Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tinwald saleyards to close

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The sound of livestock auctioneering was first heard at a Tinwald livestock sale in 1864 and the last is coming up at the end of the year.
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The hub of Mid Canterbury’s livestock sale for 152 years, the Tinwald saleyards are destined for closure with the last sale scheduled for December 13.

The 100% PGG Wrightson-owned complex and associated property would be sold, ending a very long era of memories for the local farming community.

While in the past the Tinwald saleyards had played a key economic and social role in the wider community that had changed over the past 25 years or so, PGW Mid Canterbury livestock manager Greg Cook said.

In the sheep and cattle heyday of the 1980s more than 300,000 head of stock traded through the Tinwald saleyards every year.

Stock numbers had continued to decrease as the focus of Mid Canterbury farming had moved away from sheep and beef toward arable, dairy and dairy-support farming.

“It was a big social event every Tuesday with farmers, agents and buyers coming together to catch up for a yarn.

“Now only a dozen or so people attend the weekly sale as the buying is often done through livestock agents rather than by farmers themselves,” Cook said.

While there would be no job losses in the Mid Canterbury livestock team, Cook acknowledged it would affect local vendors.

Where stock would now be sold was being taken into consideration as closure plans developed.

“We are very aware this will be a big change and where our stock will go now is certainly on the radar.

“We are working on solutions for all sellers and no one in the mix will be forgotten,” Cook said.

The closest PGW saleyards for Mid Canterbury stock would be Temuka or Canterbury Park.

“I suspect most could end up going to Temuka but how that happens is yet to be decided.”

Cook said environmental regulations, animal welfare and health and safety compliance had all played a big part in the decision to close Tinwald.

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