'Another blow' for Welsh farmers as Cardigan livestock market closes

The auctioneer's hammer came down for the final time at Cardigan livestock market this morning.

For decades, farmers have been coming to buy and sell their livestock here.

This is the second livestock market to shut in the space of a couple of weeks with Cowbridge being the first.

It's closure is said to be a combination of factors including rising costs, reduced animals and high rates of TB in the area.

For many in this market, they said this is not only a place to sell cattle and sheep, but also a lifeline socially.

The Rees family are local dairy and beef farmers. They have been using the market for more than 40 years.

They said the closure will have financial costs.

For the Rees family, the closest auction now will be in Newcastle Emlyn or Whitland which will take at least double the time to get to.

Hedydd Rees has fond memories of when she was a child going with her father to the livestock market.

For Hedydd and many other farmers they never thought the day that Cardigan market closes would ever come.

Hedydd said she is worried that the threat of TB is contributing to the closure of small livestock markets.

But as well as childhood memories, the market has a fond place in her heart for other reasons.

Malgwyn Evans a retired auctioneer hopes the closure of the market is a "lesson to everybody" to work together and protect the future of other livestock markets.

Farmers said the mood at the market felt generally low.

For many it is the "peoples market" and an "end of an era in Cardigan."

Brian Thomas, Deputy President at Farmers Union for Wales said this is a "sad day for the industry and for Cardigan."

He said Cardigan was "one of the most prosperous markets" but its closing mainly due to TB and reduced livestock.

"It's having a downward spiral on the rural economy and its got to be adjusted," he added.