Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

Just when we thought stock numbers were generally down, we were proved to be badly wrong with a bumper crop of both sheep and cattle.

The numbers 750 cattle and 2,287 sheep from 229 vendors.

The sheep trade remains solid, but cattle prices continue on an upward trajectory with no apparent end in sight.

The store cattle section was very well supported with 485 head on offer.

The 245 steers reached a top price of £2,540 to average £1,509.  209 heifers sold to £2,420 to average £1,349, feeding bulls topped at £1,720.

Buyers were out in force and with Spring in the air were seeking hardy cattle ready to be turned out.

The saga of the 103 finished cattle department continues to be legendary with top figures 459p/kg and £3,283 per head.

Steers averaged 383.5 pence and £2,607 per head.

More OTM animals this week with 130 on offer.  Trade up another notch with top figures 405p/kg and £3,005 per head.

The average emerged at 278.8p and an astonishing £1,790 per head.

Only 32 calves with lack of supply driving prices, Bulls to £560 and heifers £470.

Things were busy in the sheep department with a total of 2,287 on offer.  First came the new season lambs selling to 440p/kg and £189.88 per head. The SQQ average was 429.8p.

Next came 1,602 hoggs with top figures 386p and £184.74 per head.

The SQQ was 337.5 pence making a typical hogg in the 39-45kg range worth £144.19.

Finally, a large entry of 673 cull sheep – Ewes to £298 to average £142.24

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 27^th March: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Monday 14^th April – Easter Lamb Show

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

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130 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 278.8p/kg or £1858

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)     

Trade keeps nudging up and today the cows were another 5 pence more on the week with all buyers needing cows for immediate slaughter.  38 today topped £3/kg and rose to 398, 376 and 364p/kg x2 for a run of overage (32-35 mnths) from Oliver Black, Melton Mowbray.  Best cows 320-347p with plenty more 280-310p.  The cows are £1/kg dearer than this time last year and the buyers are hungry for your cows.  If you have any to sell at present, give me a call on 07801 530899.

Results:

Gross Prices:

50 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 241p/kg

As dear as ever.

3 OTM clean 278-304p

Best cows 255-281p

Big Holsteins 240-250p

Plainer sorts 210-230p

Only a couple under £2

The best today:

5 OTM Bulls

8 OTM Clean

103 FINISHED CATTLE ave 401.8p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

AN UNBELIEVABLE DAY!

Average 17 pence dearer

Wow! Just when we thought we were getting to the top they go dearer again and by some margin.  In fairness a super run of clean today with quality from start to finish.

10 Young Bulls ave 395p/kg

Only a modest entry in number, but some excellent quality in them.  Prices peaked at 450p/kg for a tremendous shaped pure Limmy from Phil & Emma Watson, Ashover with a big lad from John Ottewell at £3283 (439p).  2 B/W’s today at 330 and 330p for Carl Bradbury, Middleton.

Results:

Gross Prices:

27 Steers ave 383.5p

Again, a record average and some super prices.  7 best over £4/kilo including plenty of weighted cattle.  Top today of 424p/kg (£2832) for Peter Gaunt and 420p (£2973) for Peter Hambleton with big boys over £3000 at £3230 for Richard and David Sessions and £3053 for Charles & Sue Jeffery.  2 B/W’s to 341p for the Ardern Family.

Results:

Gross Prices:

66 Heifers ave 411.1p/kg

An unbelievable average, but some super heifers in the entry today.  This day last year the heifers averaged 295p.  Top call on the day was 459p for a Blond x from Peter Blackshaw with Mark Sweetmore at 440p and Peter Gaunt up to 438p, 12 over 430p, Angus to 418p (last in the ring) and Herefords to 389p.

Results:

Gross Prices:

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

A much larger entry of 485 head sold on a storming trade with prices exceeding expectations as thoughts about values are constantly being updated.

Plenty of buyers operating and remarkable prices achieved right through the sale.

Several purchasers working hard to secure cattle suitable for an early turnout.

The sale commenced with a cow and calf at £2760 and then a dozen feeding cows r/w bull with prices at £1800 and £1820

18 Feeding Bulls

Sample Results:

A 12-month-old B Blue x Bull from an anonymous farmer was sold for £1400 with the proceeds going to Comic Relief and RABI.

Steers

A good selection with plenty of interest at all price levels.  Angus crosses very popular and well matched bunches attracting a distinct premium.

Sample Results:

Heifers             

Some lovely animals in the entry attracting fierce competition and some superb results.

Sample Results:

32 CALVES (Auctioneer Natasha Hall)

A total of 32 calves on offer.  Trade just as hot but not the overall quality on offer as last week.

Lim bulls to £560 & B Blue to £508

B Blue heifers to £470

Top ten bulls ave £461 and top 10 heifers ave £352.

Bulls

Lim                      £560     GS & L Wheeldon

B Blue                 £508     TW Kent & Co

B Blue                 £495     BD Hudson

AA                        £480     JW Brandrick & Son

Hfrs

B Blue                 £470     BD Hudson

Lim                      £452     TN Palfreyman & Son

B Blue                 £405     WJ Adams & Son

AA                        £370     R Bradbury & Sons

1610 LAMBS, 673 EWES & RAMS & 4 STORE SHEEP

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

An increased entry of 2287 sheep included 8 new season lambs and 1602 old season.  Demand for the new season lambs very good with lighter weight sorts to 440p/kg, heavy weight types to 404p/kg, overall average of 429.81p/kg and £189/head.

Leading Prices: –

In the old season lambs a total of 1602 on offer with demand for the under 42kg sorts very good and anything over 52kg being much harder to sell.  Best butchers lambs peaked at 386p/kg with heavy weights to 368p/kg and over weights to 318p/kg.  Overall average 337.59p/kg.

Leading Prices:

Averages:

Just 4 store sheep saw ewes & lambs to £170/family

673 Cull Sheep

(Auctioneers Mark Elliott & Holly Swift)

Well, a fantastic big entry with festival time and the best and heaviest Mules definitely a feature of the day.

Top price £298 for Hayden Fletcher with the best 7 pens averaging £244.40 and all being Texels.

Best strong Mules regularly over £168 per head with the very best over £190.

Generally, run of the mill types harder to sell and it would be fair to say that there was less flesh about than the last 2 weeks, better horned types close to £100.

Slaughter tups good to sell with no absolute stormers forward.  Best continentals topped at £237.

Ewes to £298                Ave £142

Rams to £237                Ave £153