The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

The effect of local livestock population changes on auction market viability—a spatial analysis

The effect of local livestock population changes on auction market viability—a spatial analysis
The effect of local livestock population changes on auction market viability—a spatial analysis
This paper examines the relationship between auction market closures over the period 1980–2000 and livestock population changes, as recorded in the agricultural and horticultural census. Auction market locations and census data were collated within a Geographical Information System and changes in livestock populations examined by region and by market catchment. Regionally, auction market closures during the 1980s were significantly associated with concurrent reductions in cattle numbers, with market reductions following loss of cattle in eastern lowland areas. No such association with livestock numbers was found during the 1990s. Within these agricultural regions, individual market closures were not associated with changes in local livestock numbers within their catchments. Thus, the historical evidence suggests that whilst a substantial loss of livestock within a region puts pressure on its network of auction markets, the viability of individual markets within the region is decided by other factors. Such factors include the capital costs of modernising market facilities and meeting new regulatory requirements, the effect of unpaid debt on market cashflow, and the market’s ability to diversify into other areas of business. The recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease may lead to further market closures, both directly as a result of livestock culls and indirectly as farmers continue to use alternative marketing channels developed when auction markets were closed during the outbreak.
auction markets, geographical information systems, livestock, census
0743-0167
477-483
Wright, Jim
42d044c8-cd50-4ac2-96b0-49fddbb156ee
Stephens, Tim
19c6672a-3205-4782-a538-9ff390511b86
Wilson, Ron
e23612f8-b9f1-4760-8467-390102803259
Smith, Julian
f2fd1d1c-c41f-4af7-8307-5418aca20757
Wright, Jim
42d044c8-cd50-4ac2-96b0-49fddbb156ee
Stephens, Tim
19c6672a-3205-4782-a538-9ff390511b86
Wilson, Ron
e23612f8-b9f1-4760-8467-390102803259
Smith, Julian
f2fd1d1c-c41f-4af7-8307-5418aca20757

Wright, Jim, Stephens, Tim, Wilson, Ron and Smith, Julian (2002) The effect of local livestock population changes on auction market viability—a spatial analysis. Journal of Rural Studies, 18 (4), 477-483. (doi:10.1016/S0743-0167(02)00032-3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between auction market closures over the period 1980–2000 and livestock population changes, as recorded in the agricultural and horticultural census. Auction market locations and census data were collated within a Geographical Information System and changes in livestock populations examined by region and by market catchment. Regionally, auction market closures during the 1980s were significantly associated with concurrent reductions in cattle numbers, with market reductions following loss of cattle in eastern lowland areas. No such association with livestock numbers was found during the 1990s. Within these agricultural regions, individual market closures were not associated with changes in local livestock numbers within their catchments. Thus, the historical evidence suggests that whilst a substantial loss of livestock within a region puts pressure on its network of auction markets, the viability of individual markets within the region is decided by other factors. Such factors include the capital costs of modernising market facilities and meeting new regulatory requirements, the effect of unpaid debt on market cashflow, and the market’s ability to diversify into other areas of business. The recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease may lead to further market closures, both directly as a result of livestock culls and indirectly as farmers continue to use alternative marketing channels developed when auction markets were closed during the outbreak.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: October 2002
Keywords: auction markets, geographical information systems, livestock, census

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 38540
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/38540
ISSN: 0743-0167
PURE UUID: 58a6e75c-0f51-4ac6-b313-9bed26f82701

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Jun 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:08

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Jim Wright
Author: Tim Stephens
Author: Ron Wilson
Author: Julian Smith

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×