Saleyard social value study: Yards offer mental health support

In addition to saleyards’ economic value, new research shows they contribute to the ongoing mental health of rural communities.

A first-of-its-kind study has quantified the worth of saleyards beyond financial transactions of livestock.

The research, commissioned by the Australian Livestock Markets Association, gauged the social value of saleyards to their local communities and was launched at Dubbo, NSW, this morning.

Some of the key findings included:

99 per cent of those surveyed said they were socialising at the yards when not buying or selling stock

Inability to attend sales led to an increase in social isolation and loneliness

Survey participants said they felt “a sense of belonging and connection” with others who attended saleyards

Saleyards can provide a means of delivering services

ALMA executive officer Kate McGilvray said while previous research had measured the economic significance of saleyards, the organisation wanted to focus on what sale days meant to community members, service providers and saleyard stakeholders.

“This report highlights that saleyards are critical to the social fabric of regional communities,” Ms McGilvray said. “A visit to a saleyard livestock sale in regional locations helps to improve social outcomes for people living in rural and regional Australia.”

Omeo saleyards. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Action from the Ballarat store sheep sale in December 2019, before the pandemic.

The trends were garnered from interviews across 11 saleyards, including two in Victoria – Warrnambool and Ballarat.

The results showed the social value of yards was sorely missed during the pandemic, with agents reporting “a very different feel to the saleyards”.

“It was clear that producers living and working on their own or with their partner missed coming to the saleyards to socially connect and keep up to date with market trends and information,” the report found.

Buyers and sellers at an Omeo sale. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mental health was a common theme in responses from those surveyed despite no direct questions about the issue.

About a third of the respondents identified saleyards could be a venue for education and raising awareness of the challenges of mental health and wellbeing.

“Agents also identified that it was a great place for them to have access to information, learning and training about how to support their clients and where to refer to them for support,” the report found.

A Queensland agent and producer said “if we didn’t have saleyards in rural Australia, we would need 1000 counsellors … the saleyards are a place where you can come and share your burdens”.

Saleyards also gave back to the community in terms of employment, fund raising, tourism, disaster management and even romance, with respondents in three states saying they had married someone they had met at the yards.