Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

Two weather related thoughts to start the report, firstly the equivalent market last year was the day when the temperatures reached 37 degrees and cattle vendors were asked to bring their stock the following week.

On another note, last Saturday was St Swithens day and it rained, if folklore is to be believed we might see rain for the next 40 days and 40 nights.

All cheerful stuff which did not deter farmers from bringing decent entries of stock to Bakewell where 622 cattle and 1,021 sheep were on sale.

Store & Breeding cattle numbers have picked up somewhat and there were 331 head on offer.  Trade was excellent with steers to £1,690 and heifers £1,590, feeding bulls topped at £1,470.

In the breeding section cows and calves reached £1,920 and stock bulls £3,000.

In the finished cattle section numbers were good, however, prices were back a bit, but the best still sold to 334p and £2,072 per head.

The average for the 62 heifers was 257.1p a shade less than last week.

OTM numbers were down at 90 in total and prices also back a little.  Top figures 231p and £2,240 per head the average emerged at 166.1 pence.

48 calves this week and very much in demand with both bulls and heifers topping at £370.

Over in the sheep section numbers were steady with 717 lambs forward.  The best on offer to 328p and £157.86.

The SQQ average at 284.2 pence little changed from last week’s 283.3 pence.

322 cull sheep on offer with ewes to £160 to average £112.55.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 20^th July: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Friday 21st July: Farm Sale at Sheldon

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ALL STORE CATTLE VENDORS

In order to assist with the TB rule changes, please make sure you tick the relevant parish TB testing box on your entry form.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For Store Cattle purchasers.

Please note the following letter from DEFRA which some of you will have received.

The new rules which come into effect on 1^st August will affect buyers who farm in annual surveillance testing parts of the Edge Area

I am still seeking clarification of the details of these new rules and will have more information by next week.

If you wish to discuss the implications of these new rules, please give me a call on 07973 982441.

Thank you

Alastair Sneddon

90 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows overall average 166.1p/kg or £1079.43

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)                    

A few less on offer after many weeks of more than we have expected.  Trade has finally succumbed to the pressure being put on it by the deadweight drops with the average 11 pence less on the week.  Just 5 cows today topped £2/kg with OTM clean heifer from Chris Hall, Alton at 231 and 226p with the top cow being a 10-year-old Hereford from Michael Wynne sold at 211p (£1578)

Results:

Gross Prices:

53 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 161.4p/kg

Possibly not that much less with a higher percentage of B/W’s in today’s sale and possibly look the best sold of the cows today.

Best cows 180-199p

Big Holsteins 170-180p

Smaller Parlour Cows 150-165p

Plain Cows under 150p

The best today:

2 OTM Bulls

6 OTM Steers

153 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 248.4p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

A bumper entry of cattle again with a few extra vendors trying a few cattle live instead of taking the punishment elsewhere.  Trade generally a little easier, although the top prices are more than last week for bulls (295p), steers (316p) and heifers (334p).

42 Young Bulls ave 237.1p/kg

Certainly not the most glamorous average ever but good strong competitive bidding throughout, but at lower levels than we have seen.  Alan Maier had a lovely trio of pure Lims at 295, 291 and 270p with another trio from the Wells family at 280,275 and 274p.  Big B/W’s sold to 216p (£1408).

Results:

Gross Prices:

49 Steers ave 247.3p/kg

Good cattle see little change in value but the second and particularly third quality are less money.  Tom and Jack Gratton pulled a couple out of the show pens and topped the steers at 316p for a lovely black Limmy with Paul Hazledine also getting to the fabled £3/kg mark.  12 natives had Hereford to 272p with dairy steers to 233p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

62 Heifers ave 257.15p/kg

A good turnout for the heifers and some outstanding quality from start to finish, but also a number of ordinary cattle that had an effect on the averages.  2 super heifers at the top today, fit to grace any commercial show ring and sold for the 2 top prices of the day.  The gold medal goes to James Hodgkinson at 334p with the silver medal for the Gratton boys at 333p.  Two from Alan Maier made 324 and 318p with Peter Gaunt at 314 and 307p.  10 natives sold to 382 for a Hereford.

Results:

Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

A good solid trade for the 331 head on offer with no sign of reduced finished cattle returns affecting prices.

The sale commenced with a selection of Breeding Cattle.

Prices as follows:

Cows & Calves

In Calvers

Stock Bull

30 Feeding Bulls

Sample prices as follows:

139 Steers ave £995

Some good specimens in the entry hence the near thousand pound average.  A full line up of buyers and a strong trade throughout the sale.

As usual Angus & Herefords had a strong following and Black & Whites also sold very well as is normally the case at Bakewell.

Sample Results:

131 Heifers ave £935

A decent selection with a good trade and buoyant prices.  Plenty of buyers operating for grazing, finishing and for suckler replacements.

Sample Results:

48 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

An improved entry with no let up in the trade with all types looking particularly well sold.

Palfreymans at Flagg topped the day with B Blue bulls to £370 and a heifer also at the same money.

Black & Whites up a gear today for a nice sample with the best of these to a top of £180.

Bulls

B Blue                 £370     TN Palfreyman, Flagg

B Blue                 £345     F Mycock & Sons, Wormhill

Lim                      £295     SG Potter, Bonsall

Hfd                       £288     AP Critchlow, Wheston

Fries                    £180     C Shirt, Over Haddon

Hfrs

B Blue                 £370     TN Palfreyman, Flagg

B Blue                 £355     AE & E Bowler, Shottle

Lim                      £230     GHW Dakin, Snitterton

759 Lambs & 322 Ewes & Rams (Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A smaller entry of 1081 sheep included 717 new season lambs.  Demand very brisk for meated well finished heavier lambs.  Best butchers lambs sold to 328p/kg, heavy butchers lambs to 318p/kg and overweight lambs to 296p/kg.  Best heavy lambs grossed £157.86/head.

The runs of well fleshed creep fed lambs very well bid for with a run of 62 Texels from one farm averaging 306p/kg or £138/head.  19 big Texel lambs average 312p/kg and £148/head and 16 Suffolk x Mules averaged 292p/kg or £138/head.  Overall market average 285.95p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

Old Season Lambs to 248p/kg ave 231.3p/kg

322 Cull Sheep

A total of 322 cull ewes and rams saw demand increased for all types.  Charollais ewes to £160, Texel to £145, Suffolk to £140 and heavy Mules in the £100-£120 bracket.  Some excellent rams on offer saw Texel to £178 and £164.

Ewes to £160                Ave £112.55

Rams to £178               Ave £160.64