Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

The first frost of the Autumn greeted those delivering stock when the market opened at 6am.

The much colder temperatures are welcome in the context of Bluetongue disease.

Trading standards have contacted us today to inform us that there are now 3 confirmed cases in Derbyshire.

Please be extra vigilant and talk to your vet if you have any concerns.

Cattle numbers were down a shade with many prospective vendors tied up to the 6-day rule having purchased sheep at the breeding sales last week, sheep numbers were surprisingly up.

At the start of the sale of the sale of sheep an announcement was made and a minute’s silence observed in memory of Howard Fernihough who died last week.  Howard has been a major sheep purchaser for many decades and a great supporter of Bakewell Market.

As soon as funeral arrangements are known we will pass on the details.

Other matters of note include the ‘Trailer of Truth’ which called in on its way to Liverpool to lobby for farmers against the inheritance tax changes.

We should also mention Ruth, Robert and Richard who set off from Bakewell Market on a fundraising walk to Derby in aid of RABI.

There were 431 store & breeding cattle on offer and with a full line up of buyers present which resulted in a very strong trade.

Steers reached £2,600 to average £1,504, heifers also reached £2,600 and averaged £1,499.

Feeding bulls sold to £2,180.

In the breeding section cows and calves reached £2,420.

A useful entry of 121 finished cattle with a solid trade right through, top figures 422p/kg and £3,212.

The 53 heifers averaged 377p and £2,269 per head.

OTM’s were forward in good numbers with 112 on offer, prices remain firm and top figures £3,109 and 373p/kg.  The averages were 256p/kilo and £1,645 per head.

A good show of 78 calves saw bulls to £535 and heifers £570.

There were 1,733 sheep on offer with 1,024 lambs forward.  Top figures 361p/kg and £180.93.

The SQQ average was a healthy 312.0p.  This made a typical lamb in the 39-45kg weight range worth £133.04.

There was a bumper entry of 709 cull sheep with ewes to £230 and £102.34

Forthcoming Fixtures

Friday 26^th September: Store Lambs

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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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112 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 256.1p/kg or £1645

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Average 13p better

The average was less last week but trade back up to speed this week partly due to a better turnout of cattle and less plainer B&W cows in the entry.  All the regular buyers operating at Bakewell and some spirited bidding all day long.  Best today was a couple of overage clean cattle from Rob Hall, Rushton Spencer at 373 and 363p with the best cow at 318p for a Limousin from Jane Bonsall, Atlow.  As always, plenty of leaner cows in the entry and these were fought over by a team of feeders who are looking to improve their value.

Results:

Gross Prices:

46 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 237.5p

Dearer overall, but less plain about.

4 underage heifers 298-319p

OTM Clean 284-291p

Best cows 250-276p

Big Holsteins 240-250p

Parlour type cows 215-240p

Plainer end 200-215p

Very plain under £2

The best today:

6 OTM Bulls

7 OTM Steers

112 FINISHED CATTLE ave 363.9p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

6 Pence Less

The average is a little less but overall, a plainer turnout of cattle and like for like, they would be equally as much as last week.

45 Young Bulls ave 355.5p/kg

A good price for the bulls with 8 best suckler sorts over £4 and Josh Hall for the third week in a row at the top of the pile at 424p, beating Mark Shenton today with his Blonds at 420, 417 and 410p.  3 over £3000 today with Keith the best at £3212 with a posh Blue.

Results:

Gross Prices:

23 Steers ave 353.6p

Excellent at the top end but more plainer sorts about.  Peter Gaunt had top billing at 414 and 407p (both over £2700) with Galloways, Red Poll and Fleckv all making an appearance with the bullocks today.

Results:

Gross Prices:

53 Heifers ave 377p/kg

Good numbers about and an army of buyers at ringside all wanting quality cattle that were for sale.  Philip Bailey, Grindon was 1^st into the ring and topped the market at 422p for a sweet and shapey Limousin that sold to Ian Meakin, Quality Butchers in Leek.  18 best over £4/kilo with the strongest heifers generally over £2600.

Results:

Gross Prices:

431STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneers Alastair Sneddon & Meg Elliott)

A slightly smaller entry of 431 store & breeding cattle this week.

There was definitely a number of cattle showing the signs of the long, dry Summer, but buyers were present for all types and very strong trade prevailed throughout the sale.

39 breeding cattle attracted plenty of interest with a special entry of Simmental cows and calves including results as follows:

Breeding Stock

33 Feeding Bulls

A nice selection of 33 feeding bulls found a ready sale with typical prices as follows:

Sample Results:

161 Steers ave £1504

A very varied selection this week, but bidders operating at all levels of quality with appropriate prices.

Sample Results:

198 Heifers ave £1499

Plenty to choose from with a very varied selection on offer.  Trade still outstanding with no indications that fodder or straw supplies are impacting prices.

Sample Results:

78 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

Reasonable numbers forward but a lesser show today in terms of quality, all types well bid for from start to finish.

Bulls

B Blue                 £550     C Shirt, Over Haddon

B Blue                 £470     TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg

B Blue                 £420     F Mycock & Sons, Wormhill

Hfd                       £340     Pidcock & Matkin, Teversal

AA                        £300     WB & DE Gyte, Barmoor Clough

Holstein             £158     W Bradbury, Earl Sterndale

Hfrs

Sim                      £510     JR & JA Marsden, Hathersage

B Blue                 £495     TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg

Hfd                       £210     TN Palfreyman & Son, Flagg

1024 LAMBS, 709 EWES & RAMS & 1 GOAT

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A very good entry of 1733 sheep included 1024 lambs.  The fed lambs continued to be in demand to a wide range of buyers with 3 pens at 360+p/kg.  The overall average of 314.83p/kg looked very good on trade at the end of last week.

Leading Prices:

Averages

709 Ewes, Rams & a Goat

(Auctioneers Mark Elliott & Holly Swift)

A superb Autumnal entry of 709 head of stock today comprising 495 ewes, 13 tups and 1 goat.

695 ewes topped at £222 for a Texel from Ben Kirk but not many best, long ewes in today with the majority of the entry being grazing sorts, mediums generally £120-£150.

13 rams topping at £230 and £195 for two smart Bleu de Maine tups from J & J Easom, overall tup average £144.50

Ewes to £222                ave £102.34

Tups to £230                 ave £144.50

Goat to £160