The farming unions this week commended the decision of local agricultural auctioneers, J. J. Morris, to cancel their scheduled monthly cattle Mart at Whitland on Wednesday.

This move was made because the mart operators felt that they could not comply with the demands of abattoirs and supermarkets that the vendors should pay a headage charge to meet processing costs. The apparently co-ordinated way in which the livestock auctioneers had been asked to levy farmers is being seen as deeply suspicious.

One local farmer commented: "The way in which some appear to have stood together on this issue smacks of collusion. Companies that work together in order to manipulate the market place risk falling foul of the law, and we must pass on any evidence of such practices to the Office of Fair Trading.

"It is disgraceful that the supermarkets and abattoirs may make the movement restrictions worse due to tactics that are effectively designed to drive farmgate prices down," said another.

The so called 'Red Market' auction - which serves the three West Wales counties - would have involved the sale of some 120 cattle from farms that are subject to livestock movement restrictions.

These sales, held on a Wednesday each month for the past year, have provided relief to many farmers who have not been able to market their stock in the usual way - all animals entered cannot return to the farm from which they came, or any other farm, if not sold and have to go for slaughter.

FUW president Gareth Vaughan called on farmers and auctioneers to stand firm against aggressive moves by processors and supermarkets to pass their overheads on to farmers via the auction markets.

"The cancellation of this week's Red Market comes as a huge blow to local farmers that are operating under restrictions and had animals booked in to the sale," said Mr. Vaughan.

"However, the industry should not give in to this kind of intimidation by supermarkets and abattoirs, and I commend the stance taken by the livestock auctions. If we bow to this it could be the thin edge of the wedge."

He added: "At what point will the auctioneers then be asked to deduct fixed charges to cover water and electricity bills, or other abattoir or supermarket overheads? These businesses need to move animals off their holdings as soon as possible in order to alleviate their ongoing pressures and the decision will add significantly to the problems in the area, and could even affect the Welsh Assembly's TB control programme," said Mr. Vaughan, adding: "The bottom line is that this is a public health issue, and should either be picked up by government or passed down the chain to supermarkets and other customers."

The auctioneers say that the Weekly Mart at Whitland on Tuesdays and the fortnightly Store sales on Saturdays will not be affected.