Archive Article: 2001/08/17

17 August 2001

No livestock markets – no competition

Junior DEFRA minister Lord Whitty says he has no agenda to finish off livestock markets. Some of his recent statements suggest otherwise. Take for example his insistence that government would prefer farmers to sell more animals deadweight than through marts.

But how will they get a fair market price without open competition? Since foot-and-mouth began processors have set prices on their own terms.

Marts bring not just price transparency; they also help move store animals from upland to lowland areas. Can the UK livestock industry survive without them?