GB auction markets

14 March 2024
These figures provide an annual summary of auction markets in Great Britain, showing numbers for both cattle and sheep. Due to the changes surrounding liveweight auction market reporting, this data will not be updated past 2023.

Latest update

Auction market centres by region, 2023

YearEnglandWalesScotlandGreat Britain
2023 72 23 25 120

Number of auction markets reporting cattle and sheep

Auction market throughputs by region, 2023

CategoryEnglandWalesScotlandGreat Britain
Steers 36,034 3,231 5,597 44,862
Heifers 61,034 3,739 10,126 74,899
Young bulls 42,606 648 1,496 44,750
Cull cows 77,843 9,316 26,674 113,833

Number of cattle relates to finished markets only

Auction market throughputs by region, 2023

CategoryEnglandWalesScotlandGreat Britain
New season lambs 1,937,321 739,791 575,229 3,252,341
Old season lambs 1,480,860 413,327 462,093 2,356,280
Cull ewes 1,316,256 431,211 350,046 2,097,513

Number of sheep relates to finished markets only

Auction market cattle sales by region, 2023

YearEnglandWalesScotlandGreat Britain
2023 2,488 472 457 3,417

Number of sales relates to finished cattle markets only

Auction market sheep sales by region, 2023

YearEnglandWalesScotlandGreat Britain
2023 3,208 1,203 626 5,037

Number of sales relates to finished sheep markets only

GB cattle auction markets by size, 2023

Size band (head)Number of auction marketsTotal throughput (head)Share of throughput (%)
1-2,500 48 37,162 13.5%
2,501-5,000 13 48,035 17.3%
5,001-7,500 8 49,394 17.7%
7,501-10,000 3 24,947 9.0%
10,001-12,500 2 23,082 8.3%
>12,500 6 95,274 34.2%
Total 80 278,334 100.0%

Numbers relate to finished cattle markets only

GB sheep auction markets by size, 2023

Size band (head)Number of auction marketsTotal throughput (head)Share of throughput (%)
1-20,000 21 239,109 3.1%
20,001-40,000 22 674,618 8.8%
40,001-60,000 16 789,827 10.2%
60,001-80,000 7 480,222 6.2%
80,001-100,000 10 888,420 11.5%
>100,000 26 4,633,938 60.1%
Total 102 7,706,134 100.0%

Numbers relate to finished sheep markets only

Additional information

Source: AHDB, LAA, IAAS

Data in these tables relates to auction markets in Great Britain. The numbers are for a statistical year.

Contact us

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis Team. To find out more about the team, please visit the Data and Analysis team page.

If you need any further help, please email the Data & Analysis team at econ@ahdb.org.uk 

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