Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

Another warm one though thankfully not as hot as last week.

Stock numbers low with only 488 cattle and 892 sheep on offer.

The finished cattle trade much better than last week and lamb prices holding their own.

A respectable entry of 256 store & breeding cattle had attracted a full line up of buyers resulting in a cracking trade from start to finish.

An early highlight was a Pedigree Limousin Stock Bull from JA Nicholls of Wetley Rocks which sold at a highly satisfactory £6,000.

Steers hit £2,500 to average £1,445 and heifers reached £2,320 to average £1,497, remarkable results for a selection which included a good many small and young cattle.

We repeat last week’s message……if you have store & breeding cattle to sell, we have buyers who would like to bid at them.  Ring Alastair Sneddon on 07973 982441 anytime.

104 finished cattle this week with trade up some 10 to 15 pence in most cases.

Top figures 468p/kg and £2,837 per head.

The average for the 50 heifers was 353.0p – up 17 pence on the week.

OTM cattle still in short supply with only 77 on offer.  Top figures 323p/kg and £2,784.  The average was a solid 248.9p or £1,659 per head.

50 calves this week with trade just as strong, bulls to £870 and heifers to £760.

In the sheep department there was a decent entry of 648 lambs which sold on a strong trade for the time of year.

Top figures 465p/kg and £213.04 per head.

The SQQ average was 415.8 pence making a typical lamb in the 39-45kg bracket worth £176.90.

A few more cull sheep forward with 234 on offer. Ewes sold to £268 to average £176.76.

DISEASE PRECAUTIONS

The authorities have asked us to pass on the message to everyone to be vigilant with regard to Bio Security.

May we respectfully ask that you use the footbaths and boot wash in order to reduce the risk

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Forthcoming Fixtures

Thursday 2^nd July – Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Please note we have updated our policies regarding the unloading and loading livestock:

• Vendors/Hauliers are responsible for livestock until safely loaded onto the docks. It is the Vendor/Hauliers responsibility to chain and secure gates.

• Once unloaded, all livestock movements are under the direction and control of the Market Drovers.

• Vendors may assist with livestock movement at the discretion of the Drovers.

• Any assistance is voluntary, undertaken at the vendors own risk and must be in accordance with Drover instruction.

• We advise that Purchasers/Hauliers seek Drover assistance prior to loading cattle/sheep.

• If Purchasers/Hauliers choose to load livestock without Drover assistance, they do so voluntarily and at their own risk.

• It is the Purchasers/Hauliers responsibility to chain and secure gates.

• Please ensure that pass-out documentation matches animal identification prior to loading.

77 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 248.9 pence or £1659

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Numbers fairly consistent with just one less than last week and trade strong and 2-5 pence better on the week.  Obviously, cows are short nationally and trade is strong so the best way to market them is on their legs in Bakewell Market.  Top call today was 323p for a 31 mnth old Limousin from Andrew & Rachel Mycock, Flagg with the best cow at 314p for a 13yo Blue from Katie Simpson, Bradwell.

Better end 270p plus.

Results:

Gross Prices:

47 Black & Whites averaged 227p/kg

The best today

1 30 mnth, 1 calf272p

Better cows 240-263p

Big Holsteins 230-240p

Parlour Cows 210-220p

Plainest end under £2

ARLA COWS – FROM 1^ST JULY 2026

Arla producers on the Arla Welfare Pro and Welfare Pro + Grazing contracts who have previously been unable to market your cows in Bakewell can now do so, subject to certain criteria.  If you need any further information, please give me a call on 07801 530899.

The best today:

4 OTM Bulls

6 OTM Steers

135 FINISHED CATTLE Ave 341.5p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

GOOD NEWS! MORE BUYERS – BETTER TRADE

I try not to get too carried away as we had a shorter entry and some good quality about but all grades and classes better on the week with a 10 pence lift in the averages.

29 Bulls Ave 318.2p

Good to sell with a couple of best over £4 and a high of 404p for a posh suckler bred Lim from the Wells family.  Dairy bred Angus to 333p and 9 B/W’s to 329p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

25 Steers Ave 345.7p/kg – up 16 pence

Only a few today but trade very strong for the best as well as the dairy bred blues and natives.  The Wells family topped at 435p with their only Lim x to gross £2757 with Ben Langton at 412p and Phil & Emma Watson at 410p.  9 Natives saw Angus sold to 370p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

50 Heifers Ave 353.1p/kg – up 14 pence

The true barometer of trade looks 14 pence on the week and they certainly felt it.  The top prices look amazing and as dear as they have ever been.  468 pence for a lovely sweet and shapey Limmy x from Ben Langton with 461 for Colin Preece, 456p for Josh Hall and 440p for Charlotte, Hadfield, clearly the butchers were working hard for best shapes with weight from Nick Hollinshead at 415p or £2714.  14 Natives saw Angus to 378p for Clive Bacon.

Results:

Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneers Alastair Sneddon & Meg Elliott)

A seasonal entry of 256 sold on a great trade.

Demand is such that we could certainly sell a good many more if they were available.

If you are thinking about selling store cattle and require marketing advice – do not hesitate to give us a call.

The sale started with a few breeding stock which included a ped Lim stock bull, 29 mnths which sold at £6000 the vendor being JA Nicholls of Wetley Rocks.

Other breeding cattle included:

Feeding cows sold from £1480 to £1840.

14 Feeding Bulls

129 Steers Averaged £1445

Strong trade from start to finish with quite a number of small and young cattle at the start of the sale all finding a ready market.

Stronger short keep cattle looking very well sold especially in light of the recent finished cattle results.

Sample Results:

98 Heifers average £1497

An outstanding trade for all sorts and sizes.  Plenty of demand at all price points.

Sample Results:

50 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe & Tash Hall)

A similar quality of entered calves to last week with a packed ringside of buyers.  Bulls to top at £870 for a British Blue from TD & PD Hardy, heifers topped at £760 for a British Blue from the same vendor.

Bulls

B Blue                 £870     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

B Blue                 £815     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

B Blue                 £800     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

Blond x               £790     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

Lim                      £755     SG Potter

B Blue                 £745     GW & WL Neville

Hfrs

B Blue                 £760     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

B Blue                 £650     GW & WL Neville

Blond x               £620     TD & PD Hardy Ltd

Sim                      £430     G Matkin

658 Lambs &234 Ewes & Rams

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A total entry of 892 head of sheep included 648 new season lambs.  Demand up on last week with a top of 465p/kg and top gross of £213/head.

Overall average 418.07p/kg.

Leading Prices

Averages

Old Season Lambs to 382p/k ave 328.19p/kg

234 Ewes & Rams

Auctioneers Mark Elliott & Holly Swift

A slight reduction in the midlands temperature weather wise but the ewe trade still as hot

Spirited bidding for all sections but some of the smaller types look dearest on the day.

Top price £268 for continentals with the Heath family at Hazelwood receiving £255 for very strong bodied Texel crosses.  Best Mules over £168 with many groups of heavier ewes including Suffolks £200 and above.

The best 8 lots averaged exactly £250.75.

Better horned types towards £120 with thick meat but not the biggest frames.

A lot of buyers out for cull tups and the Brown family topping at £290.

225 Ewes ave £176.76

9 Rams ave £192.67