Julian Gallimore, chairman of Hereford auctioneers Brightwells, said the new raft of ministry regulations constituted a body blow to auctioneering firms and the farming community alike.

His firm had arranged ram sales in the county and in Powys after agreement with DEFRA, only to be told they could not be held.

This had been the case with other arranged fixtures. However, it was hoped to hold video sales for Welsh ewes.

Auctioneer Graham Baker of Sunderlands said that farmers had already been facing many difficulties over being unable to sell stock or make fodder and the new regulations would make things very difficult, particularly with the many problems of winter approaching. The rules had caused the cancellation of sales in the pipeline.