Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

A year on from the first lockdown, when It looked as though markets might have to close, it is pleasing to report that Auction Marts are continuing to provide a service and set prices at levels previously considered unimaginable.

Decent entries of stock again 1,481 Sheep and 656 Cattle.

The Store Cattle section mustered 441 head with trade just as strong as last week.

More cattle could have readily been sold, so if you have Store Cattle in test do not hesitate to book them in.

There was a shortage of the best this week, but there were still Steers to £1,300, Heifers to £1,150 and feeding Bulls £1,110.

Finished cattle numbers were down a little possibly a result of the 6-day rule effects on those who purchased at the HPLS Sale last Friday.

Nevertheless, of the 83 on offer there were examples at 270p and £1,706.

For a more general view of the trade the 36 heifers averaged 211.5p – a good indication of the strength of demand.

Cull & OTM Cattle were scarce with only 87 on offer, the shortage of numbers clearly having nothing to do with the price than anyone expects to receive.

Cows reached £2,891 and Bulls £1,966 with the average at 149.4p.  The average per head price for cows was £977 – need we say more.

If you can round up a few more OTM animals for next week Bakewell buyers would like to see them.

Calf numbers are on the up and we managed 45 this week and trade is on the up too.  Bulls reached £420 and Heifers to £380.

In the sheep section there were a few more Spring lambs about selling to 378p/kg and £154.98, the SQQ average looking good at 331.7p.

The 1,044 Old Season lambs were close to last week’s trade with the best to 338p and £162/head.

The SQQ a shade less than last week at 294.8p.

323 Cull sheep sold at outstanding prices with ewes to £168 to average a solid £90.75.

Finally, Heston Hay Bales made £29 each.

Forthcoming Fixtures

Thursday 25^th March: Lunchtime Sheep Sale, See our Facebook page for special entries.

PLEASE NOTE: Bakewell Market will be operating on

Easter Monday 5^th April

Friday 16^th April: Orange Market, Entries are invited.

87 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 149.47p or £1001.32

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles).

TRADE ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL

Last week was a record and today they were equally as dear if not better for some of the meat cows.  Every cow in the market averaged over £1000 for the second week in succession.  Two OTM clean heifers today topped at 210p or £1234 for a Blue x from Paul Wilmott, Ashover with another from Robert Merryman at 195p (£1162) Top cow today was a superbly fed Char x (9yrs) and selling for 193p or £1891.

Plenty of fed cows 170p plus with nearly all continental cows over 140p, Herefords to 176p, Angus to 169p and Longhorns to 154p.

45 Black & White and ex-dairy cows Ave 138.5p/kg

A trade very similar to last week although more lean cows about today.  Best Montys sold to 171p for Messrs Sutton, Cowers Lane with Friesians to 168p or £1290 with big Holsteins to 167p or a remarkable £1429 for Messrs Shann, Sheen.

Best fed sorts 160p plus, big Holsteins 146-155p, leaner cows 120-140p with a few plainer sorts at 105-115p

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

2 OTM Bulls

5 OTM Steers

83 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 207.8p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

The finished cattle ring continued its fast trade with a lighter show of cattle.

11 Finished Bulls ave 194.4p/kg

Just 11 to sell but all accounts operating and a top of 236p for a handy weight Limousin from Roy Mycock.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

36 Steers – overall average 204.3p/kg

An excellent trade from start to finish with some lovely cattle to sell.  Keith Harrop had the days top call at 246p for a Limousin, closely followed at 245 with a handy weight Limousin from Messrs Shaw-Browne and Roy Mycock at 238p.  Lincoln Reds to 201p, Herefords to 199p, Angus to 190p and Longhorns to 189p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

36 Finished Heifers – overall average 211.5p/kg

One of the best heifers I have seen since Christmas was in the market today.  A sensational black Limousin was presented for sale by Messrs Hollinshead, Lichfield as part of their weekly consignment.  They purchased the heifer out of the High Peak Livestock Society October sale from Andrew Mycock, Flagg.  Today it sold for 270p/kg or £1706 and was purchased by RM Walmsley, Quality Butchers at Catterton, York.

Peter Shaw had a very posh handy-weight Limmy at 266p with a pair of Blondes from Mark Sweetmore at 252 and 250p.  Natives had Angus to 200p/kg with 5 B/W non-breeders to 205p for an MRI and 196 for a Fleck.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

Another useful entry of 441 Store Cattle particularly bearing in mind the 407 sold last Friday at the HPLS Sale.

Quality was a little down, but despite the lack of highlights the general trade was just as dear as last week.

Vendors need have no concern about demand and anyone minded to sell cattle could not be other than delighted with the returns.

41 Feeding Bulls

The sale commenced with a decent sample of 41 Feeding Bulls with sample prices as follows:

Breeding Cattle

162 Steers ave £889

A very strong trade from start to finish.

Cattle suitable for turnout commanding a distinct premium.  Angus & Hereford crosses selling well and tremendous prices for the Black & Whites in the entry.

Sample results:

185 Heifers ave £821

A good turnout of heifers fitting all descriptions with customers in abundance for all types and exceptional prices throughout the sale.

If your supplies of straw and fodder are on the wane and you are thinking of selling some store you need have no concerns about the trade.

Angus & Hereford crosses selling well and some excellent bunches of British Blue cross animals making their money.

Sample Results:

CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

An increase in numbers forward and trade equally as dear as last week.

Best Continentals saw B Blue bulls to £420 and heifers to £380 with the lesser quality and Native calves equally as well sold.

Another small entry of B/W calves again well sold with the best of those to £178.

Can all ARLA producers please indicate so on their entry form.

1,481 Sheep including 1063 Finished Lambs, 323 Ewes & Rams & 95 Store Sheep

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A total entry of 1481 head of sheep included 19 Spring Lambs and 1044 Old Season Lambs.

Demand for the Spring Lambs very good with best Texels to 378p/kg and Dorsets to 310p/kg.  Overall average 331.72p/kg

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

In the Old Season Lambs a total of 1044 saw demand very brisk with best butchers’ lambs to 338p/kg with 8 pens over 325p/kg.

The best heavy butchers’ lambs to 313p/kg and overweight lambs to 306p/kg.  Best heavy lambs grossed £162/head.

Leading Prices: –

323 Cull Sheep (Auctioneer Mark Elliott)

A few less and fewer best end continental types about but the best 10% would probably be a touch dearer on the week.

Top call £168 for strong Charolais from Stuart Talbot at Gratwich who also had £146 for his second lot.  Big Texels regularly £135 and above with Peter Mosley at £147 and John Spillane at £159.  The top 10 pens averaged £149.20.

Best Mules well over £85 with top end Swales over £71 per head.

Generally, slaughter tups a solid trade to a top of £137 and £133 for Texels with others at £130.

Cast Ewes        To: £168          Ave: £90.75

Cast Rams       To: £137.00     Ave: £93.73

A total of 95 Store Sheep saw bidding brisk for all types.

Small Mule lambs to £101 and £88

Cheviot Mules to £76

Texel x Feeding Lambs to £90