And sheep numbers sold through McCartneys’ five sale centres in the west Midlands and Wales have also shown a big increase. During 2006 the company handled 535,292 head of prime sheep compared with 497,599 in 2005.

Commenting on the 2006 figures Glyn Owens, auctioneer and member of McCartney’s board, said both beef finishers and store cattle sellers would look back on the year as a turning point.

“Those who trade in stores and those who sell prime cattle have all been smiling during 2006. Cattle bought in late 2005 have left a decent margin and the resumption of beef exports has brought renewed confidence – a situation we believe will continue during 2007.”

But Mr Owens said sheep producers had faced a difficult year. Although the exceptional weather had worked in favour of those with lambs to finish in the early part of the summer, a shortage of late summer and autumn keep pushed up production costs set against a disappointing prime lamb trade.

“Despite the lack-lustre sheep trade, 2006 has given the first hint of an improvement in farming’s fortunes. The industry is now coming to terms with the implications of the Single Farm Payment and farmers are re-appraising their businesses accordingly.

“But there’s certainly no living to be made simply by banking the Single Farm Payment. Livestock businesses that thrive will be those that continue to produce stock to the highest standard and trade it professionally.”

McCartneys conducted almost 40 pedigree livestock sales during 2006 and are looking forward to their involvement with the British Charolais Cattle Society in 2007 when they officiate at a new fixture at Brecon in spring.

McCartneys are the UK’s leading auctioneers of native breeds and are official auctioneers to a host of native sheep and cattle breed societies.

Commented auctioneer and board member Clive Roads: “There’s been a great resurgence of interest in native breeds, driven in part by the new generation of country dwellers who now own properties with land and regard rare and native sheep and cattle as more fitting to their lifestyle.

“It’s a trend we see set to continue and expand even further in the coming years,” said Mr Roads. McCartneys, as official auctioneers to the Longhorn Cattle Society, sold the breed’s top priced animal in 2006 when a bull made 4400gns.

Land prices at sales undertaken by McCartneys in 2006 have maintained a steady increase – not only where large farms and holdings have been offered but also for smaller areas of land much of which has been sold for £10,000 to £20,000 an acre.

McCartneys also let 13,650 acres of grass keep during 2006 – with and without SPS – and have prepared more than 66 Farm Business Tenancies on behalf of clients. The company has completed over 400 rural planning applications and 56 planning appraisals for agricultural workers dwellings.

Commented Jenny Layton, chairman of the company’s rural professional department: “The introduction of entitlement sales has been one of our new ventures during 2006. English and Welsh entitlements have been traded at between 1.5 and 3 times higher than their value. Higher Welsh entitlements were certainly the most sought after.”

For further information contact:
Glyn Owens – McCartneys, Knighton (01547) 528621
Clive Roads – McCartneys, Worcester (01905) 769770
Jenny Layton – McCartneys, Knighton (01547) 528621