Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market
Bakewell Market Report 2024-04-08
Back to normal after the Easter Bank Holiday break with 818 cattle and 1,637 sheep on offer.
After another rainy week, ground conditions are obviously causing concern for those wishing to plant crops and turn cattle out, and there is still more rain forecast for the next few days.
The Store & Breeding cattle section was well supported with 524 on offer and a total clearance effected.
Trade very slightly less than we have seen it over weeks. Steers reached £1,810, heifers £1,460 and feeding bulls £1,220. Some warm dry weather could make all the difference.
An excellent turnout of 149 finished cattle saw prices just a shade easier with top figures 345p and £2,377. Our usual barometer of trade the average for the 77 heifers looked healthy at 289.3p and £1,761 per head.
And whilst the finished cattle were a shade less the 105 OTM cattle were dearer selling to 257p and £2,045 with the average looking particularly strong at 187.7 pence.
37 Calves on offer with bulls to £460 and heifers £380.
In the sheep section there were 71 Spring lambs forward selling to 600p/kg to average 507.9p and reach £228 per head.
The 1,191 hoggs sold on a solid trade with the price back on the week, but still offering a decent return at up to 440p/kg and £237.35 per head. The SQQ average settled at 366.1 pence.
366 cull sheep with ewes to £178 to average £108.77.
2 sheep were sold for charity and were very generously bid for raising £3,100 for the Children with Cancer Charity. Full details in the sheep report.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
Thursday 11th April: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale
Friday 12th April: Farm Sale at Overfield Farm, Tissington
Friday 19th April: Darley Moor Collective Machinery Sale
Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon
Senior partner
Livestock, auctioneering and professional services
105 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall average 187.7p/kg or £1293
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
Good numbers although I expected a few more after a short entry last week due to the Bank Holiday. Trade very sharp throughout with all the regulars keen to secure cattle and one of the best trades we have seen this year to date. When trade is on the move, the best way to make the most of your cows is to market them on their legs and preferably in Bakewell Market. Top today was an OTM Limmy heifer at 257p from Paul Willmott, Ashover with best cows being pure blues from TJ & EA Richardson at 255p (£2045) and 254p (£1971). Best bred cows comfortably over 200p with a lot of feeding cows today that were well bid for by the farmers at ringside.
Results:
257p/kg | 550kg | Lim | GE Willmott & Son, Ashover |
255p/kg | 802kg | B Blue x | TJ & EA Richardson, Yeaveley |
254p/kg | 776kg | B Blue x | TJ & EA Richardson, Yeaveley |
238p/kg | 596kg | Sim | G & GE Read, Over Peover |
232p/kg | 700kg | Lim | RM Hardy, Cauldon Low |
230p/kg | 722kg | Lim | BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor |
230p/kg | 654kg | Lim | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
228p/kg | 560kg | Lim | GE Willmott & Son, Ashover |
226p/kg | 822kg | Lim | J & J Mellor & Son, Kniveton |
226p/kg | 594kg | Lim | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
224p/kg | 908kg | Lim | S & CM Jones, Belper |
216p/kg | 708kg | Hfd | C & FM Percival, Youlgreave |
214p/kg | 848kg | Sim | BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor |
214p/kg | 618kg | B Blue x | NC Gregory, Blackwell |
Gross Prices:
£2045.10 | 802kg | B Blue x | TJ & EA Richardson, Yeaveley |
£2033.92 | 908kg | Lim | S & CM Jones, Belper |
£1971.04 | 776kg | B Blue x | TJ & EA Richardson, Yeaveley |
£1857.72 | 822kg | Lim | J & J Mellor & Son, Kniveton |
£1814.72 | 848kg | Sim | BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor |
£1689.12 | 782kg | Blonde x | BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor |
£1660.60 | 722kg | Lim | BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor |
£1624.00 | 700kg | Lim | RM Hardy, Cauldon Low |
£1589.50 | 850kg | Devon | GA & SM Waterhouse, High Peak |
£1563.10 | 770kg | Hfd | C & FM Percival, Youlgreave |
£1562.52 | 898kg | Hfd | E Spencer, Kirk Langley |
£1504.20 | 654kg | Lim | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
£1478.64 | 732kg | Lim | WH Burgess & Son, High Peak |
41 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 168.8p/kg
Dearer again with the averages up for the goods on offer.
2 OTM heifers 215-225p
10 better fed cows 180-191p
Big Holsteins with meat 170-180p
Smaller parlour style cows 150-165p
Plainest end 130-150p
The best today:
225p/kg | £1467 | Fries, 32 mnths | GV Matkin, Kirk Ireton |
215p/kg | £1522 | Fries, 31 mnths | L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest |
191p/kg | £1531 | Fries, 6 yrs | C Beever, Alport |
190p/kg | £1466 | Holst, 6 yrs | RE Archer Farms, Bradley |
190p/kg | £1459 | Fries, 4 yrs | L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest |
189p/kg | £1368 | Ayr, 4 yrs | D & JK Mellor, Onecote |
188p/kg | £1319 | Fries, 7 yrs | RE Archer Farms, Bradley |
187p/kg | £1159 | Fries, 9 yrs | R Brough & Son, Monyash |
187p/kg | £1193 | Fries, 3 yrs | L Hadfield & Sons, Peak Forest |
183p/kg | £1270 | Ayr, 4 yrs | JD & B Broadley & Sons, Hartington |
182p/kg | £1386 | Holst, 7 yrs | D & JK Mellor, Onecote |
180p/kg | £1166 | Holst, 6 yrs | JP Wayne, Ible |
8 OTM Bulls
223p/kg | £1980 | B Blue, 4 yrs | B Langton, Belper |
198p/kg | £1904 | Blonde, 6 yrs | CE & SW Mycock, Flagg |
186p/kg | £1551 | Fries, 4 yrs | JF Sayles, Park Head |
5 OTM Steers
240p/kg | £1732 | Devon | E Spencer, Kirk Langley |
228p/kg | £1390 | Hfd | EA Gagie, Uttoxeter |
225p/kg | £1885 | Holst | RW Ardern, Buxton |
Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles
Market Associate
149 FINISHED CATTLE ave 276.1p/kg
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
Very good numbers again a full complement of buyers keen to fill their wagons. Trade the whole very similar, although a few cattle would look 2 or 3 pence less money in general.
19 Young Bulls ave 250.6p/kg
Not as many as expected as some producers are between batches at present or concentrating on clean cattle. John Ottewell came up trumps with 2 weighted Blues at 296p (£2296) and 283p (£2377) with the best of the B/W’s to 230p.
Results:
296p/kg | 776kg | B Blue x | JT Ottewell, Calow |
290p/kg | 634kg | Lim | D & SE Edge, Pike Hall |
283p/kg | 840kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
270p/kg | 600kg | Lim | D & SE Edge, Pike Hall |
264p/kg | 550kg | Lim | P & E Watson, Ashover |
254p/kg | 588kg | Hfd | RR Mason & Son, Hulland |
Gross Prices:
£2377.20 | 840kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
£2296.96 | 776kg | B Blue x | JT Ottewell, Calow |
£1838.60 | 634kg | Lim | D & SE Edge, Pike Hall |
£1620.00 | 600kg | Lim | D & SE Edge, Pike Hall |
£1590.00 | 636kg | B Blue x | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
£1576.24 | 646kg | Others | P & E Watson, Ashover |
53 Steers ave 266.9p/kg
A solid trade, but a few more natives and B/W’s on offer today that had their effect on the average. Best suckler bred quality topped at 328p for a Blue from Don Lownds with Mark Sweetmore at 320p. 15 Natives saw Angus to 288p and Hereford to 300p and 8 B/W’s had Fleckv to 248p, Friesians to 239 and Holsteins to 232p.
Results:
328p/kg | 648kg | B Blue x | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
320p/kg | 660kg | Lim | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
316p/kg | 660kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
312p/kg | 638kg | Lim | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
304p/kg | 722kg | Blonde x | C & D Jeffery, Pilsley |
304p/kg | 634kg | Lim | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
302p/kg | 574kg | Lim | Redgate Farms, Brinsley |
302p/kg | 602kg | Lim | Mallaber Partners, Drakelow |
Gross Prices:
£2194.88 | 722kg | Blonde x | C & D Jeffery, Pilsley |
£2187.00 | 810kg | Lim | C & D Jeffery, Pilsley |
£2175.40 | 730kg | Lim | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
£2155.94 | 746kg | Lim | JA Mosley & Sons, Stannington |
£2125.44 | 648kg | B Blue x | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
£2112.00 | 660kg | Lim | MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale |
£2085.60 | 660kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2084.88 | 714kg | Others | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
£2039.04 | 708kg | AA | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
£2031.84 | 816kg | Lim | Moor Farmers, Flagg |
77 Heifers ave 289.3p/kg
A tremendous good entry and some excellent quality at the top end but plenty of weight about today and plenty of natives which always seem to do well at Bakewell. Superstar quality from Peter Gaunt who won the race to the top of the pile at 345p (£2180) with 7 others from various vendors at 330p and above. Angus to 288p and Longhorn x to 285p.
Results:
345p/kg | 632kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Sons, Dronfield |
338p/kg | 596kg | Blonde x | MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale |
337p/kg | 668kg | B Blue x | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
332p/kg | 602kg | Lim | P Brennand, Little Hayfield |
330p/kg | 646kg | B Blue x | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
330p/kg | 588kg | Lim | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
330p/kg | 630kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
330p/kg | 598kg | Lim | K Harrop, Alport |
328p/kg | 622kg | Lim | K Harrop, Alport |
327p/kg | 630kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
326p/kg | 694kg | B Blue x | K Harrop, Alport |
326p/kg | 558kg | B Blue x | CM Wint, Stoke on Trent |
324p/kg | 540kg | Lim | NA Birch, Monyash |
Gross Prices:
£2262.44 | 694kg | B Blue x | K Harrop, Alport |
£2251.16 | 668kg | B Blue x | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
£2180.40 | 632kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2173.50 | 690kg | Blonde x | C & D Jeffery, Pilsley |
£2172.00 | 724kg | Blonde x | K Harrop, Alport |
£2155.12 | 682kg | B Blue x | K Harrop, Alport |
£2131.80 | 646kg | B Blue x | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2112.00 | 660kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2079.28 | 658kg | Char | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
£2079.00 | 630kg | Lim | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2073.50 | 650kg | Blonde x | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2067.20 | 646kg | Char | NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield |
£2064.60 | 666kg | Lim | H & G Hollinshead, Lichfield |
Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles
Market Associate
STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneers Alastair Sneddon & Meg Elliott)
An excellent entry of 527 head sold on a solid trade with demand remaining firm from start to finish.
All this in the face of miserable weather and ground conditions.
Worries about arable cropping, the cost of straw and little prospect of turning stock out in many areas just took the edge off demand, but although buyers tried to buy them less the auctioneers both reported that eventual prices were very little lower.
The figures below will confirm this.
23 Feeding Bulls with sample prices as follows:
£960 | S Horn x | 10-12 mnths | CJ Mallaber, Drakelow |
£1100 | Blonde x | 12 mnths | A Brown & Son, Bonsall |
£1220 | B Blue x | 20 mnths | JA Sowter, South Wingfield |
£840 | Lim x | 8-9 mnths | Garlick Partners, Kettleshulme |
£850 | Blonde | 6 mnths | FW Hawksworth, Ashover |
£705 | Sim | 9 mnths | JC Shepherd, Dungworth |
282 Steers ave £1,013
A good selection with buyers present for all types. Angus & Hereford just as popular and some continental crosses lifting the highlights. Enormous price variation between the best and the worst in any particular category make valuation very difficult. The only way to be certain of the price is when the hammer falls.
Sample Results:
£880 | Dev | 12 mnths | Mrs E Spencer, Kirk Langley |
£990 | Lim x | 8 mnths | B Higginson, Rushton |
£1060 | Blonde x | 7-9 mnths | JT Cantrell, Macc Forest |
£1070 | Lim x | 11 mnths | JJ Turner, Okeover |
£870 | Lim x | 7-8 mnths | PG Kirkham, Hognaston |
£750 | Wagyu | 9 mnths | PA Hall, Mercaston |
£770 | Lim x | 9-14 mnths | PA Hall, Mercaston |
£1050 | Lim x | 10 mnths | Conway & Mellor, Pike Hall |
£1050 | Hfd x | 10 mnths | Miss N Beardsley, Muggington |
£1300 | B Blue x | 11 mnths | W Frith, Ashbourne |
£1140 | Lim x | 10 mnths | B Chadwick, Onecote |
£950 | B Blue x | 10-15 mnths | T Neville, Tansley |
£875 | AA x | 11-12 mnths | P Hill & Co, Rosliston |
£990 | Sim x | 12-14 mnths | JC Shepherd, Dungworth |
£820 | Lim x | 9-10 mnths | JW & AJ Dakin, Smalley |
£1075 | Char x | 10-11 mnths | CS Edge, Ballidon |
£990 | Saler x | 9-13 mnths | CS Edge, Ballidon |
£1400 | Blonde x | 11 mnths | TJ & MR Gould, Sheen |
£1120 | Blonde x | 12 mnths | FW Halksworth, Ashover |
£900 | Hfd x | 12-15 mnths | LA & H Burtonshaw, Middleton |
£1580 | Char x | 13 mnths | P Thickitt, Rotherham |
£1080 | AA x | 14-15 mnths | CV Whilock, Ipstones |
£1000 | Char x | 13-16 mnths | Riverside Farmers, Scropton |
£1620 | Lim x | 15 mnths | R Gratton, Ashwood Dale |
£1000 | B Blue x | 13 mnths | H Young, Peak Forest |
£1385 | B Blue x | 17 mnths | A & DJ Gregory, Litton |
£1180 | AA x | 21 mnths | C Whalley, Quarnford |
£940 | Hfd x | 16-17 mnths | Green Dales, Alderwasley |
£1170 | Sim x | 20 mnths | Mrs NC Gregory, Blackwell |
£1100 | B Blue x | 20-22 mnths | Mrs NC Gregory, Blackwell |
£1210 | Lim x | 19-21 mnths | SL Seabridge, Sandon |
£1100 | Hfd x | 19 mnths | JP & SL Hotchin, Parwich |
£1320 | AA x | 20 mnths | WB Moss, Rainow |
£1440 | B Blue x | 19-20 mnths | WB Moss, Rainow |
£1670 | Lim x | 19 mnths | JP Austin, Parwich |
£1465 | AA x | 23 mnths | JW Oakes, Bolehill |
£1810 | B Blue x | 20 mnths | CE Cowan, Belper |
£1220 | Hfd x | 24 mnths | SM Fletcher, Heathcote |
£1235 | AA x | 18-21 mnths | Leasows Partners, Uttoxeter |
£1245 | B Blue x | 20 mnths | PJ Harrison, Taddington |
£1350 | B Blue x | 22 mnths | JD & GR Follows, Dalbury Lees |
£1800 | Sim x | 23 mnths | DJ Hoult, Barton |
£1640 | Hfd x | 21 mnths | D Housley, Elton |
£1330 | Holst | 25 mnths | WJ Heathcote, Grange Mill |
£1545 | Lim x | 24 mnths | JA Mosley & Son, Stannington |
215 Heifers ave £907
A very mixed entry with prices ranging from £130 to £1,460, but regardless of age, breed or quality there was a customer.
The following prices indicate the level of demand.
Sample Results:
£870 | Blonde x | 6-7 mnths | C Nash, Dayhills |
£910 | Lim x | 21 mnths | B Higginson, Rushton |
£820 | Blonde x | 7 mnths | JT Cantrell, Macc Forest |
£1070 | B Blue x | 11 mnths | JJ Turner, Okeover |
£1060 | Lim x | 10 mnths | Conway & Mellor, Pike Hall |
£820 | Hfd x | 10 mnths | Miss N Beardsley, Muggington |
£1030 | Lim x | 11 mnths | B Chadwick, Onecote |
£800 | Lim x | 10-11 mnths | A Foster, Whaley Bridge |
£1400 | Char | 10 mnths | Mrs MJ Greener, Worksop |
£830 | Lim x | 9-10 mnths | S Lynam Whatstandwell |
£1360 | Lim x | 22 mnths | PW Lomas, Flagg |
£750 | S Horn x | 9-12 mnths | Mallaber Partners, Drakelow |
£650 | Hfd | 10-11 mnths | C Wild, Marple |
£1420 | Blonde x | 11 mnths | TJ & MR Gould, Sheen |
£1360 | Lim x | 14 mnths | RA & CW Bentley, Church Broughton |
£780 | Hfd x | 11-13 mnths | LA & H Burtonshaw, Middleton |
£1090 | Char x | 12-13 mnths | P Thickitt, Rotherham |
£870 | AA x | 14-15 mnths | CV Whilock, Ipstones |
£1080 | B Blue x | 14 mnths | H Young, Peak Forest |
£930 | Lim x | 15-16 mnths | HG Wild, Chinley |
£1220 | Lim x | 15-16 mnths | A & DJ Gregory, Litton |
£1250 | Char x | 16 mnths | A & DJ Gregory, Litton |
£960 | Hfd x | 17 mnths | Greendales, Alderwasley |
£1330 | B Blue x | 25 mnths | PG & AD Godber, Kimberley |
£1260 | Lim x | 18-20 mnths | DV Holland, Blore |
£1280 | B Blue x | 19-21 mnths | Mrs NC Gregory, Blackwell |
£1180 | Sim | 21 mnths | Mrs NC Gregory, Blackwell |
£1100 | Hfd x | 17 mnths | JP & SL Hotchin, Parwich |
£1220 | Lim x | 21-22 mnths | C Matthews, Castleton |
£1460 | AA x | 20 mnths | CE Cowan, Belper |
£1380 | Lim x | 22 mnths | AP Pugh, Pilsley |
£1340 | B Blue x | 23-25 mnths | JD & GR Follows, Dalbury Lees |
£1380 | Lim x | 31 mnths | T Brooks, Rolleston |
Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon
Senior partner
Livestock, auctioneering and professional services

Meg Elliott
Auctioneer and Valuer, Market Associate
37 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)
Some excellent quality in the entry with a packed ringside of potential purchasers.
A smart B Blue Bull easily topped proceedings creating plenty of interest to top at £460 with others to £360 and £355.
A blue heifer from the same home peaked at £380 with others at £335 and £330.
Only a small entry of Black & White’s with a strong trade to £90.
Bulls
B Blue £460 TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg
B Blue £360 GH Grass Conventors, Congleton
B Blue £355 GH Grass Conventors, Congleton
Sim £310 O Pilkington & Sons, Mayfield
Hfd £210 T & CJ Hadfield, Wheston
Holst £90 K Trickett, Rowsley
Hfrs
B Blue £380 TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg
Auctioneer:

Ivor Lowe
Partner
Property and professional services
£3,100 RAISED FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER
2 sheep donated by Andrew & Katie Healey were sold to raise money for Children with Cancer, Katie’s chosen charity for her London Marathon run, raised a total of £3,100. A Texel x ewe hogg realised £500 with a Texel barren ewe sold for £520 a re-sold a further 7 times.
We wish Katie all the best in running the marathon in 2 weeks time.
1263 LAMBS, 366 EWES & RAMS & 2 STORE SHEEP
(Auctioneers Peter Oven & Mark Elliott)
A very good entry of 1631 sheep included 71 new season lambs and 1192 old season lambs. The demand for the new season lambs very brisk with a top of 600p/kg for lighter weight sorts and 570p/kg for the heavier types. Top gross of £228/head and overall average 507.96p/kg.
Leading Prices: –
34.6kg | 585p/kg | R Brough & Sons |
35.3kg | 600p/kg | Near Barn Buildings |
36.7kg | 585p/kg | Near Barn Buildings |
38.7kg | 548p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
39.0kg | 538p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
40.0kg | 570p/kg | R Brough & Sons |
41.0kg | 548p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
44.0kg | 450p/kg | JA Wootton |
Averages:
Light | To 585p/kg | |
Standard | To 600p/kg | Average 531.27p/kg |
Medium | To 570p/kg | Average 478.76p/kg |
Old Season Lambs
In the old season lambs a total of 1192 forward still very much in demand despite some buyers not forward as they were preparing for Ramadan. Best meated butchers lambs sold to 416p/kg with heavy weight butchers lambs to 440p/kg and overweights to 339p/kg with a top gross of £237.35/head with an average of £166/head. The overall market average 366.16p/kg.
Leading Prices: –
37.1kg | 392p/kg | GH & PG Mallott |
38.33kg | 382p/kg | GH & PG Mallott |
40.8kg | 416p/kg | R Challinor |
41.6kg | 400p/kg | R Challinor |
42.58kg | 410p/kg | J & J Spillane |
43.9kg | 410p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
44.1kg | 400p/kg | MN Pickford |
45.4kg | 402p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
46.2kg | 438p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
47.09kg | 416p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
48.0kg | 438p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
49.4kg | 440p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
51.0kg | 398p/kg | MN Pickford |
52.6kg | 386p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
54.0kg | 399p/kg | P Langton |
63.0kg | 370p/kg | AK Belfield |
Averages:
Standard | To 392p/kg | Average 335.13p/kg |
Medium | To 416p/kg | Average 373.1p/kg |
Heavy | To 440p/kg | Average 375.69p/kg |
Overweight | To 399p/kg | Average 340.09p/kg |
366 Cull Sheep
A very good show of 366 cull ewes and rams saw a mixed trade with the very best sorts a slightly easier trade, but the rest still looked as dear as recent weeks. Best Texels to £178, heavy Mules in the £110-£130 bracket and heavy horned ewes to £70.
Ewes to £178 Ave £108.76
Rams to £158 Ave £108.87
Auctioneer:

Peter Oven
Market Associate

Mark Elliott
Partner
Farm and dispersal sales, livestock auctioneer