A NEW livestock marketing group serving farmers along the border counties of Scotland and England has been launched.

Border Counties Primestock Ltd, which is thought to be the first new livestock co-op formed in over 20 years, will be owned by farmer members in East Dumfriesshire, Cumbria and Northumberland, and "run for their advantage", by providing an independent, low cost livestock marketing service for all classes of sheep and cattle.

BCP has been established under the umbrella of Farm Stock (Scotland) Ltd, Scotland’s largest livestock marketing co-op with an annual turnover of over £13million.

Farm Stock chairman Ian Watson commented: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Border Counties Primestock Ltd, which will become the sixth group shareholder in Farm Stock. It’s a positive step forward for us, and for the industry as a whole – groups like this can offer a huge benefit to farmers in the area in terms of livestock marketing and that can only be a good thing.

“The new group will be looked after by dedicated fieldsman and Farm Stock employee, Guy Old, who has many years’ practical experience both handling stock on farm and in dealing with livestock producers.

“I am also grateful to the founder members of Border Counties Primestock, who will act as the initial directors until the first AGM – Stewart Pullin of Castlemilk Estates, Lockerbie, Tim McGarva of Barwhanny Farm, Whauphill, and Thomas Hunter of Upper Brydekirk Farm, Annan.”

Mr Old commented: “I’m excited to be taking on this new challenge, and I look forward to working with the farmers and my fellow group members to make Border Counties Primestock a great success.”

Farm Stock, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, now serves well over 1000 farmers covering the whole of southern and central Scotland and up into Perthshire and Stirlingshire. Since 1996, it has marketed over three million prime and store lambs and 100,000 cattle, and it prides itself on achieving the best possible price for farmer members on any given day.