Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

The recent rain seems to have concentrated minds with farmers clearly taking the decision to sell stock.  The market was busy with 905 cattle and 2,586 sheep on offer.

There was another large entry of 474 store and breeding cattle and as ever ‘back end always comes’ with fewer top-quality types on offer and rather more weathered cattle in the selection.

In overall terms trade was little different from last week with steers to £1,540, heifers £1,590 and feeding bulls £1,000.

There was a particularly large entry of 172 finished cattle and a superb trade to boot.  Top figures 354p/kg and £2,364 per head.

Just to show how strong the trade was the average for the 75 heifers was 273.4 pence and £1,597 per head.

OTM cattle were in abundance with a total of 175 on offer.  Top figures 226p/kg and £1,533 per head.

In general terms the trade was easier than last week with the average at 144.6 pence.

Rather more calves than usual with 84 on sale.  Bulls sold to £395 and heifers £230.

Over in the sheep department there was a good turnout of 2,038 lambs.  The best on offer sold at 315p and £149.82 per head, with the SQQ average emerging at 250.9 pence and the overall which included the heavier lambs at 251.6 pence.

There were 548 cull sheep on sale with ewes to £160 to average £85.53.

Thursday 2^nd November: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Friday 10^th November: Farm Sale at Park House Farm, Consall, Stoke on Trent

Friday 10^th November: Store Sheep Sale at Bakewell

175 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows overall average 144.6p/kg or £965

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)     

Very big numbers of cows this week from 70 different vendors from the Peak District and surrounding areas sold to a full line up of 18 buyers at ringside representing end users and further finishing yards.  A big number of cows at present are lean and in need of finishing and this can be done by the AFU feeding men at ringside.  347 leaner cows sold to 9 different feeding yards meaning there is strong competition for this commodity.  Cows today were a shade easier, with the average back about 7 pence on the week, with the men at the front line saying the cow meat is harder to sell and abattoirs concentrating on Christmas meat processing.  Top 2 cows today were Blondes from Messrs Brown, Bonsall at 226 and 220p both selling for feeding to farms to South Derbyshire and North Cambridgeshire.  Generally better cows 170-190p with Angus to 162p and Herefords to 176p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

73 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 135.7p/kg

The meat a little easier but the plainer end just as dear.

1 best heifer (29 mnths) 219p

3 more clean 162-175p

Best cows 149-159p

Big Holsteins 130-145p

Leaner, older parlour cows 118-125p

Only a few plain under 110p

The best today:

 4 OTM Bulls

172 FINISHED CATTLE ave 260.8p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Very large numbers in the prime cattle today with something for everyone today from the 63 vendors who sold cattle.

39 Young Bulls ave 235.1p/kg

Good numbers and the buyers are looking for numbers at present.  David Goddard had his usual good run with his best Limmy at 283p (£1981).  Nigel Birch had 280p and James Wardman 278p.  Heavyweights topped at £2440 (270p) for a Blue from Mark Sweetmore.  B/W’s to 203p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

58 Steers ave 262.9p/kg

Quality and weight again was the order of the day with some super cattle in the ranks and all well bid for.  Keith Hodgson won the day at 316p to gross £2256 for his posh Limmy with a run from Charlie Asher (TB Dalton) looking well sold at 315, 314 and 308p etc.  16 native saw Hereford to 260p, South Devon to 250p, Angus to 270p and Belted Galloway at 246p.  B/W’s sold to 219p twice.

Results:

Gross Prices:

75 Heifers ave 273.4p/kg 

Quality throughout and weight not an issue.  One of the very best heifers we have seen for a long time topped the market and sold to 254p or £2364 for a show Limmy from Keith Hodgson, Boston and purchased at ringside by Messrs Hartshead Meats at Manchester.  2 posh sorts from Micheal Wynne made 322 and 320p with all the better sorts North of 300p.  Natives had Herefords to 260, Angus to 262p, Beef Shorthorns to 264 and Belted Galloways at 237p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

Big numbers forward again with a total of 474 on offer and a total clearance effected.  Fewer quality cattle and more showing signs of recent weather.

Prices little different, with plenty of farmer buyers operating, especially for the younger cattle.

The sale commenced with a couple of cow & calf outfits selling at £1,190 and £1,135.

Next came some 39 Feeding Bulls, to include:

 246 Steers ave £935

A good selection and buyers present for all types.  Angus and Herefords in strong demand and Black & Whites very keenly sought.  There were fewer of the best on offer which depressed the average, but prices remain much the same as in recent weeks.

Sample Results:

180 Heifers ave £887

Quality slipping as Winter approaches.  A solid trade from start to finish with plenty of bidders operating and satisfactory prices obtained.

Sample Results:

84 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

An increase in numbers forward with better quality keenly sought after, but less quality meeting a more selective trade.

Best bulls saw a B Blue to £395 and heifers to £230 but a large proportion of smaller calves in the entry.

The Black & Whites a similar story with stronger sorts in demand to a top of £228, but the small sorts certainly back on last week’s trade.

Bulls

B Blue                 £395     L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest

B Blue                 £280     R Upton, Rowley Park

B Blue                 £250     AE & E Bowler, Shottle

Angus                 £195     WR & W Hayes, Pilsley

Sim                      £150     M Sellors, Grange Mill

Hfd                       £230     L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest

Hfrs

B Blue                 £230     L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest

Hfd                       £170     GJ Tideswell, Marchington

Saler                    £160     JF Hayes, Shottle

2055 Lambs & 563 Ewes & Rams (Auctioneer Peter Oven)

Another excellent entry of 2618 sheep included 2055 lambs.  Demand very brisk right from the start with best butchers lambs to 315p/kg and heavy butchers lambs to 281p/kg and top gross of £149.82/head.  The overall average 251.64p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

563 Cull Sheep

A slightly smaller entry of cull ewes and rams attracted brisk bidding with several grazing buyers operating.  Best Texels to £160 with the top 10 pens averaging £146.

Ewes to £160                Ave £86.61

Rams to £230                Ave £135.17