A DIMINISHING appetite for lamb in the hard-hit economies of southern Europe sent Melrose-based livestock auctioneer John Swan & Sons to a £135,000 pre-tax loss in the first half of last year.
Chairman Alastair Ritchie said: "Trading in the first half of the year has been much more difficult than previously, due mainly to a sharp reduction in sheep volumes arising from economic uncertainties, particularly in the market for lamb in southern Europe. Accordingly, our auctioneering business recorded a small loss."
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