Updated 3.4.20 10.37am

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: COVID-19

 HEREFORD LIVESTOCK MARKET (Hoggetts and Cull Ewes) – THIS WAY OR NO WAY!

 PRIME HOGGS & LAMBS ~ CULL EWES ~ STORE HOGGS

No in-lamb ewes, ewes & lambs or calves

We have received government and DEFRA guidance that as an essential link in the food supply chain livestock markets can operate under strict operation rules. If we are to keep the livestock markets open then these measures must be strictly adhered to. It is this way or no way. If you are not happy to adhere to the following operating procedures please do not come.

It is essential that we protect all of our staff, vendors and buyers and provide a safe environment in which to operate.

Hereford Livestock Market will operate under the following “Drop and Go” procedure WITH NO EXCEPTIONS:

PLEASE NOTE: That for the week commencing 30^th March 2020 there will be NO sale of baby calves on Wednesdays and there will be NO sale of Pigs on Thursdays. This will be reviewed from week to week. Apologies for the inconvenience but we are following LAA guidance.

SHEEP VENDORS – SALE WEDNESDAY 8th APRIL

1. All vendors must PRE-BOOK ALL their stock to the auctioneers:
   

   01432 761882

It is essential that we know what numbers are coming, as we may need to limit numbers.

2. ALL vendors MUST remain in their Vehicles. Vendors must reverse on to the loading bays and stay in their vehicles whilst a member of our staff unloads your stock. Licenses will be collected at the loading bays – we require the top two copies (white and pink), please separate these before you arrive.
3. Once your trailer has been unloaded, VENDORS MUST LEAVE THE MARKET PREMISES. This rule must be strictly obeyed otherwise operations will be brought to a standstill. Any instructions can be left with the auctioneer when you enter your stock.
4. Vendors’ prime hoggetts and lambs will be graded, sorted, weighed and penned in the usual way. Cull ewes & store hoggs will be penned as usual.
5. Please make sure that there is a contactable telephone number on the licence, preferably a mobile and landline and email address if available so that we can contact you in due course with a report of the prices achieved.
6. There will be no lorry wash and no market canteen.

We understand that ideally vendors will want to see their stock graded and weighed, but under the circumstances we cannot allow this to happen. This is the ONLY way we can operate in order to mitigate the spread of this virus, protect all concerned and adhere to government guidelines. The alternative is that markets will shut completely. This alternative will ultimately prove to be a very bleak prospect for vendors and create an environment where there is no market competition, which will lead to a severe depression in the price of the commodity.

We are truly sorry for the authoritarian regulations, but the more that adhere to this simple procedure the easier and longer we will be able to operate and provide a competitive market place for your stock.

 

SHEEP BUYERS:

1. ALL BUYERS MUST register their intent of attending the market with the auctioneer PRIOR to attending the market. Any buyer just turning up without prior warning will be told to leave the premises immediately.
2. Any buyer showing the symptoms of the virus must not attend.
3. During the auction all buyers MUST wear face masks. Please bring your own if possible as supplies are very short.
4. All buyers must keep a distance of 2 metres apart from any other person at all times whilst they are in attendance at the market and practice all the health advice given.
5. At the end of the sale, buyers will not be allowed into the market office and must communicate their invoicing instructions to our clerical staff through the office window. This will be done one at a time whilst still maintaining the social distancing rule of 2 metres.
6. Buyers will be asked to sanitise their hands before and after the sale.

These are unprecedented times and we thank you for your cooperation in advance. We need to work together to get through these next few months the safest way we can, so we can hopefully return to a period of normality.

Again, if you are not content to abide by these rules, then please do not come.

Any queries please contact: 01432 761 882

 STORE CATTLE VENDORS – SALE THURSDAY 16th APRIL :

Store cattle only, NO breeding stock.

We will now only be holding sales of store cattle to include weaned calves, feeding bulls and cull cows. There will not be any breeding stock sold through Hereford Market until further notice. We will be holding a register of cows and calves and breeding bulls and these will be sold privately.

A “Drop and Go” procedure will be adopted as follows:

1. All vendors whilst unloading their cattle must stop outside the cattle penning area. They will be expected to unload their cattle into the loading bays, and then immediately return to their vehicles and LEAVE THE MARKET PREMISES.
2. Our staff will collect the passports and entry forms from you at your vehicles. It is imperative that you make sure your passports are fully signed and entry forms completed before you arrive at the market. Please adopt safe hygiene practice when completing and signing your passports.
3. Vendors can leave their instructions with the auctioneers by telephone or make a note of any reserves on the entry forms.
4. We would encourage vendors to number their cattle at home where possible, however if this is not practicable our staff will number the cattle for you when they are penned.
5. Vendors will not be allowed into the market office, sale ring or penning areas. Vendors must leave the market once their cattle are unloaded. This rule must be strictly observed. We will contact vendors after the sale to report the sale prices achieved. To be clear vendors will not be allowed in the sale ring.
6. If you are not content with these rules then please do not bring your cattle.

STORE CATTLE BUYERS:

1. ALL BUYERS MUST REGISTER their intention to come to the market prior to the morning of the sale as we may need to limit the number of buyers able to attend. Any buyer that has not registered with the auctioneers WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN TO THE MARKET.
2. BUYERS will not be allowed to walk through the penning areas prior or whilst the sale is in process.
3. When buyers arrive at the market, they must keep a distance of at least 2 metres away from any member of staff and any other buyers.
4. During the sale buyers must socially distance themselves around the sale ring by at least 2 metres. The sale ring is large enough to socially space yourselves.
5. After the sale buyers’ invoices’ will be dealt with in the usual way but buyers must keep a social distance of 2 metres away from each other.
6. Buyers must sanitise their hands before and after the sale and practice the government health advice and guidelines given.
7. There will no lorry wash or market canteen.
8. NO BUYER WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE OFFICE AREAS.
9. When loading cattle buyers must still maintain social distancing from any persons or member of staff in the penning areas. As soon as your business is concluded please leave the market as soon as possible.

These are unprecedented times and we thank you for your cooperation in advance. We need to work together to get through these next few months the safest way we can, so we can hopefully return back to a period of normality.

Again, if you are not content to abide by these rules, then please do not come.

 

****************************