Keith Davies, a partner of Morris Marshall & Poole, and a director of Welshpool Livestock Sales, has been elected as the new chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers’ Association (LAA), following the association’s AGM on 3 November 2024.
He will be supported by the newly appointed vice chair, Gareth Wall, who runs Kington livestock market, as well as the professional office as a consultant, chartered surveyor, agricultural consultant, valuer and auctioneer, for and on behalf of McCartneys LLP.
A former Welsh LAA chairman, Mr Davies brings a wealth of experience at policy level. He will support the ongoing work of the LAA executive team, headed up by Chris Dodds, alongside development officer Zanna Dennis, providing auctioneers and the livestock production sector a voice in government, as well as with wider industry groups and organisations.
Brought up on a mixed dairy, beef and sheep farm, Mr Davies has always been involved in the day to day running of a farm, at the same time working his way through the livestock marketing system to his current role as a director of the largest livestock auction centre in Wales. He was also instrumental in the planning and development of the current Welshpool site.
“I feel my background lends itself to support the initiatives that the LAA is leading on, to help support a safer, commercially viable and successful livestock sector,” Mr Davies explains.
“I am keen to follow on from the work my predecessor Alastair Brown has headed up over his two-year term as chair, not least with the launch of the Market Prices platform and the continued rollout of the MartSafe training programme, two initiatives that really underpin the work of the LAA,” he says.
By providing greater insight and real-time access to live sheep, cattle and pig prices, market users are now able to make informed decisions and identify new market opportunities through the Market Prices platform, while the MartSafe initiative provides specialist training promoting health and safety, safe handling and animal welfare in the livestock market, , with 98 in-person training sessions delivered to 2,337 participants since its launch in 2022..
Mr Davies will be supported by Mr Wall, who as well as being a long-standing member of the national LAA council, also holds the position of secretary and treasurer of the Three Counties & South Wales Livestock Auctioneers’ Association.
Having grown up on his family beef, sheep and arable farm in South Shropshire, Mr Wall is looking forward to playing a more influential role as vice chair.
“I am looking forward to working with Keith and the executive team to help drive future progress, with a focus on the important role that the live sales ring has in providing a transparent and competitive marketplace for our livestock producers,” he says.
Chris Dodds, executive secretary of the LAA has welcomed the appointments, saying, “We sit at another critical period for the future of livestock production, and now more than ever, a collaborative approach will be key if we are to fully represent and support livestock producers. I look forward to working closely with Keith, Gareth and our council, as we continue to drive forward with new initiatives and programmes to help support that future.”