THE centralisation of SA livestock sales continues, as one of the few regional prime markets comes to a close next week.
Loxton will host its final market next Wednesday, March 29, after more than a century of trading.
The sale dates back to the early 1900s, when Loxton local WH Mengerson established a regular market on the corner of Bookpurnong and Railway Terrace.
In the 1960s, the market moved to its present site next to the railway line on the outskirts of town.
Landmark Loxton branch manager Curly Golding said numbers had come back significantly in recent years.
“The market used to attract 20,000 lambs, 500 head of cattle, 1000 pigs and even chooks,” he said.
“We used to get 20,000 to 25,000 woolly wether lambs every year, and it was usually the first sale in the state for lambs. But that was shut down years ago due to issues with innocent weed.
“Today, we’re only getting in 20 to 25 cattle and 70-80 lambs to the fortnightly sale.”
Mr Golding said occupational health and safety issues were another reason for the closure.
“You still need eight staff to run the sale, so we needed to get clients to help us, which creates OH&S issues,” he said.
Usually five butchers attended the market each week, including one from Mildura, Vic.
Mr Golding said those butchers would continue to be supplied by farmers in the region, but through onfarm sales.
He expected a big crowd at the final sale.
Elders Loxton livestock agent Rohan Stockel said it was sad to see the end of a sale that had been going for more than 100 years.
“It’s something you never want to see, but it’s a sign of the economic times and the way the job’s gone,” he said.
“I will miss the social side. It’s good to catch up with farmers and clients at the sale. I’d like to thank our clients who have supported the market.”
Hygienic Meats owner Ash Pfeiler, Loxton, has been buying at the Loxton market for more than a decade.
“t’s the end of an era,” he said.
“But farmers are getting busier and busier, and more are selling direct, so numbers had been slowly dropping off.
“It’s a shame I won’t be able to see the stock before I buy them, but my agent can go out and source them for me, so it will save some time.”