G’Day to the UK

I’ve sat and wondered how it is I should begin my first blog and after endless procrastination, I decided it would be best to just start by getting some words on the page.

For those of you who take the time to read, whether near or far from either of my homes, I thank you and invite you to come with me through the year, following my journey as a Stock & Station Agent and Livestock Auctioneer in the UK.

My name is Jack Harper, I am a Stock & Station Agent from Cowra, a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. I’ve found myself on the endeavour of a lifetime, possibly in the midst of a quarter life crisis, taking a job with Harrison & Hetherington , the UK’s largest  livestock marketing company until the end of the 2025.

I’m excited to be able to share my experiences and insights as I delve into the British livestock marketing industry, whilst also being able to draw on my experience from the industry back home. During my time here based in the North of England near to the Scottish border, I look forward to comparing the similarities and differences between these two markets, and to further develop myself as a young agent and auctioneer, eventually returning back home with a world of experience.

I started my agency career in 2021 with Allan Gray & Co, a family run business in my hometown of Cowra. There I was able to learn the fundamentals of agency and auctioneering all whilst working with people that became family. I was extremely privileged to have been sent with a blessing when I spoke about this crazy idea with my bosses, and I was immediately encouraged to take the opportunity I had found with Harrison & Hetherington by the horns and run, leaving me with no option but to book a flight.

As I draw to close a month of employment here in the UK, it seemed a good time to start a monthly blog. Upon arrival, I have been made to feel extremely welcome by the entire H&H team. During this first month, I have been given the opportunity to see a range of marts under the Harrison & Hetherington banner. I am mostly based at the Borderway Mart in Carlisle, where we conduct weekly Prime Lamb and Sheep sales, Store and Prime cattle, Weaner sales and a monthly Dairy sale. In addition to this, I have also attended Prime Lamb sales in Kirkby Stephen and Middleton-Upon-Teesdale, and Store Cattle markets in both the Wooler and St Boswells locations. Through seeing these different marts I have been able to work with a wide range of people within the H&H business and also meet and interact with clients from many regions of the UK.

On non-sale days, I have found myself on the road with any one of the other auctioneers, looking at and valuing stock on-farm, for upcoming sales.

My first month has essentially been spent getting to know the marts, the market trends, the vendors, and the buyers. All of which play an integral role in the marketing of livestock, regardless of location.

I have already noticed some big differences between the sales here and the sales I am involved in back home. Most notably the lot sizes across both sheep and cattle. Back home, stock is sold in more consistent numbers that are drafted into very even pens, either the night before the sale (cattle) or the morning of the sale (sheep). In addition to this, the breed variations (and as a result the weights of) through the lambs has been and still is a learning curve for me. I could confidently say that when you walk through the Cowra Saleyards you could almost count the breeds being sold on one hand. Furthermore, the process of weighing prime lambs just before they are sold is one that is very foreign to me. In our Australian markets, no weights are officially recorded and is instead the job of both the agent and the buyer to put their own weight, an estimated carcass weight, on the lamb to judge its value.

Whilst different, I am enjoying understanding how the processes all work. The differences were a major influence into my decision to move abroad and continue within my career.

As I move into the next month here with H & H, I look forward to continuing to meet with and build clientele relationships, as I believe that to be the foundations of being a good agent and auctioneer.

I’m excited to continue to foster the relationships I have already developed and become more involved with the valuing of people’s livestock as I further understand and follow the trends within the livestock market at this time and in the area.