Livestock auction marts have won strong backing from Britain's independent meat suppliers.

They believe a thriving network of marts is vital to ensure a profitable future for their businesses, which supply 40pc of the red meat trade.

The independent buyers supply a variety of markets including the Halal and Kosher sectors, as well as high street butchers, farmers markets and through the Internet.

The rapidly growing Halal trade is particularly important to both the independent sector and producers.

Demand for this meat has become so significant that the English Beef and Lamb Executive (Eblex) has set up a special Halal Steering Group.

Norman Bagley, policy director of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), said the markets provide the flexibility the independent buyers need to meet their customers requirements.

AIMS represents small and medium-sized abattoirs which supply most of the beef and lamb for the ethnic trade in England and Wales.

Mr Bagley said: "These buyers prefer to source the livestock they require from auction markets instead of on contract or direct from farmers because the markets give them more choice and they can choose the livestock they want themselves.

"Most importantly, they can buy according to demand."

Alastair Sneddon, chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association, said: "The auction market system is open and transparent, as well as flexible, and allows all buyers to secure the best deals.

"It also provides important local outlets for Britains livestock producers, offering them the opportunity to capitalise on the client base of a variety of different sectors, so they can receive the optimum price for all their animals."

Mr Bagley said if marts disappeared it would cause major disruption to trade and could lead to the major processors strangling competition, with disastrous consequences for both his members and farmers. He said: "As far as AIMS members are concerned, the marts need to maintain their market share in the face of much bureaucratic and retailer prejudice to retain critical mass of throughput."