Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and predecessors: Cattle Markets Correspondence and Papers

The Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, 1887 and 1926, provided that it was an offence to hold sales of cattle, sheep or swine, in any mart where a weighing machine was not provided unless the auctioneer was exempted from the provisions of the acts by order of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The Livestock Industry Act, 1937, which established the Livestock Commission, provided in section 14 that no premises in Great Britain, other than premises on which a market in respect of livestock was lawfully held at some time during the year ended 30 November, 1936 (the basic year), should, on or after 1 November, 1937, be used for holding a market in respect of livestock unless the premises were approved for the purpose by an Order of the Livestock Commission made with the approval of the appropriate minister.

Section 17 of this act also empowered the commission to make bye-laws for promoting efficiency and economy in the marketing of livestock. After the dissolution of the Livestock Commission in 1940, its functions were thereafter exercised by the minister.