THE START of 2020 concludes an incredible first decade for Sedgemoor Auction Centre during which 3.4 million head of livestock were sold to a top price of 17,500gns for cattle and 7,000gns for sheep.

Many highlights could be mentioned from throughout the past decade. These include the Balbithan Charolais Dispersal in 2017.

The sale generated exceptional interest to create the current auction centre’s record price of 17,500gns for Balbithan Faith, sold with her bull calf at foot. The sale also achieved a Charolais breed record dispersal average for cows and calves at over £8,500.

The dairy section was close behind when it achieved 15,000gns in 2014 as Sedgemoor staged the Holstein Breed Society's ‘Genetic Elite Sale’. The star lot was Sahara Supersire Jessica, a seven-month-old heifer that excelled in genomics and pedigree. Sedgemoor was also favoured with instructions to disperse the 2018 National Holstein winning herd, Oakroyal. The sale attracted buyers from across the whole of the UK and Europe and generated an impressive average of over £2,000 from calves through to cows.

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It was 2019 that created the centre record for the sheep section when a rare opportunity to purchase a much admired Valais Blacknose ewe at their specialist sale produced a final call of 7,000gns.

Weekly sales during the past decade have achieved top calls of £1,826 for an overage Angus steer from PRS & EB Scott in 2013, £1,692 for a South Devon cull cow from Adam Lucas in 2018, hogs to £163 from Michael and Di Hine in 2018, killing ewes to £172 from EW Quick & Son in the last market of 2019 and calves to £655 from Mr OM Thomas in 2017.

Being the largest one day market in the country, Sedgemoor attracts buyers from across the whole breadth of England and Wales.

Managing partner of Sedgemoor, Robert Venner said: “Auctions have been around for centuries and they are not going away! It still remains the best way to market stock and our dedicated team of 12 auctioneers are always on hand to help advise you on how to most effectively market your stock.”