MARKET WEEKLY
THURSDAY 15th JANUARY
MONDAY 19th JANUARY
Darlington – County Durham – DL1 5DU T: 01325 464529 F: 01325 384282 www.dfam.co.uk Find us on @www.facebook.com/darlingtonfarmersauctionmart LIVESTOCK SALE TIMES MONDAY Cast Cows, OTM’S and Stock Bulls 10AM followed by Store and Breeding Sheep 11AM followed by Breeding Cattle 12PM followed by Young Bulls and Store Cattle 12PM followed by THURSDAY Prime Pigs 9.30AM followed by Prime Bulls 10AM followed by Prime Cattle 11AM followed by Prime Lambs 1PM followed by SALES TEAM Contact Andrew Armstrong
Scott Ferrie Tracey Gilhespy Stephen Dodsworth Mobile
Email
07766914075 [email protected] 07557 260653 [email protected] 07867974688 [email protected] 07778737431 [email protected] YARD TEAM William Burton 07974092291 ACCOUNTS Richard Heseltine
07522960674 LAND AGENT [email protected] Adam Barrass Harry Vickers Pat Cotterill 07796306404 07979 856697 01388 730095 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Office 01325 464529 [email protected] OFFICE OPENING HOURS Monday: 6:00 –18:00 Tuesday: 7:00‐17:00 Wednesday: 7:00‐17:00 Thursday: 5:00‐19:00 Friday: 7:00‐16:00 Sat/ Sunday: Calls Diverted STORE MARKET REPORT – MONDAY 5TH JANUARY 2015 Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of Cast Cows, Store and Breeding Stock on Monday 19th January 2015. Forward were 281 Cattle and 966 Sheep. 115 Cast Cows sold to £1163 or 160ppk 3 Young Bulls sold to £940 67 Store Steers sold to £1200 84 Store Heifers sold to £1170 6 Cows and Calves sold to £1650 966 Store Lambs sold to £85.00 CAST CATTLE The beef breed cows remain a fine trade as twice they reached 160ppk, an Angus from R D Musgrave, Edder Acres Farm and a Limousin from B Watson, Baal Hill were both bought by J A Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor. Leading gross value was a wonderful 10 year old Blonde D'Aquitaine cow from D W Humphrey when she was bought by Cleveland Meat, Stockton for £1163 (133ppk). It will be of little comfort to the Dairy Farmers at the moment that the cow trade is managing to remain reasonably good, drawing 110 to 120 ppk for a well fleshed milk cow is unlikely to keep the wolf from the door in these worrying times. The best of the Black and Whites this week came from J T Forster & Son, Killerby Farm 135ppk and £877 was achieved by A R & C Booth, Village Farm. Cast Cattle pence per kilo ‐ 160 127 R D Musgrave. 160 124 B Watson. 150 F Hare & Sons. 146 J V & M Bussey. 139 J Pallister & Sons. 139 G Simpson. 137 J M Shotton. 135 134 133(x2) D W Humphrey. 135 J T Forster & Son. 131 123 J C & P Tallentire. 130 S M & C M Bewley. 128 N Wite. 127 G & E A Herdman. 127 J & M J Walton. 125 W & M Knaggs & Son. 125 D Blake. 122 P M Beveridge. Lead Grossing Cast Cattle ‐ £1163 £1003 £965 £963 D W Humphrey. £1064 J & M J Walton. £1039 J Pallister & Sons. £993 £970 £947 G & E A Herdman. £982 P M Beveridge. £957 £954 £863 J C & P Tallentire. £947 J & V M Bussey. £947 £902 R D Musgrave. £922 W & M Knaggs. £911 J M Shotton. £897 D Blake. £877 A R & C Booth. £863 J T Forster & Son. £862 T H Richardson & Son. STORE & BREEDING CATTLE It would be a greedy man who was not happy with his store trade this week, they are absolutely flying at the moment. Next week we see our first show & sale of store cattle in 2015, with the trade as it is we could just be in for a busy day, vendors who historically hold on to sell in the spring could well be drawn out early this year. The sale topper was a 20 month old Blonde D'Aquitaine Steer from K Cator, Stobb House Farm which sold for £1200, leading the heifers was a 19 month old Limousin from J S Foster & Son, West End Farm which reached £1170. It is for certain the small beast are the best trade I think they have possibly ever been, anything between 6 and 9 months with a touch of shape no matter how small is easily between £700 and £900, it is a remarkable trade indeed at the moment. With a fair proportion of dairy and native breeds on show the average for the store cattle throughout was still amazingly over £880. LEADING PRICES Young Bulls ‐ £940 J N Watson. £810 W Robson Farm Ltd. £760 J V & M Bussey. Store Steers ‐ £1200 K Cator. £1160 £1100 £1045 J S Foster & Son. £1140(x2) £1100(x2) £1070(x2) £900(x5) J H Johnson. £1100 £985 £920(x3) £910 £900 T H Richardson & Son. £1095 £1040 J R & L Harding. £1070 £990(x2) A Gregg. £1040 D & P H Brown. £970 £910(x2) H F Ryle & Son. £950 £900(x2) J & E M Lawson. £900 C & M Burnett. Store Heifers ‐ £1170 J S Foster & Son. £1140 £1100 £1050 D & P H Brown. £1100 £1060 C Stevenson. £1085 £1070(x2) J D & M S Mortimer. £1080 £1030 K Cator. £1070 £950 K Mitchelson. £1060 £1030 G W & M Singleton & Sons. £1050 £930(x2) H F Ryle & Son. £1050 £1000 £950 £930 T A Gibson. £1010 B Watson. £980(x2) J Smith. £965 A Gregg. £960 J R & L Harding. £945 £940 W & J M Clifford. £935(x2) P Wiper. STORE SHEEP Trade is very good for store hoggs as the winter feeding is still readily available, the store cattle are proving hard to buy no matter how much feed you have and this I think helps the store sheep trade hold firm. A cracking single Texel from A & R Thompson topped the trade at £85, plenty of suffolk and continental hoggs are now selling over £75 with mules able to reach £65. STORE LAMB PRICES ‐ £85 £79 £76 £74 £70 A & R Thompson. £84 £79 £75 S J Love. £82 A Bell. £82 £73 D E Stones. £79 W F Love. £78 £73 P Dent. £77.50 D & G Spry. £77 J D Vipond. £77 C E Smith. £75.50 A Peart & Son. £75 £70 G Bolton. £73 M J K Dods. £72.50 J Hird. £70 J J & G E Walton. FAT CATTLE REPORT THURSDAY 8TH JANUARY Thursday 15th January, Darlington Auction Mart had forward 213 Prime Cattle including 98 Prime Bulls, 40 Steers and 69 Heifers. 2951 Hoggs. 1010 Cast Sheep. 21 Prime Pigs and 6 Cast Sows. Bulls A shortage of Bulls ensured an improved trade on the week ‐ all classes of Bulls are wanted. Top price bull ‐ pence per kilo and also the lead grossing bull was a tremendous homebred British blue consigned by I R Appleton, Pudding Poke Farm which reached 228 pence per kilo and realised £1883 ‐ it was purchased by Pearson Wholesale Butchers. Leading price per kilo Vendor I R Appleton E W Grieves J A & M Boyes L R Welsh Weight Price (p/kg) 826 228 693 224 726 224 734 224 Purchaser Pearson Wholesale Pearson Wholesale P Honeyman Pearson Wholesale Steers Top price steer was a homebred Blonde D' Aquitaine consigned by W J Scott Ltd, Low Leam which reached 241 pence per kilo and realised £1578, it was purchased by Worsley Wholesale Meats Ltd, Healey Farm. The Lead Grossing steer was also consigned by W J Scott Ltd, Low Leam, it was once again purchased by Worsley Wholesale Meats Ltd and realised £1661. Leading price per kilo Vendor W J Scott JL Marks E Scott JL Marks Weight Price (p/kg) 655 241 567 238 563 236 638 231 Purchaser Worsley Wholesale Meats G Moor Bolam Foods Worsley Wholesale Meats Heifers A very prosperous day for W J Scott Ltd, Low Leam ‐ as their tremendous show of homebred clean cattle topped in all categories. They had the top price Heifer and lead grossing Heifer on the day ‐ and indeed overall top beast pence per kilo on the day. 256 pence per kilo was the price achieved for an outstanding homebred Blonde D' Aquitaine which realised £1372 and was purchased by local butchers H Taylor & Sons Ltd, Darlington. Their lead grossing Heifer was a Limousin which realised £1510 and was purchased by J Penny & Sons, Rawdon. Leading price per kilo Vendor Weight Price (p/kg) W J Scott 516 256 N White 516 255 P & E Ellis 607 253 J Weighell 553 250 Purchaser H Taylor & Sons Ltd J P Penny & Sons J P Penny & Sons J & B Fitton Prime Hoggs ‐ very similar trade to last week, all classes easily sold to a ringful of buyers keenly bidding for all lots. Top price pen of Hoggs reached a very respectable 240 pence per kilo, for a pen of Texels consigned by W N Stockdale, Middleton Grange which realised £92.50 per head and were purchased by j & B Fitton, Cowlishaw Farm. Lead Grossing Hoggs were for pen of Texels consigned by G P Addison, Hayberries which realised £116 and were purchased by Bowood Farms, Busby Stoop. Top Prices Per Kilo ‐ 240 W N Stockdale. 238 228 222 PJ & MP Gilhespy. 235 220 G Thompson & Sons. 234 221 216 M & A Gaskin. 234 220 C Harle & Sons. 226 223 R A Patterson & Son. 225 G W Dent. 225 W Denham. 224 GC & JC Pullen. 224 AR & BA Wilson. 222 Bowes Bros. 222 JR Todd. 222 R H Wilson & Son. 217 J S Davison. 215 K & M M Henderson. Lead Grossing Prices £116 £114 G P Addison. £109 N & P Rutherford. £108 £106 M W Skidmore Ltd. £107 £104 William Swinbank. £106 GC & JC Pullen. £92.50 W N Stockdale. £105.50 J Layfield. £104 A C Simpson & Son. £103 £102.50 PJ & MP Gilhespy. £102 C Harle & Sons. Cast Ewes ‐ A Flying trade once again for the old girls with all classes, shapes and sizes selling to a maximum. Top was a Texel Ewe which reached £140 it was consigned by Mr D Hunnam, Rise Slowly Farm, and was purchased by Lancashire Direct, Halal Meat. Cast Ewes ‐ Leading Prices £140 £118 D Hunnam. £138 N Swinbank. £135 Mesr W.K M.M Lamb. £134 G P Addison. £133 A & R Thompson. £133 M Gascoigne. £127 W M Reed & Sons. £129 £124 £117 A & D Proctor. £123 £121 C Harle & Sons. £119 M J Hutchinson. £118 D J Bailes. £118 Fridlington Farms. £118 £116 M Medd. £117 Thornbrough Farm. £115 J C Johnson. £114 H S Hutchinson. £112 R A Patterson & Son. £111 B R & S Fell. Top Price Prime Pigs and Cast Sows went to P D Foster, Smithy House Farm, he presented a pen of Cutters which made 124 pence per kilo realising £97 and a cast sow which grosssed £106, both lots were purchased by W Piper, Butchers, Easington Lane. BELLY CLIPPING OF HOGGS IT MAY NOW BE A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME BUYERS OF PRIME HOGGETS WILL REQUIRE THEM TO BE BELLY CLIPPED. THIS SERVICE IS OFFERED BY THE MART AT A COST OF 50p PER SHEEP. IF YOU WISH TO OPT OUT OF THIS PLEASE INFORM THE MART STAFF WHEN YOU UN LOAD YOUR SHEEP AND IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE TIME OF SALE. SHEEP & GOATS
CHANGES IN NOTIFICATION OF MOVEMENTS AND TAGGING Movements All movements of sheep from 1st April 2014 must be notified by either returning the movement document to; Animal Reporting and Movement Service (ARAMS), SouthWestern, PO Box 6299, Milton Keynes, MK10 1ZQ Contact details for ARAMS; TEL: 0844 573 0137 FAX: 01908 664433 Email: [email protected] OR By electronically notifying movements to ARAMS. For Further information on using ARAMS, including the electronic notification of movements and the online Holding Register please visit www.arams.co.uk Tagging & Records As of 1st January 2015, sheep intended for slaughter under 1 year of age, if not already identified, must be tagged with an electronic tag. This could be either an electronic slaughter tag or full EID. A non‐ electronic tag will NOT be permitted to be applied from this date. As of the 1st January 2015, when selling “historic animals” (sheep born prior to 01/01/2010 and not EID tagged), you must record the full tag numbers of the animals (the flock mark and the individual number) on the movement document UNLESS they are moving DIRECT to slaughter (i.e. to an abattoir or dedicated slaughter market/ collection centre), then you need only record the number of sheep moved on the movement document. You are permitted to replace non EID tags with full EID tags. The replacement tags must be recorded in your holding register. Reporting movements‐ Important reminder You must by law report moves onto your holdings within 3 days. This applies even if they have been notified electronically by the sender. Sheep EID from 1st January 2015 The plastic (non‐EID) slaughter tag has been retired (in England) from 1st January 2015. This means that all lambs born after 1st January 2015 must be either double tagged with an official EID tag set or tagged with a single electronic slaughter tag from that date. All of these tags (without exception) must be read and recorded individually in livestock markets. To all intents and purposes ewes of all ages must, from 1st January 2015 have their tags read and recorded individually. The LAA, NSA and NFU are advising farmers to re‐tag their historic flock (older ewe’s currently bearing non electronic tags) with an official EID tag set just as the breeding lambs. All of these tags must be read and recorded individually in livestock markets. Exceptions There will be some residual plastic slaughter tags presented in lambs until these filter out through time (DEFRA advises mid 2015). There will also be some Welsh plastic tags in circulation (for an unknown period). These may only be sold for slaughter and a grey area is likely to result. There will be some older ewes (born before 1st January 2010) that may be presented with an old (non‐electronic) plastic tag. These may only be sold directly to slaughter and a grey area is likely to result. In Darlington we will have the electronic race reader in action on a prime sale day in to record electronic tags on sheep presented on these days. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE IMPORANCE IN RECORDING SHEEP ID We will endeavour to achieve a 100% read from the tags, however his cannot be guaranteed!!! To protect your Single Farm Payment or Basic Payment please be aware that this is YOUR money and it is your responsibility. We would advise that farmers purchase an Electronic Stick reader and read the tags of the lambs/ewes before they leave the farm, it is at this point that you will know the single electronic ID number of that sheep for your records. We are looking into helping farmers in purchasing Stick readers from our suppliers. Details will follow in next week’s edition of Market Weekly. LIVESTOCK FOR SALE BY PRIVATE TREATY
LLEYN X TEXEL EWES FOR SALE 100 INLAMB LLEYN X TEXEL EWES FOR SALE SCANNED WITH TWINS DUE TO LAMB FROM THE 10TH OF FEBRUARY. REGULAR AGES WILL SELL TO DRAW CONTRACT ANDREW FOR DETAILS 07766914075/ [email protected] PURE BRITISH BLUE BULLS 3 PURE BRITISH BLUE BULLS 2 BLACK & WHITE ‐ 1 BLUE & WHITE QUALITY STOCK FROM A RENOWNED LOCAL HERD CONTACT STEPHEN DODSWORTH: 07778737431/ [email protected] INCALF BB X FRI HEFIERSFRI HEIFERS
IN CALF TO LIMOUSIN BULL INCALF ‐ 20 LIM X FRI HEIFERS IN CALF TO LIMOUSIN BULL DUE FEB/MARCH ALL TB4, BVD & JOHNES TESTED CONTACT SCOTT FERRIE: 07557260653/[email protected]
SIMMENTAL HEIFERS SIMMENTAL HEIFERS INCALF & SIMMENTAL HEIFERS WITH CALVES AT FOOT BOTH AVAILABLE ‐ FULLY TESTED CONTACT SCOTT FERRIE FOR MORE DETAILS 07557260653/[email protected] 44 IN CALF SOUTH DEVON COWS TO SOUTH DEVON BULL REGULAR HERD ALL AGES DUE FEB ALSO YOUNG STOCK AND STOCK BULLS AVAILABLE CONTACT SCOTT FERRIE FOR MORE DETAILS 07557260653/[email protected] IN LAMB LLEYN EWES IN LAMB TO THE CHAROLLAIS RAM DUE MID FEB CONTACT SCOTT FERRIE FOR MORE DETAILS 07557260653/[email protected] View from the Box Scott Ferrie FLAA FIA (Scot) It has been a busy couple of weeks with Andrew being away. The price of Store Cattle has still been high so it is great to see all the vendors happy. The Fat Lambs have also held up with Darlington again having one of the highest averages in the Country. Looking to the future I am looking forward to the next weeks Show and Sale with more Prime Hogg’s coming forward. There is a lot of confidence in both the Store cattle and the Lamb trade. The breeding sheep have kept their value with in lamb Ewes in demand. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ With Andrew's return from New Zealand he has hit the ground running this week with a very busy time ahead, Monday's and Thursday's are proving busier by the week and the acquisition of Scott is proving very beneficial not only to the Mart but is providing essential help with Andrew's growing work load. SHEEP The sheep world is ever changing with the compulsory electronic tagging creating the odd teething problem for both farmers and the auction alike, changes happen in the industry and like it or not we must embrace it and move forwards. So to the sheep trade and it is exceptional given that we are in the often sticky month of January, last week the lambs averaged 25 pence per kilo more than the same week in 2014 and the ewes were an unbelievable £30 per head better off. A special sale of in lamb ewes will be held on Monday the 2nd February for which entries close at noon on the 28th January, a fine trade will be expected as the geld ewes are not only dear but after the scanning season finishes they could be in very short supply. CATTLE Luckily I did not have a heavy weekend, had I have done so I would have surely thought I'd over done things and that I was seeing things during Monday's store sale, seldom will you see such a trade. The price of prime cattle is of course running along nicely however, not to the inflated level which the store ring is seeing, shed's full of Root Crops, Cereal's, Straw and Hay then all worth less than most years must be responsible for the rising trade. Historically suckled calf producers sell store cattle in the backend and the spring, my advice would be to cash in now, this trade may not be here in April, cash your calves and roll the money into younger cow's, bulling heifers or in lamb ewes. NEVER WORK WITH CHILDREN, ANIMALS (OR FARMERS) Last Friday I was visited by Chanel 5 who are filming a documentary about dog's attacking livestock, something I have historically had problems with. During my brush with the media in search of my 5 minutes of fame I couldn't help but think that they expected Adam Henson not the Addams Family. The nice man and his pasty faced assistant all the way from London reluctantly stepped over the dead lamb, dodged the sheep muck and sheltered the camera from the snow are now currently busy editing out my bad language, they will never visit Yorkshire again. Stephen Dodsworth Business Structures Current income tax rates are 20%/40% and 45% which are dependent on an individual earnings in any one given year. This is in contrast to corporate rates which are converging for small and large companies at a rate of 20%. Tax efficient solutions exist for all businesses whether corporate or sole trader/partnership. The route taken depends on the business type and the individuals involved. Effective use of share structures (with particular rights attached to shares) can mean for owner manager companies with two shareholders than personal remuneration can be withdrawn in any given year of around £80,000 in total tax free. The limited liability protection given by the corporate structure should also not be overlooked. In a world where lawsuits are more common every day the protection a limited company gives to the owner’s personal assets outside the business should be highly valued. Business failure is also more commonplace and a limited company protects against HMRC seeking personal assets of the business owner to satisfy company debts. There are still many circumstances where the sole trader/partnership route is preferable. Companies can attract benefit in kind charges for certain assets it holds such as motor vehicles whereas the partnership model does not for the partners. In farming given the variability in earnings and the availability of farmers averaging the partnership model is still often used successfully. Succession planning and the availability of Inheritance tax reliefs are often easier in the partnership model as well. Each case needs to be looked at on its own merits and an initial free discussion is available to all. Contact Richard Heseltine on Tel: 07522960674 Email: [email protected] VIEW FROM THE FIELD
Over this last week Vickers and Barrass have received confirmation from the Rural Payments Agency that
the transfer of Entitlements which were completed in the last round have been transferred to the relevant
parties. If you have sold any entitlements and you have not received your money Vickers and Barrass would
recommend that you follow this up.
If you have an Entry Level Stewardship Agreement with Natural England you will/or should have received a
letter confirming the payments which are due to you for the remainder of your agreement. If your agreement
expires this year you may be eligible to apply for the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme which Natural
England is introducing later this year. We understand that DEFRA and Natural England are targeting
specific areas for the new scheme. Please contact the office at Tow Law if your agreement expires this year
and you wish to make formal enquiries for the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
From 1 January 2015 new European Regulations came into force regarding existing Environmental
Stewardship Schemes. This entails all ELS/UELS/ OELS and HLS agreement holders to submit an
annual claim form to Natural England by 15 May each year for the remainder of your agreement.
Further information will be sent to each agreement holder in March this year with details of how to
make your annual claim; this will be a separate claim to your Basic Payment Scheme submission. It
is vital that your claim is received by Natural England prior to the 15 May as there will be a reduction
in your payment of 1% per working day until 9 June. Any claim submitted after 9 June will receive
no payment for that year. If you have any queries regarding this please contact Pat Cotterill at the
Tow Law office.
Vickers and Barrass have successfully negotiated the private letting of a number of well-established fully
equipped mixed farms in the Northumberland area and North West Durham. If you are considering a
change in farming policy then please contact Adam Barrass at the Tow Law office for a confidential
informal discussion.
Vickers and Barrass continue to submit various planning applications ranging from agricultural buildings
through the General Permitted Development Order to full planning applications for agricultural worker’s
dwellings and are able to offer assistance with any aspect of the planning process.
Please remember that if you have any query with a professional matter please do not hesitate to contact
Vickers and Barrass Chartered Surveyors, located within the Auction Mart on sale days or at their Tow Law
office 5 days a week.
Contact details: info@vickersandbarrass or 01388 730095.
PROVISIONAL SALE DATES FOR YOUR 2015 CALENDAR MONDAY 26th JANUARY 2015 STARS OF 2015 PRIZE SHOW & SALE OF OVER 450 YOUNG BULLS, SUCKLED CALVES & STORE CATTLE (SHOW 8.30AM) 10am: Sale of 100+ Cast Cows, OTM Cattle & Stock Bulls 10.45am: Sale of 600+ Store Sheep 11.30am Sale of Young Bulls, Suckled Calves & Store Cattle 2nd February 2015 – Special Sale of In Lamb Ewes and Shearlings 23rd February 2015 ‐ 'DAY 54' Show and Sale of high quality Suckled Calves 23rd March 2015 ‐ Special 'Mad March Extravaganza' Show and Sale of Store Cattle 25th April 2015 – Spring Sale of Tractors, Implements and Farm Machinery 27th April 2015 ‐ Spring Spectacular Show and Sale of Suckled Calves, Grazing and Feeding Cattle 18th May 2015 ‐ Special 'Growing Season' sale of Store Cattle from surrounding regions 15th June 2015 ‐ Darlington Light Nights Special Sale of Store and Breeding Cattle 27th June 2015 – Summer Sale of Tractors, Implements and Farm Machinery 31st August 2015 ‐ Special Bank Holiday Bonanza Sale of Store Cattle 14th September 2015 ‐ First Annual Sale of Rams and Ram Lambs 21st September 2015 ‐ Special 'Early Autumn' Show and Sale of Suckled Calves and Store Cattle 22nd September ‐ Great Annual Show and Sale of Top Mule and Other Breed Gimmer Lambs along with Shearlings, Breeding Ewes and Store Lambs 3rd October 2015 – Autumn Sale of Tractors, Implements and Farm Machinery 5th October 2015 ‐ 2nd Annual Sale of Rams and Ram Lambs 6th October 2015 ‐ Second Special Sale of Breeding Sheep and Ewe Lambs 26th October 2015 ‐ Great Annual Show and Sale of Suckled Calves and Store Cattle from Surrounding Dales and Regions 16th November 2015 ‐ Special Backend Prize Show and Sale of Suckled Calves and Store Cattle 7th December 2015 ‐ Annual Advent Show and Sale of Late Born Suckled Calves and Store Cattle Britain’s Sexiest Farmer Josh Knaggs is one of Darlington Marts local farmers Son, he has been shortlisted as one of Britain’s Sexiest Farmers. Josh regularly attends Darlington Mart buying and selling his own Livestock. Don’t Forget to Vote for Josh Knaggs http://www.fwi.co.uk/farm‐life/britains‐sexiest‐farmer