0:00:07 > 0:00:09We may live in a digital age...
0:00:11 > 0:00:15..but a surprising amount of British trade is still done the old-fashioned way...
0:00:19 > 0:00:21..at traditional auctions.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Now is your time to get a bargain.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27These sales may feel like throwbacks to a bygone age...
0:00:28 > 0:00:31..but, for the buyers and sellers who flock to them,
0:00:31 > 0:00:33they are still the best way to conduct business.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36At 1,600, blow your nose and bid again.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40We'll be visiting the UK's most dynamic traditional markets...
0:00:42 > 0:00:47..selling everything from pigs to cattle, sheep dogs to ponies...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..fish to veg.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56And discovering how they are the heartbeat of rural life.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58There will be bargains to be had today.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Best part of being in an auction.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Today, we are in the West Country,
0:01:04 > 0:01:06at one of the region's biggest livestock markets.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Sweet pigs, mind, that is.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Look at the little back ends on them.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14The farming industry are the best people in the world.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16We'll be meeting the auctioneers in the hot seat...
0:01:16 > 0:01:22I've sold cattle for £400-500 more than what they have been offered on farm.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26..and following the fortunes of three buyers and sellers...
0:01:26 > 0:01:30You've got to think that every day is going to be a good day and just see how it pans out.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33There is a tremendous thing for you.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36..as they experience all the excitement...
0:01:36 > 0:01:38You are going to get me £100 each for these.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41- ..and the tension...- £70, then.
0:01:41 > 0:01:4375.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Little bit dearer than they have been.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46..as the hammer falls.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48Here we go. We are going in.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04We are in the south west of England, in Devon's capital,
0:02:04 > 0:02:06the ancient cathedral city of Exeter.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Surrounding it are beautiful rolling hills, perfect for farming.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Agriculture is vital to this region and is worth
0:02:18 > 0:02:22an impressive £2.7 billion a year to the local economy.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29And Exeter is home to the biggest livestock market in the South West.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Every week, thousands of animals are bought and sold here.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36It's not very easy. It's quite a strong trade.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37These are good quality here.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42From pigs to cattle...
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Up and down. Doing my best.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Getting excited now. It's crunch time.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49..calves to sheep.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Twice a month, there's an extra big sale.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56This is one of them.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02Over 3,000 animals need to be sold here today in just four hours.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Such a huge operation needs a whole team of auctioneers.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Looks like we'll have a busy day, hopefully.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14James Morrish on pigs.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I'll try and sell them as dearly as possible,
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- you'll try and buy them as cheap as possible, and we'll end up somewhere in the middle.- That's it.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24The adrenaline, when you are being an auctioneer,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26it is very addictive.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29And the more you do, the more you want to do.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Russell Steer on the sheep.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34They'll be out running around the car park!
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Yeah, I've always wanted to be an auctioneer, since I was that big.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I used to actually come to Exeter market with my dad and my uncle
0:03:42 > 0:03:44and was absolutely fascinated by the job of an auctioneer.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47So, yeah, I'm living the dream.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49And Mark Davis on calves.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Great thing about being an auctioneer
0:03:52 > 0:03:55is that every day is different. You know, you meet so many people.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59Good girl. Thank you very much.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02And I just love the buzz of, you know,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04getting up in that rostrum and selling, you know...
0:04:04 > 0:04:06I just love the buzz of it.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09It is 10am - time for the auction to begin.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Exeter market.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Righto, gentlemen, we are back in gear.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Today's challenge - to sell over 800 cattle...
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Here at 700, then. 700.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27..nearly 300 pigs...
0:04:27 > 0:04:3018. 118, sold in front at 118.
0:04:32 > 0:04:33..more than 2,000 sheep...
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Big entry of lambs for you this morning.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42..and over 500 calves in just four hours.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44At 142. 142.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46142. 142.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48It's all about speed.
0:04:48 > 0:04:4917. 17. 16.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51Four, four, five, five, six, six.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Give me seven, seven, seven. Eight. Nine, nine, nine.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56We try to be pretty much on time.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58We know people have got busy schedules.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59At 59.50.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04And can roughly sell 12 or 1,400 store lambs an hour.
0:05:04 > 0:05:0898, 98, now selling. At £98 and done this time at £98.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09£98.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12I think with a number of stock that we deal with, you know,
0:05:12 > 0:05:14you have to be fast. It has to be quick.
0:05:14 > 0:05:1678. 78. 71. 72.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18You would be here all day if you were slow.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24It may be quick, but auctioneer Mark knows that the expert eyes of his
0:05:24 > 0:05:27buyers know just what they're looking for in the calf sale.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Quality always sells.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36The ultimate time to sell a calf is roundabout four weeks old.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37It's starting to put on condition.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It's starting to grow. And you are starting to see that bloom.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Good calves are making between £300 and £400,
0:05:44 > 0:05:46which is a lot of money for a little calf.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Seller Chris Creeper, a calf breeder who is quite new to farming,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53really needs good prices today.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57You've got to think that every day
0:05:57 > 0:05:59is going to be a good day, and just see how it pans out.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Chris's farm, 30 miles from the auction,
0:06:13 > 0:06:19is a mix of dairy and beef cattle, with a few geese and hens thrown in.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Taking on the farm is a new venture and a big risk.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28We took over the tenancy of Waterford farm in March 2015.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34We've only been selling beef calves for sort of three years.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36This is our first farm,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40we are still building up a sort of reputation in the market to sell good cattle.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Chris grew up on a dairy farm.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47In tough times, his parents had to sell up.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52But young Chris always yearned to get back to the farming life.
0:06:52 > 0:06:58I just felt that I could do this myself, so when an opportunity came,
0:06:58 > 0:06:59I thought, yeah, we'll give it a go.
0:07:00 > 0:07:05With fewer young people going into farming, and a high failure rate,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Chris has taken a real leap of faith.
0:07:07 > 0:07:14Currently farming 102 acres and we've got 140 head of cattle on the farm.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19But, crucially, he isn't doing it alone.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21This way.
0:07:21 > 0:07:22Go and do some work.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26This bold business venture is very much a family affair,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28supported by partner Connie...
0:07:30 > 0:07:31..and three-year-old daughter Sophie.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35When we first had Sophie and got the farm,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37I was really nervous cos we didn't know
0:07:37 > 0:07:39how things were going to turn out.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42The family took on the farm just after Sophie was born,
0:07:42 > 0:07:43three years ago.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47The early years have been tough business-wise,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49but have brought much joy to the young family.
0:07:51 > 0:07:52She loves it, yeah.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58She is very keen.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59Good girl.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04She is having fun. I don't know if she's much of a help or more of a hindrance.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Sophie, no, don't put it there. No.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12There's certain things that she is good at helping,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16and a lot that we have to go round and tidy up after her.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Come on. Chuck it in.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20Oi, Sophie!
0:08:20 > 0:08:22We try and do everything as a family,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24so we spend more time together, really,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27cos we don't spend much time in the house.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28Sophie loves it.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30It's one of her favourite jobs to do.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32She loves going in the sand.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Other people have sand dispensers that go on the front of the tractor.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40But we haven't actually managed to afford one of them yet,
0:08:40 > 0:08:42so we have shovels.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Yeah, it keeps us fit. We don't need no gym membership.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46So...
0:08:47 > 0:08:50It's just to create a good bed for the cows.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53We bed them on sand.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It's nice and comfortable for them. It's nice and soft.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Happy cows make lots of milk.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02So that makes us money. Sort of.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09The core of the business is the dairy herd of 75 cows,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12with milking very much a joint family effort.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Sophie milks with me every milking.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18She will talk to the cows as they go past.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19She's given them all names.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21So, she knows all of them.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- Mellie.- You like big Mel.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26What colour is she?
0:09:26 > 0:09:30- Black and...- Brown and white. Brown and white.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- No, she isn't.- Yes, she is!
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Hello!
0:09:37 > 0:09:40The cows are milked at half five in the morning
0:09:40 > 0:09:42and at five o'clock in the evening.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46Takes about two hours for each milking session,
0:09:46 > 0:09:47with the washing out as well.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49And that's seven days a week.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51It's not a job, it is your life, yeah.
0:09:51 > 0:09:57But we enjoy doing it, so we will keep doing it.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06But the income from the milk isn't quite enough to support the family on its own.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08So they also raise calves to sell.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14And every month, Chris sells some of the calves at auction.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18It's a vital way to generated much-needed extra cash for the fledging business.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Selling the beef calves feeds and beds all of the dairy calves
0:10:24 > 0:10:27that are coming through into our herd.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32We usually try and sell sort of three or four or five a month.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Here are the three calves that we will be selling in Exeter market on Friday.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40Their ages are varying between 42 days and 30 days.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45And we have two bull calves and one female calf.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48This one here would be our best calf going to market.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52As you can see, he's a lot thicker set and he's just carrying a lot more
0:10:52 > 0:10:54meat over the hindquarters already.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So he's going to... He's going to grow into a nice big bullock one day.
0:10:57 > 0:11:03I would think that the two bull calves will definitely make more than the female calf.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07Just because they will grow into bigger animals and produce the more
0:11:07 > 0:11:09primer cuts of meat.
0:11:09 > 0:11:16His margins are tight, so Chris has a good idea of how much he hopes to get for each calf.
0:11:16 > 0:11:21The one female calf would make about £150.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24The poorer quality male may make 180.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And I would like to see the bigger,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31better quality male make around 200-250.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38Like so much on this farm, the monthly trip to market is a family event.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40The auctions are definitely a family day out.
0:11:40 > 0:11:41I mean, we all go.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Sophie loves going to the market because we get to go and see the pigs,
0:11:45 > 0:11:46we will go and see the sheep.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50- She loves it.- I think that you can get caught up in the whole atmosphere
0:11:50 > 0:11:52of the market, but, you know,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55a good auctioneer will get the value of your stock up.
0:11:57 > 0:12:02Back at the market, selling is in full swing in every part of the building.
0:12:02 > 0:12:0531, down at my two. Three.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11160 and gone this time at 160.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17A big auction like this is still the best way for farmers to sell.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I think it's important to come to market because, you know, you've got a massive audience.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24You are not just selling to one person.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27You know, through social media or through websites,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30you can get one person call you up and you know, they offer you a price.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35I've sold cattle for people through the market that have made
0:12:35 > 0:12:40£400-500 more than what they have been offered on farm.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43But there are no guarantees on price.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45You're not always going to get it right in a livestock market.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48You know, you're going to have some weeks where, you know,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50the trade is going to be less and...
0:12:50 > 0:12:52But, you know, farmers take the trade and, you know,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54you take your average.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58With so much riding on what he gets for his calves today,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01it's a nerve-racking moment for Chris.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04The calf trade is down a little bit, I think, today.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Not making as much as normal. So, we will see what they make. The worst...
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Worst day would be that I didn't have any bids on my calves
0:13:12 > 0:13:14and I would have to take them home.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Auctioneer Mark is impressed with what Chris has taken on.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Chris is a really great guy and obviously farming in partnership with his partner, Connie.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25They're young farmers and it's great what they're doing.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30You know, not many young farmers have the opportunity to farm, you know, independently.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34I regularly sell calves for Chris and, you know, they rear them well.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37They're very hard-working, they are great at what they do.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39But Chris is under double pressure.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44He needs good prices, not just to keep the farm going,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47but to help build his reputation for the future.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Here we go. We are going in.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54125, 125. Gone this time at 125. 125.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03Blue bull, this time, from Chris. 24th of October.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06First up is the smallest of the three calves, the female.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Chris is hoping to get £150.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13100 bid. 100. 100. 125. 125.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16And done this time. Selling at 125.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Mr Donaldson, 125.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20He gets £125.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21Not bad.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24And a blue heifer from Chris this time. 14th of October.
0:14:24 > 0:14:2614th of October, pretty blue heifer.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30All TB tested for you. There we are.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Next, it's the smaller of the two males.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Chris would like £180.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Strong blue heifer. At 100 bid. 100. 100. 100. 100. 100
0:14:41 > 0:14:44At 100 bid. 100, 100, 100, 100, 100.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46At 100 bid, at 100, 100, 100.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49105, 105, 105. 110. 115. 15. 15. 15...
0:14:49 > 0:14:51The bidding seems slow at first.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54But Mark gets it to £130...
0:14:54 > 0:14:55..and building.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59130, 130, 130. At 130. 135, 135. Strong heifer for the money.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01150, 150. At 150 I'm bid.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04155. Fresh bid. 155, 155, 155.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07At 155, 155. One more.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09This time I'm selling at 155. Martin Dawe. 155.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Thank you, Chris.- Thank you.
0:15:12 > 0:15:13Back we go, gentlemen, please.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Yeah. Quite happy with that.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19It's quite a good trade today on what everything else has made.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22So, it will average out.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Our heifer calf sold for 155. The bigger one back there.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And, yeah, quite a good price, really.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Today, the trade is lower than usual.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34The other one sold for 125.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36This calf here.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39As you can see, it's a bit of a lighter, smaller calf.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42And it's not over yet.
0:15:42 > 0:15:48The largest of the calves, with Chris hoping to get as much as £250, is still to come.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59The Exeter auction lies at the heart of the UK's most important farming area.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Agriculture in the South West is worth nearly £3 billion a year.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08And the region produces more food than the whole of Scotland
0:16:08 > 0:16:10and twice as much as Wales.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Agriculture is massively important.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16It's huge in the West Country.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20We are probably one of the biggest, you know, farming areas the country.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27An amazing 75% of all land in the South is devoted to agriculture.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32And the industry employs nearly 80,000 people.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Over 20% of all the farmers and farm workers in England.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42The farming industry are the best people in the world.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45And West Country farmers are the top of that tree.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51With nearly two million cattle here, it's the country's top region for milk.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55There are even more sheep -
0:16:55 > 0:16:59over three million, about a fifth of all the sheep in England.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02And well over a quarter of a million pigs.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08So, it's no wonder that Exeter market is such a huge enterprise.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12And such a necessary one.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16It's important to us to have a thriving livestock market.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Farmers need to have somewhere where they can, you know, market their stock.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24You know, they need to be able to bring their stock to market and be proud of what they're selling.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26You know, sure that they are going to get the best price.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31There's a tremendous thing for you.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33There we are. £1,400.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37An hour into the auction and the pigs are selling well.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Some wonderful, wonderful pigs.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46Auctioneer James is very aware that with pigs, timing is everything.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49A pig when he's ready, he's ready.
0:17:49 > 0:17:54And if you don't sell him when he's ready, he'll be too fat next week.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57And then you'll be discounted price.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59So, that is a real problem.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05One seller who knows all about the pressures of timing and price is pig farmer Andrew Freemantle.
0:18:06 > 0:18:07James here yet?
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Late again.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Hey, girls. Come on.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16Come on.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22He's brought four sows to market and knows he needs to sell them all
0:18:22 > 0:18:23because they can't come back to his farm.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Andrew lives just five miles from the auction.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39He's been in the pig business for 23 years, and, like Chris Creeper,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43he is particularly focused on high welfare standards for all his animals.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49What I think you feel is the feeling of pride about what a nice life my
0:18:49 > 0:18:51pigs have had and the chance to
0:18:51 > 0:18:53not be in restricted pens,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57not be able to exhibit natural behaviour.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00On our farm, I can sleep at night knowing that I've given them a nice life
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and if we didn't keep the pigs, somebody else would.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08So there would still be as many pigs out there but they wouldn't be kept as nicely as this.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09After agriculture college,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Andrew spent some time travelling, and when he came back,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14he set up as a pig farmer.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19There were some financial schemes available that I could take hold of
0:19:19 > 0:19:23that were encouraging young farmers into the pig industry.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27In 1994, he inherited the farm from his father
0:19:27 > 0:19:31and today he has in the region of 4,000 pigs.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36He regularly sells at auction to keep his herd young and productive.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37His business depends on it.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43It's normally about 6-8 sows every other week we sell to the market.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48But there's a massive pressure on Andrew to ensure they sell,
0:19:48 > 0:19:50as once they've gone to auction they can't return.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53If the animals came back from the market,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57we wouldn't be able to sell anything from here for another three weeks.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58Which would really muck up our business.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The animals Andrew is taking to auction are cull sows,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08older pigs that are ready to leave the farm.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13A bad outcome for me would be £70 or £80 each.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The price for the cull sows, it has been slipping.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20It's not at a historical low, but it is certainly lower than it was earlier in the year.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24He breeds his own pigs, so he has to manage the herd very carefully,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28including what he takes to auction and when.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Every two and a half years, we have got a brand-new herd,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32which produces lots of piglets.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35And, statistically, the younger sows make better mothers.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38So, we've made our herd younger.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41This is one week's worth of production.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45Every week, this amount of sows give birth.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48They are all the same size. They are all shiny.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51There's no lame ones or anything like that.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55That's what the farmers look for, is the health of the pigs.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59We want them like peas in a pod and looking at this litter here
0:20:59 > 0:21:01and I'm thinking, what a lovely litter.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Andrew prides himself on being a high welfare farm.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09As ultimately he knows if he looks after his pigs,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11he'll reap the rewards later on.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15In the summer when it's warmer, we will open at the stores,
0:21:15 > 0:21:16so there's a nice draft going through.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Out in the field that they can wander into, we've got a wallow
0:21:19 > 0:21:21where they can cover themselves in mud.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23They get fed once a day out in the field
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and then they come back in here and sleep most of the day.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28So they have quite a nice life, really.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31This shed is all about looking after the pigs so they look after you.
0:21:31 > 0:21:37The nicer environment that we can put them in and the better we look after them,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39the more piglets they'll give birth to.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41And that's obviously better for us
0:21:41 > 0:21:43because they are the piglets that we will eventually sell.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48We Brits love our pork. But not as much as some.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53There's 70 million of us and basically we eat about 22 kilos of pork per year.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58There's over 100 million Germans and a 70 kilos of pork per person.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04So, the pigs Andrew is taking to auction here in rural Devon
0:22:04 > 0:22:06will almost certainly end up in Germany,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08where they eat three times more pork than we do.
0:22:15 > 0:22:21On auction day, Andrew always likes to make sure he gets there bright and early.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25We've ended up bringing in four sows to market today.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29And they are all sows that have had their ten litters.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33The litters that they would have are dropping,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35so we have had to move them on.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37But...
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Yeah, I'm... I'm quite pleased with these because they've worked hard for us.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Produced us plenty of piglets.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47But they are still looking in good condition, and hopefully we will get
0:22:47 > 0:22:50a nice price for them in the auction today.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53The market has been dropping, but hopefully around 80...
0:22:53 > 0:22:58£90-100 each, I hope they'll make.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Sellers like Andrew don't usually stay for the sale.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05I don't have to stay here and chivvy on the auctioneer.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09But normally on a Friday, we've got plenty of other things to do,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12so I have to go back to the farm and look after my other pigs.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Hopefully at the end of the day when I get back in and check my e-mails,
0:23:16 > 0:23:18I will have had a nice one from Kivells,
0:23:18 > 0:23:21informing me of the price these sows made.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25And, yeah, it'll be a pleasant surprise if they are to that...
0:23:25 > 0:23:26£100 each.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Auctioneer James is always careful to make contact before his sellers leave.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- Morning, Andrew. - Morning, James. How are you?
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- All right. Have had a good week? - Yeah, not too bad.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43There's my lot. Don't forget that.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47- Paperwork. Most important, this is. - Is it right?- It is correct.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Four sows. There they are in there. All is well.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53So, now, do you think the trade will pick up from where it was last week?
0:23:53 > 0:23:55- Two weeks ago? - I think the cull sow trade
0:23:55 > 0:23:58will be very similar to what it was a fortnight ago.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00It ain't too special.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04I've told them that you are going to get me £100 each for these.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06That'll be all right. That'll be all right.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07We'll make sure that happens.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12Yeah, we'll have about 200 here today, got lots of small pigs here today.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- OK.- I'll do the best I can. 100 apiece, no commission.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- How about that?- Yeah, yeah. - THEY LAUGH
0:24:18 > 0:24:19Happy?
0:24:19 > 0:24:22This is a world that produces strong bonds.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26And James has known Andrew for over 25 years.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Andrew Freemantle is...
0:24:29 > 0:24:32..a great example of British agriculture.
0:24:33 > 0:24:38The standard that he keeps his animals, the way that him and his
0:24:38 > 0:24:41herdsmen look after their stock, they are very proud of what they do,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44they are exemplar
0:24:44 > 0:24:47in West Country farming.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52Now, he would be one of the most respected pig farmers anywhere in the country.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56I think Andrew will be in the top four or five of the day.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58He always is, to be honest.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Andrew knows exactly what he's doing.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05He's brought in nice, white, Hermitage sows.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10I expect them to make around £100-110 each.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14With Andrew already back at the farm,
0:25:14 > 0:25:19it's over to James to ensure he gets him the highest price possible for his four sows.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Now onto Andrew Freemantle.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25We are delighted they are with us. Very much valued, there we are.
0:25:25 > 0:25:26100. 100. 100.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29The first goes up for sale.
0:25:29 > 0:25:3216, 18. At 118. 118...
0:25:32 > 0:25:35The buyer marks his purchase to collect later.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39£118. Good price.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Another beauty there from Andrew.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- 110. 110. 110.- 20.- 120. 120. 120.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Out. At 120. One sold away...
0:25:51 > 0:25:55It looks like the prices are being pushed up because two buyers,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59auction regulars Rodney Phillips and Stuart Combs,
0:25:59 > 0:26:00are competing with each other.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04And again from Andrew. 285.
0:26:04 > 0:26:0610. 10. 15.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07- 20.- 20. At 120.
0:26:07 > 0:26:13120. 22, 23, 24. 25. 124.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15124, Stuart Combs.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18The last from Andrew but not the worst of them.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20238. £90. £90.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21Now it's number four...
0:26:21 > 0:26:24101. 101. 101.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Sold away at 101. Are we done?
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Phillips, Bristol.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32..which sells for just over £100.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I've spent lots of money, probably more than I intended.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41So, where Andrew had hoped for £100 for each pig,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44he got nearly £500 for the four.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47With margins are so tight, it's a big success.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Andrew Freemantle's pigs sold really, really well today.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55So, Andrew will end up being £100 better off, which is good.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57We had a new buyer here,
0:26:57 > 0:27:02which increased the trade and some of the other buyers got a bit grumpy.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05When a new bidder comes along in a market, of course I welcome them.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08The trade, for all the grade of pigs today,
0:27:08 > 0:27:11is going in right direction, which is upwards.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23The city of Exeter was founded by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26And there is evidence of livestock being sold here going back millennia.
0:27:32 > 0:27:38There have been permanent animal markets on various sites in the city for at least 150 years.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43This wonderful old archive shows sheep and cattle
0:27:43 > 0:27:46being sold in the old city centre market in the 1920s.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Demand was so great they built a new market in the late '30s,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56one that kept going for 50 years.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Today's market opened in the '90s.
0:28:00 > 0:28:05It may be more modern in many ways, but one thing that hasn't changed
0:28:05 > 0:28:08is the subtlety of farmers when it comes to bidding.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Bids. 5. 35, half.
0:28:11 > 0:28:145, half, 6. 20 bid. 2.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19When they are bidding, they don't necessarily want other people
0:28:19 > 0:28:22to know that they are bidding. It is very difficult to see bidders.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26Each of the buyers have got their own quirky way of bidding.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Some people when they bid,
0:28:28 > 0:28:30they will just wink with their right or their left.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Some people will just look at you.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38I had a gentleman once that used to move his ear.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44And he's one of these people that can just do that a bit.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46And that is nearly impossible to see.
0:28:46 > 0:28:50Particularly if you are looking to the left-hand side of a face
0:28:50 > 0:28:52and he's bidding with his right ear. I can't see you, mate.
0:28:52 > 0:28:53I can't see you bidding.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58You do miss bids occasionally.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00Two. Don't leave it so long this time.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05- 32.- I said it three times. - At £32.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07If you miss one of them,
0:29:07 > 0:29:11they will get proper funny and cause all sorts of argument and they will
0:29:11 > 0:29:13call an auctioneer all sorts of things.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16So, you need to know how people bid.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18You need to know the tricks on how people do it.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Back at the auction, and the selling is going great guns.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25There are 12 in here, exactly the same.
0:29:25 > 0:29:3035, 35, 6. 36. 7. 37. Have a look.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:29:34 > 0:29:38The sheep sale, the largest of them all, is moving at high speed.
0:29:40 > 0:29:45An hour and a half in and auctioneer Russell has already sold over 1,500 sheep.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49Hammer is up at 63.50. 63.50.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54Buyer John Laramy may be nearly 80,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57but he heads up a three-generation family farm
0:29:57 > 0:30:01that still relies on his hard won skills to keep the business going.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Boys, all right? How much is that?
0:30:08 > 0:30:1044.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13He may well buy over 100 sheep today.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23John has been on his farm less than 20 miles from the auction for an
0:30:23 > 0:30:25incredible six decades.
0:30:26 > 0:30:31He farms around 700 acres and has about 400 sheep.
0:30:31 > 0:30:35Oh, I started working on my father's farm when I was 15.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39So I have been doing it for 60 years.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41I haven't got the brains to do nothing else.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48John has been going to Exeter market for over 50 years.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Exeter market has been going for a long, long time.
0:30:52 > 0:30:59You could buy ewes with lambs back then, 1965, For about £10.
0:30:59 > 0:31:05Which now, just... £100-120. Things have changed a lot.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08The farm is very much a family affair.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14John and son Dean and grandson 22-year-old David.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- They're going the wrong way. - Yeah.- Come on!
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Just going to feed the ewes,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28cos they are going to start lambing in December.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30So they need feeding up once a day
0:31:30 > 0:31:33just to get them into good condition.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Keeping the business healthy
0:31:35 > 0:31:38for the future generations is what keeps John going.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40Dean and David are very good,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42better farmers than ever I was when I was young.
0:31:44 > 0:31:45Yeah, I'm very proud of them.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47If it wasn't for my son and grandson,
0:31:47 > 0:31:48I wouldn't bother to do it.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51I'd retire and go beside the sea, I think.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Certainly we enjoy working together. They'll give me a hand.
0:31:56 > 0:32:02I sometimes give them a hand. Although I'm getting slower.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05- Two bags, David? - Yeah, you give them some.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Grandad is always very keen to get in and amongst it
0:32:10 > 0:32:14and he has taught me how to do it and also my dad,
0:32:14 > 0:32:16he's a good buyer, I guess.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20I'll take the bags back. I should get the feed, and go and feed them.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24No doubt in my mind I want to do anything else,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27and hopefully in the future,
0:32:27 > 0:32:31pass it onto my children, if I ever have any.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35I don't think Grandad that will ever retire.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40That's what he's done all his life and that's what he will always do.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42He will never do anything else.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44He won't go playing golf or nothing like that.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49No plans for retirement at the moment.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Just as well. John remains key
0:32:52 > 0:32:55to this three-generation family business.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58And does most of the crucial buying at auction.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03Most weeks now I buy about 80-100
0:33:03 > 0:33:09and I buy them at any price from £50 to £65.
0:33:09 > 0:33:10I buy any store lambs,
0:33:10 > 0:33:14any breed I think looks worth the money on the day.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Store lambs, John's speciality,
0:33:18 > 0:33:23are brought back to the farm to be fattened up for a month or two, then sold for meat.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Everyone in the market knows who John Laramy is, and, yeah,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33he will buy what he wants to buy and there ain't no messing about with Grandad.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I suppose I would be fairly familiar.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39I don't remember names, but most people know my name.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41I don't know why.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45At 44. 44. At 44.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47£44, takes the lot.
0:33:47 > 0:33:48John, he's a real character.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51He doesn't often bid twice or three times.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54He likes to put them up at what he thinks they're worth, and after that,
0:33:54 > 0:33:58he will usually leave them, which is quite an unusual technique.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00But one that works for John.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Yeah, one that's caught a few people and a few auctioneers out, I think.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Russell's a good auctioneer. He is good for the seller.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09He will make the best price he can. Yeah.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11All right? How are you? A lot of lambs here.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Yeah, good lambs.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Margins are extremely tight on store lambs,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20with the auctioneer going up in increments of half, or 50p.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23five half. five half.
0:34:23 > 0:34:29John is bidding. But he won't go past £58 for these sheep.
0:34:29 > 0:34:328 half. 8 half. 8 half. 59.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38I just buy what I think is good value for money, really.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Get them fattened up,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43within a reasonably short period.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Ten this time, they are.
0:34:46 > 0:34:4864, 2, £60 bid.
0:34:48 > 0:34:502, 2, 3, 3, 65.
0:34:50 > 0:34:55John is using up all the skill and judgment of 50 years to decide what to bid.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58Pay too much and the family business could really suffer.
0:35:01 > 0:35:0475? 75. 6. 7. 77.
0:35:04 > 0:35:08This pen is up to £78 per lamb. Too much for John.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Morning, David. Don't come out here.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13Too pricey. They are too dear for me, these.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16Yeah, a little bit dearer than they have been.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Turns out some people have been pushing the prices up.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24The last few weeks, we've had buyers that are just here to buy sheep,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26regardless of what they cost,
0:35:26 > 0:35:31because they need to put a set number of lambs on farms that they have taken grass on.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35Which, you know, makes our job easy because they've come to buy 300 or 400 lambs,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38they are going to buy them whether there is 1,200 or 1,300 here.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42John certainly has always got a cut-off price.
0:35:43 > 0:35:45I'll go £70, then.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48The bids go higher, but John won't.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54If John thinks they are worth £70, we very often put them up at £70.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56And that's it.
0:35:56 > 0:35:5944. Four, I'm bid. Four, I'm bid. Four, I'm bid.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01Now, though, John spot an opportunity
0:36:01 > 0:36:05with a pen of 15 lambs and the bid starting low at £44.
0:36:06 > 0:36:1046. Half. 6, half. 6, half. 7.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13- John is in there.- Seven, all out.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15At 47. John Laramy, number 2.
0:36:15 > 0:36:16A win.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19And he is bidding again.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24- 65.- 65. 65 bid. 5, bid. 5, bid.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28Five bid. Five bid. Five bid.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32At 65. John Laramy. £65.
0:36:32 > 0:36:37And it's another win - these 14 lambs at £65 each.
0:36:37 > 0:36:405 bid, 5 bid. 65, 65 bid...
0:36:40 > 0:36:42The wink says he's in again.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44Six I'm bid. I'm bid six.
0:36:44 > 0:36:476. 6. Sell away at 66.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49John Laramy, £66.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54John is on a roll. He's bought over 50 lambs so far.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55At 65. John Laramy.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00And buys the same again in the next 15 minutes.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03At 62. 62. John Laramy. 62.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07They are a little bit dearer than I expected.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11My lambs today have averaged about 60, £61.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14But I'm quite reasonably pleased with what I have bought.
0:37:21 > 0:37:28I've bought 121 lambs and I spent £7,448.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32I would like them cheaper but we have got to pay the going price, really,
0:37:32 > 0:37:33the market price.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37With his 50 years' experience at auction, John was shrewd,
0:37:37 > 0:37:39avoiding the lots that went over the odds.
0:37:42 > 0:37:48He's bought over 100 lambs at an impressively low average price of just over £61 each.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55Prices that should ensure a healthy profit for the three-generation family business.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59First, though, he does have to get them all back to the farm.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03Go on. Go on.
0:38:03 > 0:38:04Go on.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Hey.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09And not everyone is playing ball.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12Get up there.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Plenty of room, if you'd like to go out. Go on.
0:38:23 > 0:38:24Thank you.
0:38:25 > 0:38:30Loading the sheep was hard work today because everybody is around loading together.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32So it was harder than normal.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34They didn't run so well.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Loading aside, it's been a good day at auction for John.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42Oh, I'm happy enough really, yes.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45I shall be working until six or seven o'clock tonight.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48And Saturday and Sunday.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51But I enjoy most of it.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52A way of life.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59So, one of the market's most experienced customers heads home.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04Sweet pigs, mind, that is. Look at the back ends on them.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07And as the auction enters its final phase...
0:39:07 > 0:39:119, 9, 9. At £69. WAR, £69.
0:39:12 > 0:39:16..one of its least experience customers is on tenterhooks.
0:39:17 > 0:39:23Seller and new farmer Chris Creeper had success earlier with his smaller calves.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Now the biggest calf is entering the ring.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29He hopes to get as much as £250 for it.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31But there are no guarantees.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36195.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38Now from Chris Creeper this time.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Down from Axminster. Blue bull.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Super blue bull calf, ladies and gentlemen.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48That's a cracking blue. Out of a British Friesian, for you.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52320. 320. 300.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54300 in, 300 in. 270. 250, I'm bid.
0:39:54 > 0:39:5950, 50, 50. 60. 5. Look at the shape to him.
0:39:59 > 0:40:04There's real interest, with bidding already at £275.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07280 I'm bid. At 280. 85. 85. 85. At 285.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09290. 290. 95. 95. 95.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Up we go. At 295. 95. 95. 95.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15300. 300. 305. At 305. 310. 310. 15. 15. 15. 15 I'm bid.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18At 315. I'm bid at 315. You're all out in front.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23At 315. And he goes this time at 315. 315.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27Yeah, very good. Happy with that.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30£315 is a great result.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34So, this calf here, 365.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38This is the calf we had the most money for today.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43We predicted it would be our best calf and it earned us the most money.
0:40:43 > 0:40:45I'm happy with that.
0:40:45 > 0:40:51Today, I think the calves made about £595.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Obviously, of that, there will be commissions coming out from the
0:40:54 > 0:40:56auctioneers for selling them today.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59And I'm happy with that price today cos there's a lot of good calves
0:40:59 > 0:41:04here, and the trade isn't as strong as it usually is.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09They have a really great future and that's proved in what he sold today.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12The calf that made over £300, you know,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14at three weeks old, which is fantastic,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17you know, and a credit to the way they've reared them.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22With margins are so tight for the young farming family,
0:41:22 > 0:41:27getting over £100 more for the three calves than Chris hoped will make a real difference.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31We are happy with our prices,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35so we'd better get back to the farm and do some work.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39The market is drawing to a close.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44It's been an amazing day of selling.
0:41:44 > 0:41:45A frantic four-hour race.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53With over £700,000 changing hands.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58Business here at the Exeter auction is certainly thriving.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03In the last 12 months, we've put through just over 3,500 dairy cows.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Which has been really good.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09The pig section as well has grown massively.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13We are now one of the largest pig markets around.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16But it's not just about the selling.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20You know, I've seen two people today I haven't seen for four or five years.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23And to come to a market is a very special day out.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25And a lot of fun.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27And we are just delighted that we can be part of that.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31For Andrew Freemantle,
0:42:31 > 0:42:36for John Laramy and grandson David, it's been a successful day.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40And on Waterford farm,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43Chris Creeper's bold family enterprise
0:42:43 > 0:42:47has taken one step closer to a secure future.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51It was a very challenging time when we first started at Waterford,
0:42:51 > 0:42:55but the passion that I have and Connie and I have and the sheer determination,
0:42:55 > 0:42:59you know, we got through that first 18 months, which was a tricky time.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02And we just love what we're doing, really.