This thread has made interesting reading, it is worrying that trade is quiet. Also worrying, is the fact that we took two last year's lambs to the abbatoir a couple of weeks ago, and the girl there was saying they have never been as quiet and that they were finding times really hard. If we lose local abbatoirs, then people looking to raise a few weaners will be even less likely to want to buy some.
Regarding buying weaners, I think it depends entirely on the circumstances. I bought ours from Lillian, pure bred Tamworths. I wasn't fussed about them being pure bred, and to be honest, I would have been happy with cheaper crosses as well. BUT- for me, it just seemed ridiculous to go up to 40 miles away to get crosses, when I could get pure breeds from just 2 miles away (and know there was help and advice on hand if we needed it). Not only that, but I was able to get them at exactly the time of year I wanted them (after all our goat shows had finished so it didn't affect out movements from shows).
Beth