A ringside view of Britain's livestock markets - a photo essay

Supermarket power and the BSE crisis nearly killed off traditional auctions. But with sales of ?2bn, they remain a keystone of farming life. We joined the traders at Ross and HerefordIt's a Thursday morning, and the auction ring in Hereford is busy. The steep steps that surround the ring have been filling for an hour, and there's anticipation in the air. Trade this morning has been good, both from commercial buyers and from farmers selling between themselves.The first few lots were barren cows, and cows with calves, but the next are mostly bulls, varying from a pen of three small Highlands with ginger fringes and handlebar horns to a Charolais the size of a truck.Cattle are unloaded at Hereford market last month Continue reading...