Dingwall and Highland Marts have announced they have stopped acting as auctioneers for the Lochmaddy livestock mart.
The mart is an important service for the crofting community in North Uist and Benbecula, providing a market for cattle and sheep.
The facility by the pier in Lochmaddy is owned by a community body while Dingwall Marts operated the auction sales usually over autumn and winter.
The number of livestock going through the ring has recently declined with some crofters opting to sell through the Lochboisdale mart or on the mainland.
Dingwall and Highland Marts (DHM) said they are “withdrawing our auctioneering services from this centre.”
They explained: “Many factors Including but not limited to declining livestock numbers, staffing, increasing running costs and stock being consigned to mainland markets have all contributed to the board of directors making the difficult decision that running sales at Lochmaddy is no longer viable for DHM.”
The firm thanked Neil and Morag Macpherson of Liniclate, loyal stalwarts of the mart for many years without whom “no sales would have been held in North Uist.”
They also conveyed gratitude to the locally based North Uist and Benbecula Livestock Marketing committee for their hard work in organising sales.
Dingwall and Highland Marts withdraw from operating North Uist livestock sales
5 January 2024