Agriculture & Livestock

Mark joined Kivells in 1994 following the completion of a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons) in Real Estate Management at Seale-Hayne. Mark qualified as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 1995/96, and is also a Fellow of the Livestock Auctioneers Association. Mark joined the Kivells Partnership in 1997 and is a Director of the company. Mark heads the Dairy and Pedigree Beef Cattle Auction and Valuation Department with thriving dairy cattle markets at both Holsworthy and Exeter selling over 10,000 dairy cattle per year and conducting nationwide sales of both dairy and pedigree beef cattle. Mark is also part of Kivells Machinery Auctioneering team. Mark conducts the sale of farms and land throughout the West Country, is a specialist in the sale of dairy farms and has also handled the sale of a number of large scale option/promotion agreements for residential development sites. Mark is a RICS Registered Valuer and specialises in providing valuations of rural property, livestock, machinery and farming assets.

Having spent many years based in Cornwall, as both a livestock auctioneer and dealing with the sale of farms and land, Simon took up the challenge to head up the Kivells team at Exeter Livestock Centre following the firms award of the Lease by Exeter City Council. Since that time, along with his hand-picked team of talented livestock auctioneers he has overseen the rapid growth in throughput, rightfully reclaiming Exeter as a livestock market of national importance. Alongside, Simon has brought on board a highly competent team of specialist rural Chartered Surveyors capable of servicing the needs of farmers and landowners throughout the region and dealing with all types of property sales, whether by private treaty or auction. Simon conducts the monthly property auction for the firm and continues to sell landed property on a national basis.

Russell joined Kivells when they took over the running of Exeter Livestock Centre to head up the sheep department, which has gone from strength to strength over the last nine years. After learning his trade in the North of England, Russell returned to his home county of Devon and has a great understanding of the sheep industry and the important roles market play.

Mark joined Kivells in September 2009 as a Dairy Auctioneer based in Holsworthy. When Kivells took on the lease at Exeter Livestock Centre Mark established monthly collective Dairy Sales with great success and soon increased to fortnightly Sales. Mark has sold Cattle at some of the UK’s leading herd Dispersals and Sales as well as being the Specialist dedicated Auctioneer for the Jersey Breed. Mark also sells Pedigree and Commercial Beef Breeding Cattle as well Sheep and Machinery.

Ian joined Kivells in 2015 having worked as a Rural Surveyor and Auctioneer in the Midlands. Ian attended Harper Adams University College obtaining a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Rural Enterprise and Land Managements and later achieving his MRICS and FAAV qualifications whilst working in the Midlands. A member of the Livestock Auctioneers' Association (LAA), Ian is based in Exeter Livestock Centre undertaking weekly selling duties of livestock and machinery. Professional work includes the sale of farms and land, valuation work, farm subsidies and grants and compensation work against utility companies.

David joined Kivells in 1992 having been admitted as a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in April 1992 and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1991 having undertaken his studies at the Royal Agricultural University. David joined the partnership after the retirement of his father, Peter. In 2008 David was admitted as a Fellow of the Livestock Auctioneers Association and became national chairman in 2017. David retired as Director for Kivells in July 2024 and is now a Consultant Valuer and Land Agent, Machinery Auctioneer and Cattle Auctioneer for the company.

Tim joined Kivells in August 2014 and works out of Holsworthy and Hallworthy Markets. He sells calves and stirks in Holsworthy and the stirks and breeding cattle in Hallworthy Stockyard. Tim also has a keen interest in the machinery side of the business and can be found selling machinery most Saturdays either at our monthly machinery sales at Holsworthy Market or an on-farm sale. Alongside working in the market Tim also trades TB restricted youngstock across the country, where he has grown a national client base of TB restricted buyers. Tim studied Rural Estate and Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester and came away with a BSc honors degree and is currently studying at Harper Adams University completing the Livestock Auctioneers Association degree.

Robert joined Kivells in 2012 when they took over the running of the Livestock Centre at Exeter. Robert has worked in both the old Alphington market and the present-day Matford site for some forty years and, as well as helping to manage the market, he is also the cattle fieldsman here at Exeter.

Stuart joined Kivells in 2011 as a Fieldsman after working as a Drover for several years. He also farms at Davidstow alongside his wife Tina. He very much enjoys farm visits, meeting customers new and old. He can been seen at many local shows with his family showing their sheep.

Steve joined Kivells in 1978 and is the main sheep auctioneer for both Hallworthy and Holsworthy Livestock Centres and for on farm sheep sales. He is available by phone or email for up to date sheep prices helping producers to market their sheep and is available for on farm visits. Since 2011 Steve has been Market Manager for Hallworthy Livestock Market and is responsible for the day to day running of the centre.

Charlie studied agriculture at Duchy college and then went on to complete a degree at Cirencester university in Rural Estate Land Management. In 2012 Charlie joined Kivells and has become an integral part of the team at Holsworthy Livestock Market. He works primarily within the store cattle section, where he plays a key role in sourcing and sorting the store cattle. In addition to his work with cattle, Charlie is also heavily involved in both the monthly machinery sales and on-farm machinery auctions, contributing his expertise to these areas as well.

Coming from a farming background in the local area, and currently farming 100 head of cattle, Alec joined Kivells in 1989 where he started lotting and organising farm sales and then progressed to a livestock fieldsman covering most of Devon and Cornwall where he was trained for 5 years by Douglas Braunton who himself was very experienced and highly respected in live and deadweight procurement. Dedicated to Holsworthy store market ,which has a strong following of sellers and purchasers, Alec is an expert in the field and is always keen to do farm visits, advising and valuing all types of cattle.

Robert moved from Yorkshire to attend Seale Hayne College where he gained a HND in Agriculture. He has acquired a lifetime of experience and passion for dairy cows and livestock having worked in agriculture all of his working life from the earlier years milking dairy cows in a share farming scheme on a pedigree dairy farm in the Midlands to joining Kivells in 2005 where he has been involved in running Liskeard market, the private sale of dairy cattle and TB restricted cattle throughout the Country and the marketing and sale of dairy cattle at Holsworthy and Exeter markets.

Olly joined Kivells in 2022 as a trainee dairy fieldsman progressing to a full-time fieldsman position in 2024. Having grown-up on his families Dairy Farm, Olly’s passion and knowledge for dairy cows has made him a real asset to the Kivells dairy department. Olly regularly conducts private sales throughout the country of both commercial and pedigree stock.

After a successful auctioneering career selling livestock at markets throughout the Westcountry, which spanned some fifty years, Andrew now runs the pig auctions at our Exeter centre and also can be found working as part of the store cattle and sheep section teams on market days.

Joel joined Kivells in 2024 as a trainee shortly after leaving Hartpury College. You will see Joel working in all three of our livestock markets including the monthly machinery sales at Holsworthy. He also deals with the private treaty fodder sales across North Devon and Cornwall.

Sam joined Kivells at the beginning of 2022 as a market assistant at Exeter Livestock Centre and has now progressed to a trainee sheep auctioneer primarily based at Exeter but working in all three of our livestock centres. Sam spends most of his spare time at home on his family farm where they farm sheep and beef cattle.

Ryan joined Kivells in the Spring of 2024 as the sheep fieldsman for Holsworthy and Hallworthy markets. He is also a trainee auctioneer and you will find him selling at our Holsworthy Monthly Machinery Sales. Growing up on his family’s beef and sheep farm has given Ryan a real passion for the sheep sector and he is always keen to do farm visits to help and assist with any sheep enquiries.