-town site was awarded to established auctioneer Nock Deighton Agricultural in May 2021, after BJP Marts’ tenure ended in controversy.

The company has been battling to get it up and running since then.

It had indicated that it might be operational in autumn 2020, but repairs and other actions, such as getting the washdown area and dirty water separation system functioning to licensing standard, proved a setback.

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With the work now complete, the partners have announced the first sale of calves, weanlings and dairy cattle since July 2020.

This will take place on Wednesday 2 March and will be followed later that week with a sale of barren cattle, store cattle and sheep of all classes on Friday, March 4.

Nock Deighton Agricultural partner Mark Burgoyne admitted that the mart had been “in the doldrums”, but the company intended “to breathe new life back into the place”.

“We need to revitalise the mart into a vibrant centre, both socially and from a business perspective,” he said.

Facilities

The mart has two auction rings with associated livestock pens for cattle, sheep and pigs, together with modern, purpose-built facilities including a reception and mart office, café area and bar.

Under the new sales schedule, Wednesday and Friday sales will be repeated weekly and will be supplemented by sales of suckled calves and breeding bulls on the first Monday of every month, and by an orange TB restricted sale on the second Monday of every month.

Additional staff have already been employed, with more jobs planned as the business grows.

Nock Deighton has full control of the Nantyci site, which is owned by Carmarthenshire County Council, including the rental units and the Rural Business Development Centre.

Welcome

The farming industry has welcomed the reopening.

Farmers’ Union of Wales county executive officer David Waters said local marts had a crucial role to play in the community, and the reopening would avoid farmers needing to travel long distances unnecessarily.

“Additionally, we were pleased to hear that staff from the local community will be trained up and employed with potential further job opportunities,” said Mr Waters.

Nock Deighton also runs Bridgenorth Livestock and Auction Centre in Shropshire, and took over the Newcastle Emlyn livestock market in 2018.