The BSE crisis has been blamed for the closure of Chelmsford's historic cattle market.
Operators Whirledge and Nott stopped trading as livestock auctioneers at the A12 market on Friday due to falling numbers of stock since the Government announcement on BSE in March 1996.
For the past three years the market has been struggling to survive and the company has decided to concentrate on its surveying, agricultural and auctioning businesses.
Director Tom Whirledge said: "We had hoped the throughput of stock would recover, but after three years we have drawn the conclusion the present trend will not change for the foreseeable future."
Many livestock farmers in the county will now go to Colchester, which will put on an additional Friday market.
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