Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

After last week’s escape of 6 strong Limousin cattle everyone was very alert to the need to check and close gates and a message to that effect was announced at the commencement of sale in the store ring.

There were 633 cattle and 1,960 sheep on offer with sheep selling on a solid trade and cattle even dearer than we have seen them in recent weeks.

The store and breeding cattle department was well supported with 363 head on offer.  Buyers were present from as far as North Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire and trade was outstanding.

Steers sold to £2,400 with the average an astonishing £1,517, at the equivalent market in 2024 the average was £1,972 a difference of £545.

The heifers peaked at £2,340 to average £1,329 up from £837 last year.  Feeding bulls sold to £1,690.

There were 145 finished cattle forward with top figures 451p and £3,738 per head.

The average for the 82 heifers was 383.3 pence and £2,370 per head.

Trade was very hot in the OTM department with numbers down at 82 head.  Top figures 370p/kg and £2,960 per head.

The average was a remarkable 266.1 pence and £1,716 per head.

A quick look in the archives reveals that 12 months ago the averages were 182.7 pence and £1,189 per head indicating that the average barren cow is worth £527 more than last year.

40 calves this week with bulls to £510 and heifers to £450.

In the sheep section a larger entry of hoggs sold on an astonishing trade with top figures 376p and £187.68.

The SQQ average was 325.5p making a typical lamb in the 39-45kg weight range worth £141.35.

Another decent entry of 401 cull sheep saw ewes to £270 to average £134.37

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 13^th March: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale – including in lamb ewes

Friday 14^th March: HPLS Store Cattle 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

82 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 266.1p/kg or £1710

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)     

BREAKING NEW GROUND AGAIN

Similar numbers to last week and an unreal trade as cows averaged 25 pence more on the week and an unreal 80 pence more than this week last year.  Bakewell is certainly the place to market your cows and when the price is on the move so fast the best way to make the most of your stock is to put them in front of a full audience of buyers.  Please give us a try, you will not be disappointed.  Top price today was 370p (£2960) for a Native Longhorn x Blue cow from Messrs Richardson, Yeaveley.  12 cows over 300p with the feeding men in full swing to improve the price of leaner cows.

Results:

Gross Prices:

27 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 266.1p/kg or £1710

As dear as ever.

No OTM clean

Best cows 240-249p

Holsteins 225-240p

Plainer cows 200-220p

Just 3 under £2/kilo

The best today:

2 OTM Bulls

7 OTM Steers

145 FINISHED CATTLE ave 374.5p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Cattle even dearer again with a record average price and a new high for a heifer at 451 pence.

31 Young Bulls ave 361.1p/kg

Easily sold with all of the buyers working hard and bulls the best ever.  8 best over £4/kilo with pure Blonds from Mark Shenton at 429,425 and 418p/kg with Hannah & Jamie Turnock at 421p or £3738 also with a Blond.  6 Dairy bulls ave 319p for Messrs Hole, Eddlestow.

Results:

Gross Prices:

32 Steers ave 366.2p or £2370

Not quite the overall quality in the steers as the heifers, but they still reached £4/kg for a smart Limmy from Charlotte Hadfield, Tideswell with Messrs Naylor, Crowdicote at £3022.

Results:

Gross Prices:

82 Heifers ave 383.3p/kg or £2370

Unbelievable the level of trade, with a record average and a new high price for Bakewell of 451p for a smart 592kg Limmy from Philip Hooley, Wildboarclough.  27 heifers today topped £2/kilo including some heavy weighted cattle and 2 from Messrs Boden & Davies at £3485 and £3289 with Lim and Char girls.

Results:

Gross Prices:

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

Numbers down at 363 suggesting a short supply of store cattle, something that we have all suspected.

Yet more buyers operating with higher prices being achieved.

The sale commenced with a pedigree Simmental cow and calf from J Wainwright of Adlington, the outfit sold at £2,650.

Then on to the 27 Feeding Bulls with sample prices as follows:

184 Steers ave £1517

Tremendous trade right through with all ages and sizes in demand. Angus crosses very much in favour with some right Royal tussles before the hammer fell.

Little more we can say about the trade other than to list examples as follows.

Sample Results:

145 Heifers ave £1329          

Plenty of demand for all types with several new buyers operating.

Well matched bunches selling particularly well.

Sample Results:

40 CALVES (Auctioneer Natasha Hall)

A slightly larger entry than last week with a strong trade for all types.

B Blue bulls to top at £510 and £450.

B Blue heifers to top at £450 closely followed by another at £420.

Bulls

B Blue                 £510     TN Palfreyman

B Blue                 £450     WJ Adams

B Blue                 £435     JE & CM Fletcher & Co

Lim                      £390     D Fotherby & Sons

Hfrs

B Blue                 £450     JH & D Shepherd & Sons

B Blue                 £420     WJ Adams & Son

B Blue                 £290     JH & D Shepherd & Sons

B Blue                 £275     JH & D Shepherd & Sons

W Blk                   £260     S & LM Kirby

AA                        £250     JD & B Broadley

1559 LAMBS & 401 EWES & RAMS

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A total entry of 1960 sheep included a bigger show of 1559 lambs.  The best butchers lambs sold to 376p/kg with heavyweights to 356p/kg (£183/head) and overweights which were much harder to sell peaking at 325p/kg (£188/head) Overall average 325.77p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

401 Cull Sheep

(Auctioneer Holly Swift)

Top call today was for some pure Texel ewes from GA Titterton and Texel tups close behind at £250 for the Spillanes.

Strong horned ewes to £99 and big Mules to £190.

Top 10 ewe pens £208, being back on the week but still a respectable average given the quality and size on offer today.

Ewes to £270                Ave £134

Rams to £250                Ave £201