“Moulins-Engilbert Auction Market Celebrates 40 Years: Financial Success and Environmental Concerns”

The Sicafome, which manages the auction market of Moulins-Engilbert, is 40 years old this year. Its statutory general meeting therefore took on a particular aspect, as evidenced by the presence of Yosr Kbairi, sub-prefect of Château-Chinon, and many elected officials.

Benoît Blandin, president, thanked all those who, yesterday and today, have allowed this structure to be what it is. A great success, despite the sanitary, climatic and, it must be said, administrative storms.

Management for all and by all

The lifeblood of an entire territory, the Moulins-Engilbert clock market saw an increase in financial terms in 2022 with average prices increasing.

However, the decline in cattle intake is worrying. Breeders are forced to decapitalize enormously. So, it is an understatement to say that the recent declarations of the Court of Auditors accusing cattle breeding are poorly accepted in a region of bocage and extensive breeding.

Why is the Court of Auditors calling for a “significant reduction” in the number of cows in France?

Nièvre has lost 10% of its cattle herd in five years. As everywhere in France, the plow nibbles the meadows. And yet, greenhouse gases are not decreasing. Average selling prices have certainly increased. But the increase in expenses largely absorbs this increase.

After forty years of operation, the clock market tool is doing well financially. No bank debt and yet the premises are modernized every year.

Even today, there is no lack of projects. They are part of a concern for animal well-being and the ease and safety of access to the installations for the thirty employees and all the users.

premium In Moulins-Engilbert, the clock market celebrates its fortieth anniversary

The concern to contribute to respect for the environment is very present with future economical and sustainable investments such as the photovoltaic project on the installations or the recovery of rainwater for washing trucks. In forty years, market fees have never increased. The rates of discounts to contributors and buyers are important in order to return the maximum to the most loyal customers.

Over this financial year, €103,000 will be redistributed. A policy that pays. The proportion of animals coming from a nearby area is clearly on the rise. The quality of the contributions too. The merchants present testified to this.

The wolf is furious

Many breeders who bring their animals to Moulins-Engilbert come from Saône-et-Loire where wolf attacks on sheep and cattle are recurrent.

Anger, indignation and perhaps above all grief were expressed with force. “I saw breeders cry,” testified Martial Tardivon, head of sales. “Pick up martyred animals in the morning, that, we don’t know how to do and we don’t want to do it”, expressed the breeders forcefully.

In addition, the indemnity in the event of death proven by a wolf is 100 €. As a reminder, the average selling price of a sheep at the clock market is €146.

“Who suffers the difference? Who pays for the facilities and the time spent protecting themselves from an animal that was not missing from the food chain in our region?” Asked a breeder.

Yosr Kbairi, as a representative of the State, said he heard, understood the distress. “We don’t put the problem under the rug,” she said.

2022 report in figures

42.322 cattle brought in, ie 4,038 less than the previous year, the best unsold rate ever recorded of 4%, turnover of €56,248,079, up €9,058,890.

19.824 sheep brought in, ie 501 more than the previous year, 3% unsold, turnover €2,811,737, an increase of €134,043.

6e such as the national ranking of the Moulins-Engilbert clock market in number of animals traded, 2nd in large lean cattle, 2nd in weanlings, 7th in sheep. Average per market: 826 cattle and 716 sheep (47 cattle market and 27 sheep markets in 2022).