LiveStockEx

LiveStockEx is building the UK's first digital exchange for livestock trading, applying the logic of financial markets — electronic order books, real-time price discovery, and transparent settlement — to an industry that has operated through physical open-outcry auctions since the nineteenth century. The platform was conceived by Murray Roos, former head of capital markets at the London Stock Exchange Group, after he acquired a farm in East Sussex and experienced first-hand the inefficiency and opacity of traditional cattle auctions.

The web and app-based platform allows farmers to list cattle with full specifications including breed, weight, and a proprietary quality index generated by algorithms. Verified buyers — abattoirs, processors, wholesale butchers, and larger farms — can browse inventory, place bids, and complete transactions in real time. The platform integrates directly with the UK Cattle Tracing System (CTS), automating the Defra compliance reporting that farmers must complete within 36 hours of any livestock movement. Payment is processed instantly on delivery, with LiveStockEx mediating disputes. The commission model charges a flat 2% per transaction, compared to significantly higher costs at traditional live marts.

LiveStockEx raised £1M in seed funding in early 2025, completing the round in just two days. Beyond cost reduction, the platform reduces food miles by enabling direct farm-to-buyer transport, lowers biosecurity risks by eliminating the co-mingling of herds at auction, and improves provenance traceability throughout the meat supply chain. The company is also exploring international expansion and forward contract capabilities for farmers planning future sales.