AN auction mart in Cumbria is encouraging farmers to take their calves to auction and combat a steady decrease in the number going up for sale.

Auctioneers at NWA Crooklands have reported an increase in the bypassing of auction marts by farms who sell direct to supermarkets.

Rather than rearing for the livestock market, some farmers are entering into contracts with supermarkets whereby all of their calves suitable for sale are sold to one buyer without going to auction.

Ian Atkinson, livestock auctioneer at NWA, said: "This trend has been going for about six to eight months. The supermarkets started buying up cows directly last Autumn and it has been on the increase since.

"It's a bit of a problem for the auction markets. We are not the only one to have seen a downturn. It means that there has been a fall in revenue for the auction marts as fewer calves are going on sale here.

"However, calves are selling for a premium at auction marts at the moment. Farmers are strongly advised to look at the marketing options and forward their calves to auction to gain full financial benefit."

Mr Atkinson expressed hope for the market however, pointing out that many farmers have not started calving yet, and so may bring calves to auction later in the year.

NWA reported that at an auction on May 19, where the number of calves up for sale was low, 'more beef calves could have been easily sold'.

Chris Dodds, executive secretary at Livestock Auctioneers Association, also pointed out that, while the market was changing, calves were selling well.

"Calf sales last year were up twelve per cent in numbers," he said.

"But we are expecting there to be changes in the market because of the decline in the dairy industry. There have been changes in semen sales as farmers change the sort of calves they breed.

"Some farmers are saving the semen from black and white dairy bulls for the best heifers to repopulate dairy herds, and using semen from continental beef bulls for the rest of the herd.

"This means there will be a slight increase in the next few months of beef calves going to auction, as the number of dairy calves selling declines slightly.

"However this is positive for auction marts because beef calves are worth more money at the moment."