Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market
Bakewell Market Report 2024-12-16
A smaller market in the wind down to Christmas with 394 cattle and 1,525 sheep on offer.
Those who did choose to sell stock were rewarded with an outstanding trade in all sections with finished cattle averaging over 310p/kg and the finished lambs SQQ at 320p.
The store & Breeding cattle section had 187 head forward, a decent show for this time of year. Prices were up yet again with steers to £1860 average £1209, heifers to £1630 average £1101 and feeding bulls to £1690 ave £1057.
In the breeding cattle section cows and calves reached £1620 and in calvers to £1520.
The next Monday market is on Monday 30th December. If you are planning to bring store cattle, please text Alastair Sneddon on 07973 982441 who will them inform buyers accordingly.
91 finished cattle – a decent entry with plenty of demand and tremendous prices achieved. Top figures 378p/kg or £2439 per head.
The heifer average for the 41 animals was an outstanding 317.4 pence and £1810 per head.
The steer average for 35 animals was 314.6 pence and a remarkable £2021 per head.
Talk to Oliver Hiles on 07801 530899 if you are planning to sell on Monday 30th December.
82 OTM cattle on offer with trade just as strong.
Top figures 278p and £2102 per head. The average looked good at 182.0 pence.
34 calves on offer with bulls to £360 and heifers £300.
In the sheep shed there were 1100 lambs forward which sold on a remarkable trade with top figures 378p/kg and £194.30 per head.
The SQQ average was an excellent 320.9 pence. This is demonstrated by the per head average for 39-45kg lambs which was an outstanding £137.64.
In the cull sheep section, there was a decent turnout of 409 head with ewes to £218 to average £127.63.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES
Thursday 19th December: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale
Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon
Senior partner
Livestock, auctioneering and professional services
82 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 182.1p/kg or £1183
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
Very, Very Dear
An unreal trade again with all commentators suggesting that cows were dearer on the week, while the average shows them 1 penny less. It was obvious down to the overall quality of the entry and a number of leaner B/W’s on offer. Quality as always sells well and a young Char cow (30 mnths) topped the day at 278p (£1673) with another younger Blond at 236p. Top cows today were 235 & 228p for 2 big cows from Messrs Else, Lea. Trade looks to be on the rise. If you have any cows to sell, give me a call on 07801 530899.
Results:
278p/kg | 602kg | Char | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
236p/kg | 524kg | Blond x | SJ Thompson, Kilburn |
235p/kg | 850kg | Lim | JF & ME Else, Lea Moor |
228p/kg | 892kg | B Blue x | JF & ME Else, Lea Moor |
228p/kg | 922kg | Char | DG Ditchfield, Calwich |
227p/kg | 548kg | Hfd | SJ Thompson, Kilburn |
226p/kg | 636kg | Sim | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
224p/kg | 712kg | Stab | SJ Buckley, Doveholes |
222p/kg | 666kg | Lim | N & S Pearson, Peak Forest |
216p/kg | 646kg | AA | TG Adams & Son, Calwich |
213p/kg | 862kg | B Blue x | MJ Webster, Barton under Needwood |
212p/kg | 784kg | Hfd | Marston Park Farm |
Gross Prices:
£2102.16 | 922kg | Char | DG Ditchfield, Calwich |
£2033.76 | 892kg | B Blue x | JF & ME Else, Lea Moor |
£1997.50 | 850kg | Lim | JF & ME Else, Lea Moor |
£1836.06 | 862kg | B Blue x | MJ Webster, Barton under Needwood |
£1673.56 | 602kg | Char | FW Hall & Sons, Sutton on the Hill |
£1662.08 | 784kg | Hfd | Marston Park Farm |
£1638.00 | 840kg | Hfd | C & FM Percival, Youlgreave |
£1594.88 | 712kg | Sim | D Jones, Blackwell in the Peak |
£1501.00 | 790kg | Blond x | J & B Cotton, Swadlincote |
£1478.52 | 666kg | Lim | N & S Pearson, Peak Forest |
34 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 1606.4p
Unreal! With the best 5-10p more.
2 young UTM (1 calf) Cows 216-245p
2 very best fed cows 205 & 208p
Good fed B/W’s 186 – 197p
Big Holsteins 170 -180p
Leaner Cows 150 – 165p
Plainest end under 150p
The best today:
245p/kg | £1357 | Holst, 24 mnths | R Bradbury & Sons, Middleton |
216p/kg | £1105 | Holst, 26 mnths | R Bradbury & Sons, Middleton |
208p/kg | £1718 | Holst, 7 yrs | R Bradbury & Sons, Middleton |
205p/kg | £1939 | Norw, 6 yrs | JW Handford & Sons, Aspenshaw |
197p/kg | £1189 | Mont, 3 yrs | Riverside Farmers, Scropton |
193p/kg | £1505 | Fries, 4 yrs | P Furness, Monyash |
192p/kg | £1413 | Fries, 4 yrs | C Shirt, Bakewell |
191p/kg | £1474 | Holst, 4 yrs | W Bradbury, Earl Sterndale |
189p/kg | £1330 | Fries, 4 yrs | RR Mason, Hulland |
188p/kg | £1323 | D Short,3 yrs | J Hole & Sons, Ashover |
188p/kg | £1128 | Holst, 3 yrs | WJ Adams & Son, Mackworth |
187p/kg | £1338 | Fries, 4 yrs | P Furness, Monyash |
186p/kg | £1372 | Fries, 10 yrs | P Furness, Monyash |
1 OTM Bull
178p/kg | £1285 | Hfd | R Bessant, Ashbourne |
3 OTM Steers
224p/kg | £1648 | Holst, 33 mnths | RW Ardern & Sons, Buxton |
Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles
Market Associate
91 FINISHED CATTLE ave 310.1p
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
We smashed it, for the first time over £3 average for all and an unreal trade throughout. Yes, cattle are at record levels and have been for some time. Looking forward and in to my crystal ball, I suspect that with numbers tight they will remain good as we go into the New Year and hopefully beyond. Weight is not an issue here at Bakewell with the processors requiring well fed cattle regardless of their size. Many thanks for your support and cattle throughout 2024. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
15 Young Bulls ave 280.9p/kg
Very good to sell today with David Goddard finishing the year at 338p or £2264 with his 4 over 320p. Dairy Shorthorns to 236p for James Hole.
Results:
338p/kg | 670kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
336p/kg | 686kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
335p/kg | 642kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
328p/kg | 708kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
328p/kg | 652kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
320p/kg | 692kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
Gross Prices:
£2322.24 | 708kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
£2304.96 | 686kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
£2264.60 | 670kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
£2230.88 | 764kg | Lim | Meadow Place Farms, Youlgreave |
£2214.40 | 692kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
£2150.70 | 642kg | Lim | JT Ottewell, Calow |
£2138.56 | 652kg | Lim | S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires |
35 Steers ave 314.6p/kg
A new record average and a cracking good day in the clean ring. PJ Blackshaw sold just 1 today and topped the bullocks at 378p (£2192) with a trio from Clive Bacon at 372, 354 & 348p (all over £2200).
Results:
378p/kg | 580kg | B Blue x | PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley |
372p/kg | 614kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
354p/kg | 642kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
348p/kg | 650kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
340p/kg | 556kg | Lim | JW Blackshaw, Bakewell |
337p/kg | 586kg | AA | Belper Skip Hire Moorwood Moor |
336p/kg | 726kg | AA | Meadow Place Farms, Youlgreave |
333p/kg | 672kg | Lim | GT Rowlinson, Denstone |
330p/kg | 600kg | Lim | JW Blackshaw, Bakewell |
328p/kg | 608kg | B Blue x | Easom & Sons, Furnace |
Gross Prices:
£2439.36 | 726kg | AA | Meadow Place Farm, Youlgreave |
£2284.08 | 614kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
£2272.68 | 642kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
£2263.68 | 786kg | Lim | GT Rowlinson, Denstone |
£2262.00 | 650kg | Lim | RG Bacon, Wadshelf |
£2259.20 | 706kg | Lim | G Blackshaw, Bakewell |
£2254.00 | 700kg | Lim | JW Blackshaw, Bakewell |
£2237.76 | 672kg | Lim | GT Rowlinson, Denstone |
£2192.40 | 580kg | B Blue x | PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley |
£2113.92 | 734kg | Lim | GT Rowlinson, Denstone |
£2108.00 | 680kg | AA | RW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike |
41 Heifers ave 317.5p/kg
Unbelievable the level of trade today with the wholesalers all working hard to get cattle processed before the Christmas shut down. 4 best handy weight heifers from Nigel Birch and Don Lownds topped 350p (up to 357p). 8 Angus averaged 313p and sold to 336 with 2 Hereford up to 310p.
Results:
357p/kg | 572kg | B Blue x | NA Birch, Monyash |
354p/kg | 524kg | Lim | NA Birch, Monyash |
350p/kg | 604kg | Lim | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
350p/kg | 532kg | Lim | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
348p/kg | 630kg | Lim | IP Carrington, Kniveton |
348p/kg | 602kg | Lim | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
336p/kg | 600kg | AA | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
334p/kg | 580kg | Lim | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
331p/kg | 584kg | Lim | Meadow Place Farms, Youlgreave |
330p/kg | 580kg | Lim | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
330p/kg | 570kg | AA | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
Gross Prices:
£2406.00 | 602kg | Lim | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
£2308.62 | 706kg | Blond x | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
£2192.40 | 630kg | Lim | IP Carrington, Kniveton |
£2145.08 | 658kg | B Blue x | Moor Farmers, Flagg |
£2114.00 | 604kg | Lim | D Lownds, Reapsmoor |
£2094.96 | 602kg | Lim | MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough |
£2093.04 | 646kg | B Blue x | CH Leeson & Son, Ipstones |
£2054.28 | 636kg | AA | Moor Farmers, Flagg |
£2042.04 | 572kg | B Blue x | NA Birch, Monyash |
£2016.00 | 600kg | AA | Belper Skip Hire, Moorwood Moor |
£2009.78 | 634kg | B Blue x | CH Leeson & Son, Ipstones |
Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles
Market Associate
STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneers Alastair Sneddon & Meg Elliott)
A seasonal entry of 187 sold on a cracking trade with outstanding prices from start to finish.
The sale commenced with a few breeding animals which included:
£1500 | Char Cow, 73 mnths, i/c | A & E Howe Cressbrook |
£1520 | Lim x Cow, 105mnths, i/c | R & G Fretwell, Penistone |
£1620 | Ped Lim Cow, 81 mnths & Hfr Calf | CG Buckstone, Sutton on the Hill |
£1640 | Lim x Cow, 99 mnths – empty | Mrs A Shaw, Marchington |
£1600 | Hfd x Cow, 99 mnths – empty | Mrs A Shaw, Marchington |
Feeding Bulls
Then followed a handful of feeding bulls with examples as follows:
£750 | Lim x | 10 mnths | KD Barlow & Son, Rugeley |
£1690 | Lim x | 29 mnths | P Brittain, Staden |
£860 | Lim x | 7 mnths | P Evans, Werrington |
£850 | AA x | 4-7 mnths | P Evans, Werrington |
£870 | S Horn x | 5-6 mnths | E Smith, Rushton |
£1430 | Hfd x | 21 mnths | A & SG Stevenson, Alfreton |
£1140 | Galloway | 19 mnths | RT Adams, Alstonefield |
79 Steers ave £1209
Some fine cattle in the entry, but also some of the better variety, but all found a ready market at scarcely believable prices.
Sample Results:
£760 | Hfd x | 8 mnths | Longacre LLP, Oakwood |
£740 | AA x | 5 mnths | Longacre LLP Oakwood |
£1060 | AA x | 8-9 mnths | AE & VJ Parkinson, Osliston |
£950 | S Horn x | 9-10 mnths | RF & HE Hinchliffe, Whaley Bridge |
£1220 | Char x | 13 mnths | ID & J Hammersley, Offcote |
£940 | Fries | 15 mnths | R Gratton, Buxton |
£1600 | Char x | 19 mnths | D & LA Critchlow, Sheen |
£1170 | S Horn x | 21 mnths | D & LA Critchlow, Sheen |
£1150 | Fries | 20 mnths | D & LA Critchlow, Sheen |
£880 | Hfd x | 10 mnths | RP Lawley, Draycott |
£1260 | Char x | 16 mnths | Riverside Farmers, Scropton |
£1340 | B Blue x 4 | 17-18 mnths | GS & L Wheeldon, Atlow |
£1590 | B Blue x | 21 mnths | DR Gould & Son, Grange Mill |
£1400 | AA | 20-21 mnths | JG & JM Belfield, Sheen |
£1580 | Lim x | 20 mnths | Red Lion, Dayhills |
£1450 | B Blue x | 20-22 mnths | Red Lion, Dayhills |
£1370 | B Blue x | 18 mnths | Mrs EJ Mottram, Gratwich |
£1320 | Sim x | 15-19 mnths | D & VM Wardman, Overton |
£1260 | Hfd x | 18-22 mnths | D & VM Wardman, Overton |
£1600 | B Blue x | 25 mnths | Green Dales, Ashleyhay |
£1860 | Lim x | 24 mnths | Green Dales, Ashleyhay |
£1130 | AA x | 28-29 mnths | DG Ditchfield, Calwich |
£1360 | AA x | 26 mnths | JG & AM Spendlove, Belper |
£1590 | B Blue x | 26-28 mnths | JT Flint, Ible |
£1210 | B Blue x | 21-29 mnths | L Marsden & Son, Fulwood |
£1780 | AA x | 22-23 mnths | JC Vickers, Taddington |
£1580 | AA x | 28 mnths | J Brough & Son, Rudyard |
80 Heifers ave £1101
A mixed selection with buyers operating at all price levels and some excellent results achieved.
Sample Results:
£600 | AA x | 5 mnths | Longacre LLP Oakwood |
£860 | Hfd x | 11 mnths | TA & DE Spooner, Leek |
£810 | Hfd | 8 mnths | Eyam Woodland Estate |
£660 | S Horn x | 6 mnths | E Smith, Rushton Spencer |
£760 | S Horn x | 10 mnths | RF & HE Hinchliffe, Whaley Bridge |
£950 | Char x | 11 mnths | ID & J Hammersley, Offcote |
£1550 | Lim x | 16 mnths | R Gratton, Buxton |
£1620 | B Blue x 5 | 16-19 mnths | Furness & Taylor, Wormhill |
£1280 | Hfd x | 14-15 mnths | VH Mellor, Chelmorten |
£1330 | Lim x | 16-20 mnths | P Evans, Werrington |
£1260 | Lim x | 20 mnths | JG & JM Belfield, Sheen |
£1240 | B Blue x | 17-18 mnths | Mrs EJ Mottram, Gratwich |
£1460 | B Blue x | 21 mnths | Cubley Cottage Farm |
£1570 | Sim x | 21 mnths | Cubley Cottage Farm |
£1510 | Hfd x | 22-24 mnths | Green Dales, Ashleyhay |
£1260 | Char x | 19 mnths | DG Ditchfield, Calwich |
£1340 | AA x | 28 mnths | JG & AM Spendlove, Belper |
£1630 | AA x | 27 mnths | CA Heathcote, Atlow |
£1200 | B Blue x | 18 mnths | L Marsden & Son, Fulwood |
£1590 | AA x | 23 mnths | JC Vickers, Taddington |
£800 | Sim x | 9-10 mnths | S Downing & Partners, Little Eaton |
Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon
Senior partner
Livestock, auctioneering and professional services

Meg Elliott
Auctioneer and Valuer, Market Associate
34 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)
A reduced entry in the run up to Christmas but no let up in trade, plenty of potential purchasers present for all shapes and sizes.
Tops today of £260 for a Limousin bull being closely followed by a Blue at £340, whilst heifers peaked at £300 and £285.
Second quality equally as dear as recent weeks and many more calves could have been sold to vendors’ advantage.
Bulls
Lim £360 RTF & P Marshall & Son, Tansley
B Blue £340 SG Salt & Son, Burton
B Blue £325 TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg
B Blue £300 W Bradbury, Earl Sterndale
AA £228 SG Salt & Son, Burton
Hfrs
B Blue £300 TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg
Lim £285 RTF & P Marshall & Son, Tansley
Char £265 W Bradbury, Earl Sterndale
Auctioneer:

Ivor Lowe
Partner
Property and professional services
1100 LAMBS, 409 EWES & RAMS & 16 STORE SHEEP
(Auctioneer Peter Oven)
A very good pre Christmas entry of 1525 head of sheep included 1100 lambs. Demand for the best butchers lambs very good with very brisk bidding to fill the fridges for the Christmas trade. Best butchers lambs to 364p/kg with best heavy butchers lambs to 378p/kg and overweights to 328p/kg with a top gross of £194.30/head. Overall average 320.92p/kg.
Leading Prices: –
28.5kg | 320p/kg | CS & FA Burgess |
33.1kg | 348p/kg | M & C Hambleton |
33.6kg | 340p/kg | CS & FA Burgess |
35.9kg | 350p/kg | M & C Hambleton |
37.0kg | 338p/kg | RJ & JA Hancock & Sons |
38.8kg | 338p/kg | P Bennett & Son |
39.3kg | 348p/kg | P Bennett & Son |
41.8kg | 348p/kg | DM Elliott & Son |
42.0kg | 360p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
42.6kg | 358p/kg | G Blackshaw |
43.1kg | 364p/kg | J & J Spillane |
45.2kg | 348p/kg | J & J Spillane |
45.7kg | 378p/kg | R Brough & Son |
46.0kg | 364p/kg | JB Drabble |
47.5kg | 335p/kg | R Swift & Sons |
49.5kg | 367p/kg | JB Drabble |
53.6kg | 328p/kg | M Hambleton |
61.0kg | 304p/kg | RS & EJ Longden & Sons |
67.0kg | 290p/kg | JJ Turner |
Averages:
Standard | To 350p/kg | Average 317.86p/kg |
Medium | To 364p/kg | Average 322.63p/kg |
Heavy | Top 378p/kg | Average 319.43p/kg |
Overweight | To 328p/kg | Average 307.66p/kg |
409 Cull Sheep
(Auctioneer M Elliott & H Swift)
A greater entry and trade slightly better with plenty of flesh about and some correct ewes forward.
Best Texels to £218 and £212 for the Truemans and the Hadfields respectively with David Wartig receiving £191 per head in the last pen of the day.
The Mules saw even runs of secondary weighted ewes but well fleshed £117 plus, with the bigger types well over £120. Generally, the Mules were better to sell than the last 2 weeks.
No very best Suffolks at all but plenty of white faced crossbred ewes £160 – £179 per head and a strong trade.
Only a few horned types in the entry this week with small Scotties around £50.
In the slaughter rams Texels to £180 and £160 with an older Suffolk only half fleshed at £112
Ewes to £218 Ave £127.63
Rams to £180 Ave £141.1
Auctioneer:

Mark Elliott
Partner
Farm and dispersal sales, livestock auctioneer

Holly Swift
Apprentice Surveyor