A MAJOR survey has found the majority of livestock auctioneers to be confident about the future.

More than nine out of ten expect overall trade in 2015 to be better or the same as last year, according to the survey run by the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA).

When asked how they expected livestock trade to be “in a year’s time”, 18 per cent s thought it would be better and 76 per cent thought it would be similar to that in 2014.

However, when asked about the farming industry in general, 52 per cent said things were getting better but still had a long way to go, and 46 per cent felt things were getting a bit worse – two per cent felt things were “getting a lot worse” with no prospect of them getting better.

Chris Dodds, LAA executive secretary, was "encouraged" by the cautious confidence most auctioneers felt about the livestock trade and farming in general.

"As well as feeling good about future prospects, two-thirds of them reported that they took on more staff last year and 45 per cent say they will continue expanding their team in 2015," he said. "Any young people out there looking for a promising career in a confident and growing sector should consider the opportunities livestock markets offer.”

On average, each mart reported employing nine full time and 24 part time staff. As well as investing in more people, auctioneers also reported significant levels of investment in personal development and training, with 94 per cent of marts providing training of one sort or another.

Rod Cordingley of Stephenson & Son in York, and chairman of the LAA, said: “I’m particularly pleased that more than three-quarters of auctioneers surveyed provide suitably comprehensive drover training for the staff they employ to handle the livestock they sell, which is independently verified by Newton Rigg College and more than a third enrol their young auctioneers on our four-year distance learning course, which is delivered by Harper Adams University.

“The auction system is integral to the creation of a competitive marketplace, generating a fair market price that reflects local, national and world demands for livestock. Always on the side of the farmer, trying to get them the best price possible, the auctioneer is their champion.

"In my view it’s one of the best and most important jobs in farming and the supply chain. So I would obviously encourage anyone considering their future career to visit their local auction mart."

The survey was sent to LAA members and was completed by 50 – the majority of members – who, between them, employ more than 1,600 people and account for the vast majority of auction sales.