Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

Bakewell Market Report 2025-01-27

Another very busy day with 779 cattle on parade, but quieter for sheep with only 944 on offer consigned by a total of 223 vendors.

The cattle trade continues in an upward trajectory with many commentators wondering where it all will end.

There are new rules with regard to Bluetongue now that a ‘low vector period’ has been announced,

If you are a farmer in the Bluetongue zone and you want to sell cattle at Bakewell speak to Oliver Hiles if it concerns finished and OTM animals and Alastair Sneddon with regard to store cattle.

The store and breeding cattle section saw a further increase in both numbers and prices with 438 head on offer.

The sale commenced with Cows and calves to £2,500 and in calvers to £2,300.

Steers exceeded last week’s levels with a top figure of £2,200, but an astonishing average of £1,582 for all comers.

Heifers peaked at £2,090 with another record average of £1,417, feeding bulls reached £1,550 to average £1,022.

The finished cattle section with a total of 175 head on offer was also heading for new highlights.

Top figures 419p and £2,971 per head.

The average for the 93 heifers was a remarkable 358.1 pence a full 21 pence more than last week.

The heifers averaged £2,153 per head up £159 on the week.

The OTM department also saw the effect of a sharp upturn in trade with top figures 330p/kg and £2,500 per head.

The averages emerged at 211.7p/kg and £1,365 per head.

Calf numbers 49 with bulls to £415 and heifers £370.

The sheep section was quieter than last week with only 647 Hoggs on offer.  These sold on a sharp trade with top figures 370p/kg and £197.87 per head.

The SQQ average was 321.1 pence making an average lamb in the 39-45 kg bracket worth £137.24.

There were 297 cull sheep forward with ewes selling to £234 to average £132.14.

 

 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 30th January: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

 

DISEASE PRECAUTIONS

The authorities have asked us to pass on the message to everyone to be vigilant with regard to Bio Security.

May we respectfully ask that you use the footbaths and boot wash in order to reduce the risk

 

*************************************************************************************************

 

We have been asked to inform you that

The Funeral for

Roger Ardern

of

Topley Pike, Buxton

will be held at

Chelmorton Church

on

Thursday 6th February 2025

at 12 noon

 

Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon

Senior partner

Livestock, auctioneering and professional services

117 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 211.7p/kg or £1389

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)     

The beef trade is talk of the market with cows dearer again this week with the average up 2 pence, but they feel 10-15 pence more in places.  Last week we had 315p for a smart heifer, but this was eclipsed today with a red Limmy from Gordon Rowlinson at 330p (£2257) with the better sorts miles more money on the week.  Look at today’s results.

 

Results:

330p/kg 684kg Lim GT Rowlinson, Denstone
284p/kg 678kg Lim AR Maier, Brassington
282p/kg 818kh Blond x MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough
269p/kg 802kg Lim GT Rowlinson, Denstone
267p/kg 662kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock
264p/kg 686kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock
259p/kg 742kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock
251p/kg 712kg AA Furness Partnership, Wheston
250p/kg 648kg Sim E Garratt & Sons, Barton Green
245p/kg 736kg Stab R Belfield, Leek
238p/kg 798kg B Blue x N Beardsley, Weston Underwood
237p/kg 668kg Saler Cox Bros, Gt Longstone

 

Gross Prices:

£2306.76 818kg Blond x MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough
£2257.20 684kg Lim GT Rowlinson, Denstone
£2157.38 802kg Lim GT Rowlinson, Denstone
£1925.52 678kg Lim AR Maier, Brassington
£1921.78 742kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock
£1899.24 798kg B Blue x N Beardsley, Weston Underwood
£1889.40 804kg Lim BA & B Perkins, Oughtibridge
£1817.20 770kg Stab JP Blackshaw, Pilsley
£1815.22 814kg Sim FN Biggin, Holmesfield
£1811.04 686kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock
£1803.20 736kg Stab R Belfield, Leek

 

68 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 203.5p/kg

More on offer with a higher percentage of B&W’s today and the average up 8 pence on the week.

3 OTM heifers (slips) 240-262p

Best cows 226-235p (many £1700-£1900)

Big Holsteins 200-220p

Leaner cows 185-195p

Only a few under 180p

 

The best today:

262p/kg £1545 S Horn, 33 mnths J Taylor & Son, Bonsall
247p/kg £1482 Holst, 33 mnths JW Walker & Sons, Tideswell
240p/kg £1329 Holst, 30 mnths WH Townsend & Son, Sudbury
236p/kg £1902 Holst, 5 yrs Gilmans, Thorpe
235p/kg £1804 Mont, 7 yrs GK & E Robinson, Wheston
229p/kg £1712 Fries, 8 yrs JD Pickford & Son, Leek
229p/kg £1648 Fleck, 6 yrs Gilmans, Thorpe
228p/kg £1618 Fries, 9 yrs WH Townsend & Son, Sudbury
228p/kg £1404 B Swiss, 5 yrs Gilmans, Thorpe
227p/kg £1970 Holst, 7 yrs W Seward & Sons, Duckmanton
226p/kg     Holtwood Farm, Doveridge

 

3 OTM Bulls

£2500 Sim 6yrs P Cafferty, Ashover
£2332 Fries 5 yrs G & M Limer, Taddington

Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles

Market Associate

Bakewell Market Report

175 FINISHED CATTLE ave 342.8p

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

16 clean cattle over £4/kilo

The biggest entry for a while and some excellent cattle on offer with prices at even higher levels.  56 vendors today enjoy the trade at Bakewell.

 

33 Young Bulls ave 296.8p/kg

Trade once again firm with a full line up of buyers and many more could have been sold.  Keith Harrop at the top today at 358p for a Blond with David Goddard at 352 and 350p.  11 B/W bulls saw Friesians to 277p and Dairy Shorthorns to 282p.

 

Results:

358p/kg 692kg Blond x K Harrop, Alport
352p/kg 636kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
350p/kg 700kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
334p/kg 710kg B Blue x K Harrop, Alport
331p/kg 610kg B Blue x A Sims Ltd, Hulland
328p/kg 628kg Char K Harrop, Alport
326p/kg 728kg Char K Harrop, Alport
324p/kg 744kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
320p/kg 706kg Char S Franks, Bradfield
319p/kg 628kg B Blue x A Sims Ltd, Hulland
312p/kg 726kg Char S Franks, Bradfield
310p/kg 604kg Blond x C & D Jeffery, Pilsley

 

Gross Prices:

£2527.62 818kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
£2477.36 692kg Blond x K Harrop, Alport
£2450.00 700kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
£2410.56 744kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires
£2373.28 728kg Char K Harrop, Alport
£2371.40 710kg B Blue x K Harrop, Alport
£2265.12 726kg Char S Franks, Bradfield
£2259.20 706kg Char S Franks, Bradfield
£2238.72 636kg Lim S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires

 

49 Steers ave 345p (up 28p on the week)

They have been generally getting dearer and dearer, but today was unreal.  Some excellent quality in fairness to grace the ring, 3 super sorts over £4/kg with Alex Holland at 406p, Charlotte Hadfield at 402p and Messrs Ponsonby at 400p.  Weight sold up to £2971 (778kg) and £2701 (732kg) for Peter Hambleton, Calton.  20 Natives today had Angus to 374p and Hereford to 379p.

 

Results:

406p/kg 592kg Lim AD Holland, Glutton
402p/kg 562kg Lim D Hadfield & Daughter, Tideswell
400p/kg 590kg B Blue x BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor
388p/kg 630kg Lim AB Bowler, Ashleyhay
382p/kg 778kg Lim P Hambleton, Calton
382p/kg 582kg Lim J Brennand, Little Hayfield
381p/kg 636kg Lim AB Bowler, Ashleyhay
381p/kg 650kg Lim AB Bowler, Ashleyhay
379p/kg 642kg Hfd P Brennand, Little Hayfield
374p/kg 682kg AA BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor
370p/kg 630kg B Blue x Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
370p/kg 600kg AA R Walker, Ashgate

 

Gross Prices:

£2971.96 778kg Lim P Hambleton, Calton
£2701.08 732kg Lim P Hambleton, Calton
£2640.00 750kg B Blue x GW Smith & Son, Aldwark
£2591.98 722kg Lim P Hambleton, Calton
£2576.00 700kg AA CPR & JM Mycock, Friden
£2557.50 750kg B Blue x CH Leeson & Son, Ipstones
£2550.68 682kg AA BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor
£2530.22 742kg Lim Moor Farmers, Flagg
£2497.80 724kg Lim MT Sweetmore, Hollinsclough
£2478.00 708kg AA RG Bacon, Wadshelf
£2476.50 650kg Lim AB Bowler, Ashleyhay

 

93 Heifers ave 358.2p/kg (up 21p on the week)

Records galore with the average and top prices smashed today.  13 heifers topped £4/kg with Peter Gaunt at the head of the list at 419, 417 and 415p with really well fed suckler bred continentals.  Steven and Steff Wells had 412p and young Josh Hall at 409p and the last vendor in the ring, Malcolm Bennett, Cheadle at 408p.  The list goes on.

22 Natives today had Herefords to 362p, a Longhorn at 310p and Angus to 376p.

 

Results:

419p/kg 654kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
417p/kg 660kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
415p/kg 650kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
412p/kg 522kg B Blue x MJ Wells & Son, Monyash
409p/kg 596kg B Blue x JA Hall, Longnor
408p/kg 594kg Lim JM, AM & MJ Bennett, Threaphurst
405p/kg 670kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
401p/kg 668kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
400p/kg 668kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
400p/kg 622kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley
400p/kg 676kg B Blue x K Harrop, Alport
400p/kg 664kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
400p/kg 678kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley

 

Gross Prices:

£2752.20 660kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
£2740.26 654kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
£2737.80 702kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley
£2725.50 690kg Lim JM AM & MJ Bennett, Threaphurst
£2722.32 684kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
£2713.50 670kg B Blue x NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
£2712.00 678kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley
£2704.00 676kg B Blue x K Harrop, Alport
£2697.50 650kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield
£2679.20 680kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley
£2678.68 668kg Lim NH Gaunt & Son, Dronfield

Auctioneer:

Oliver Hiles

Market Associate

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneers Alastair Sneddon & Meg Elliott)

Another bumper crop of 438 stores, plenty of buyers on parade and a rip roaring trade from start to finish.

The entry lacked some of the top notch strong cattle that we had last week, but there was still enough quality on offer to exceed last week’s record averages.

The sale started with a selection of breeding stock which included:

 

£2500 B Blue x Cow, 74 mnths & Bull Calf DF & A Wainwright, Alsop
£2200 S Horn x Cow, 33 mnths & Bull Calf DF & A Wainwright, Alsop
£2300 Lim Cow, 120 mnths, i/c GCG Robinson, Longnor
£2160 Lim Cow, 62 mnths, i/c GCG Robinson, Longnor

 

27 Feeding Bulls

To include:

£880 Hfd x 7-8 mnths A & A Spooner, Macclesfield
£770 AA x 4 mnths A & A Spooner, Macclesfield
£1550 Hfd x 19 mnths F & E Hoggard, Clay Cross
£1100 Hfd 8 mnths F & E Hoggard, Clay Cross
£1000 S Horn x 6 mnths E Smith, Rushton Spencer
£1520 Lim 8 mnths GCG Robinson, Longnor

 

224 Steers ave £1494

Some superb cattle on offer, although fewer of the really strong ones that we saw last week.  Nevertheless, trade was so strong that last week’s average was exceeded even with lesser cattle in the sample.

Some good runs of cattle which enabled level bunches to be sold, speeding the progress of the sale and attracting a distinct premium.

 

Sample Results:

£900 Lim x 7-8 mnths HM Dowey, Glossop
£1240 Lim 9-10 mnths A & AA Riddle, Ecclesfield
£1580 Char x 19 mnths T Metcalfe, Grindon
£1420 B Blue x 13 mnths TW & EJ Gratton, King Sterndale
£1360 S Horn x 12 mnths RP Lawley, Draycott
£1580 Lim x 12-13 mnths WS Hudson & Son, Ilam
£1680 Lim x 15 mnths Miss R Ede, Tideswell
£1570 Lim x 15 mnths AJ Parker & Son, Ticknall
£1220 Wag x 20 mnths P Allen, Mercaston
£1200 Hfd x 13 mnths AP Critchlow, Wheston
£1500 Char x 14 mnths JW Radford, Longnor
£1480 B Blue x 14 mnths JW Radford, Longnor
£1040 AA x 8 mnths JA Sheldon, Middleton
£1620 Lim x 15 mnths N & S Pearson, Peak Forest
£1600 Holst 19 mnths N & S Pearson, Peak Forest
£1720 Char x 19 mnths Riverside Farmers, Scropton
£1580 AA x 14-15 mnths A & DJ Gregory, Litton
£2060 B Blue x 20 mnths R Rowlinson, Ilam
£1980 Lim x5 18-21 mnths R Rowlinson, Ilam
£2030 B Blue x 25 mnths RA Frith, Thorpe
£2000 S Horn x 18 mnths RA Frith, Thorpe
£1700 Lim x 14-17 mnths F Potter & Son, Yeaveley
£1980 B Blue x4 18 mnths DV Holland, Blore
£1810 B Blue x5 17-19 mnths DV Holland, Blore
£1970 Char x 17 mnths DV Holland, Blore
£1730 Hfd x 17 mnths DV Holland, Blore
£1350 B Blue x4 21 mnths D & PW Kirkman, Belper
£1570 S Horn x 17-18 mnths E Williams, Combs
£1480 Lim x 17 mnths D & L Wain, Ilam
£1750 Lim x 20 mnths R Bennett & Son, Bamford
£1770 Lim x 18-20 mnths NA Birch, Monyash
£2110 Lim x 20 mnths Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
£2060 Char x 21 mnths Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
£2000 Lim x 19-21 mnths FR Platts & Son, Bamford
£1740 Lim x 18-21 mnths R Simpson, Longnor
£1920 Blond x 21 mnths DW Shirt, Edale
£1610 AA 17-18 mnths GD & M Rodgers, Brimington
£1850 AA x 19-21 mnths J & J Mellor, Kniveton
£1720 Lim x 21 mnths Red Lion Inn, Dayhills
£1810 Lim x 20 mnths MT Wainwright, Poynton
£1770 Char x 19 mnths EE & CJ Woodward, Coxbench
£1910 Hfd x 23 mnths JW Shepherd & Son, Winshill
£2180 Lim 18-19 mnths GE Stephens, Bradley
£2070 Saler x 18-19 mnths GE Stephens, Bradley
£1830 Lim x 19-23 mnths G & M Limer, Taddington
£1540 Fries 6 17-22 mnths G & M Limer, Taddington
£2030 AA x 20-22 mnths CC Etches, Tissington
£1800 Hfd x 21 mnths CC Etches, Tissington
£1590 B Blue x 21 mnths JS Bramall, Totley
£2010 Hfd x 23 mnths GS Heathcote, Romiley
£1950 AA x 22 mnths GS Heathcote, Romiley
£1990 B Blue x 25 mnths GH Prince, Roston
£2200 B Blue x 25 mnths D Gadsby, Darley Bridge
£1600 Fries 25 mnths PG & JH Cantrell, Haddon Grove

 

181 Heifers ave £1417          

Outstanding demand for all types, with a packed ringside of buyers seeking to assemble loads.

 

Sample Results:

£820 Lim x 6-7 mnths HM Dowey, Glossop
£740 S Horn x  6-7 mnths E Smith, Rushton Spencer
£1240 Lim x5 7-8 mnths GCG Robinson, Longnor
£1160 Lim x 10 mnths A & AA Riddle, Ecclesfield
£1550 B Blue x 13 mnths TW & EJ Gratton, King Sterndale
£1420 Lim x 13 mnths WS Hudson & Son, Ilam
£1370 Lim x4 12-15 mnths AJ Parker & Son, Ticknall
£800 Wag x 9 mnths P Allen, Mercaston
£1160 Hfd x 20 mnths AP Critchlow, Wheston
£1510 B Blue x5 14-15 mnths JW Radford, Longnor
£1390 Sim x 14 mnths JW Radford, Longnor
£1680 Lim x8 14-16 mnths D & SE Edge, Pike Hall
£1700 AA x 23 mnths N & S Pearson, Peak Forest
£1600 B Blue x 15-18 mnths A & DJ Gregory, Litton
£1730 Lim x3 15-18 mnths R Rowlinson, Ilam
£1650 Lim x 17-22 mnths F Potter & Son, Yeaveley
£1600 B Blue x5 20-22 mnths Cubley Cottage Farm
£1700 Cont x 20 mnths Miss J Bonsall, Atlow
£1770 S Horn x 17 mnths E Williams, Combs
£1300 AA x 20 mnths D & L Wain, Ilam
£1540 Lim x 20 mnths R Bennett & Son, Bamford
£1970 Char x 21 mnths Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
£1800 Sim x 19-21 mnths Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
£1720 Char x 19-21 mnths Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow
£1500 Blond x 21mnths DW Shirt, Edale
£1490 AA x 17-19 mnths GD & M Rodgers, Brimington
£1850 Lim x 20 mnths MT Wainwright, Poynton
£1940 Lim x 21 mnths JP Austin, Parwich
£1710 Char x 21 mnths EE & CJ Woodward, Coxbench
£1920 Hfd x 23 mnths JW Shepherd & Son, Winshill
£1650 AA x 23 mnths GS Heathcote, Romiley
£1320 Lim x 22 mnths B Wood, Tansley
£1630 B Blue x 19 mnths GH Prince, Roston
£1290 AA x 25-27 mnths JE White, Moscar
£2090 B Blue x 25 mnths D Gadsby, Darley Bridge
£1530 B Blue x 31 mnths MG & JR Jordan, Belper
£1290 S Horn x3 20 mnths PJ & N Townsend, Tideswell
£2050 B Blue x 25 mnths PG & JH Cantrell, Haddon Grove
£1380 B Blue x 18-19 mnths Miss EJ Mottram, Gratwich

Auctioneer:

Alastair Sneddon

Senior partner

Livestock, auctioneering and professional services

Meg Elliott

Auctioneer and Valuer, Market Associate

49 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

Trade again much in line and similar to the last couple of weeks with all types attracting significant interest.

Bulls saw a Limousin at £415 and B Blue to £355, whilst heifers saw Limousin to £370 and B Blue to £330.

Lesser quality equally as well sought after and B/W’s very light on numbers.

 

Bulls

Lim                      £415     D & JK Mellor, Onecote

B Blue                 £355     BD Hudson, Ipstones

B Blue                 £335     TW Kent & Co, Yeaveley

Hfd                       £270     Holtwood Farm, Doveridge

Hfrs

Lim                      £370     TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg

B Blue                 £330     BD Hudson, Ipstones

Shorthorn         £170     R Norman, Stonedge

AA                        £190     Holtwood Farm, Doveridge

Auctioneer:

Ivor Lowe

Partner

Property and professional services

647 LAMBS & 297 Ewes & Rams

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A smaller entry of 944 sheep included 647 lambs.  Best quality lightweights sold to 355p with butchers types to 359p/kg and heavy weight butchers lambs to 370p/kg with a top gross of £197.87/head.  Overall average 320.37p/kg.

 

Leading Prices: –

37.0kg 355p/kg P Bennett & Son
38.8kg 348p/kg AJ & JE Gagie
41.0kg 345p/kg RC Brough
41.5kg 342p/kg J Bonsall
43.3kg 359p/kg RM Brown
44.4kg 342p/kg T Hodgkinson & Sons
47.6kg 370p/kg RM Brown
48.8kg 368p/kg R Deakin Gallimore & J Belfield
52.0kg 359p/kg R Deakin Gallimore & J Belfield
63.8kg 310p/kg P Furness

 

Averages:

Standard To 355p/kg Average 315.52p/kg
Medium To 359p/kg Average 324.69p/kg
Heavy To 370p/kg Average 323.64p/kg
Overweight To 318p/kg Average 300.9p/kg

 

297 Cull Sheep

(Auctioneer Mark Elliott & Holly Swift)

A smaller number forward than last week and again, a range of types and finishes forward.

A fast trade with buyers for all breeds and creed.

Jack Belfield and Rosie with the top price of £234 being a long continental x ewe.

The top 10 pens averaged £207.90.  Mules generally a good trade to £145.

Horned ewes to £108.  Overall average up £7 on the week.

Only one tup today to £150 for Dan Chadfield at Cubley

 

Ewes to £234                Ave £132.14

Rams to £150               

Auctioneer:

Peter Oven

Market Associate

Mark Elliott

Partner

Farm and dispersal sales, livestock auctioneer

Holly Swift

Apprentice Surveyor