By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 16:04, Friday, 10 February 2012

Penrith livestock mart is spending £140,000 putting a roof over livestock pens in a year when profits are on target to increase by up to 40 per cent.

Penrith and District Farmers Mart has seen store cattle numbers rise by 15 per cent since last March and prime sheep numbers remain stable when stock has been in short supply across the country.

Work to cover around 100 pens will start at the end of May, after the busy spring breeding sales. Eden Council last month granted planning permission for the steel-framed structure, which will take around two months to complete.

There are already 130 covered pens on the site, which is rented from PF&K. Covering the extra 100 pens will mean half of the mart will be covered in total.

The business was set up by a co-operative of more than 250 farmers in 2002 after Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s sold its livestock business to Borderway Mart owners Harrison & Hetherington.

Auctioneer John Wharton said: “It’s a credit to the directors who set the mart up that they are in a position to do this work.

“It will be better for our staff and customers, especially if we get severe winter weather and rain. Our sellers and purchasers want the stock to be clean and dry.

“We’re covering half of the outside area with the possibility of covering more in the near future.

“All our competitors have a lot of covered area for the livestock. We have to provide facilities for the customers to retain them.”

A committee of directors agreed on the investment after a letter to members revealed overwhelming support. Chairman David Crowden said: “Our profits are looking like being up on the year by between 30 and 40 per cent.

“Our bread and butter here is store cattle and prime sheep. We’d like to think our success is a reflection of all the hard work that’s been put in.

“Covering the pens is important. Who wants to stand out in the wind and rain waiting to sell their stock?”

Higher stock prices and a slightly increased market share have boosted profits.

Farmer Edward Bindloss, one of the directors, said: “We hope the mart continues to grow. A business has to have the confidence to do that.

“All the prospects look good. If we did not cover the pens now, we’d be out of step with everyone else.”

Longtown and Borderway marts have already completed similar projects.

First published at 14:07, Friday, 10 February 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk