Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

February 2^nd is ‘Candlemas’ and tradition dictates that farmers should have half of their fodder left on that date.

Most would rather you did not ask, but signs are Spring are with us and January is over.

Plenty of confidence apparent in the market with 691 cattle and 1,908 sheep on offer from 241 vendors.

It is also pleasing to report that trade was up on the week in virtually all departments.

There were 386 store & breeding cattle on offer with prices very satisfactory and plenty of demand for all types.

Steers peaked at £2,420 to average £1,685, heifers £2,240 ave £1,417 and feeding bulls to £1,980.

In the breeding section a 77 month old B Blue Stock Bull made £4,400.

129 finished cattle forward with trade much sharper than last week. Top figures 447p/kg and £3,947 per head.

The average for the 59 heifers was 380.5p/kg and £2,443 per head a significant increase on last week.

The was a good show of 145 OTM cows with top figures 351p and £3,381 per head.

The calf business remains very firm with bulls to £640 and heifers to £760.

A good turnout in the sheep department with a total of 1,908 on offer.

The 1,593 hoggs sold on a cracking trade with the best on offer to 402p/kg and £193.83 per head.

The SQQ average emerged at a solid 330.3 pence making a typical hogg on the 39-45kg weight bracket worth £144.70.

The were 315 cull sheep with ewes selling to £240 to average £124.38 for a very mixed sample.

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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Forthcoming Fixtures

Thursday 29th January – Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale & sale of Store Lambs

We have been asked to pass on the sad news that

Mick Lilley

Died on 27^th December 2025

Funeral arrangements have not been finalised, but we will publicise the place and time when it is known

145 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS overall ave 256.9p/kg or £1697

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

The same number as last week with the average lifting slightly by 4 pence on the week, but generally a better show of meat today.  Trade peaked at 351 pence for a young Limousin cow (4yrs) from Messrs Taberner, Tutbury with a big pure Blue cow from Steven & Ashley Mills at 350p or £3381.  Plenty of better bred cows or younger sorts 280-320p and less feeding cows about.

Results:

Gross Prices:

60 Black & White and ex dairy cows ave 237.1p

The average just creeping up

3 OTM Clean 288-320p

Best cows 255-275p

Big Holsteins 240-250p

Parlour Cows 220-235p

Plainest end under 210p

The best today:

5 OTM Bulls

9 OTM Steers 

119 FINISHED CATTLE ave 378.4p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

UP 23 PENCE ON THE WEEK!

The end of the January blues?  Cattle were certainly dearer today with plenty of demand at ringside.

30 Young Bulls ave 375p/kg

Eight best over £4/kilo and up to £3947 (one of the biggest prices ever achieved at Bakewell)

A joint top of 426p for Blues from Phil & Emma Watson and John Ottewell with 2 big pure Blonds from Mark Shenton at £3947 (394p) and £3720 (400p).

Results:

Gross Prices:

30 Steers ave 377.7p/kg

Definitely more appetite and some quality about to suit all comers.  8 best over £4 and a high of 424p for a lovely Limmy from Charles & Sue Jeffery, Pilsley.  Matt Langton had 419p for his best with a trio from Mike Turner at 416p x2 and 407p.

Results:

Gross Prices

59 Heifers ave 380.5p/kg

The highest average for a while and some excellent prices and cattle on offer.  4 best over 440p for John Grummett 447 and 446p.  Ben Langton had 446p and Matt & Denly Allen at 441 and 435p.  Plenty of quality saw all the best comfortably over £4.

Results:

Gross Prices:

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

Another good turnout of store & breeding cattle with 386 head in total.

Demand strong right through the sale indicating that confidence is running high regardless of the deadweight buyers’ attempts to pull back the price.

All types keenly sought with a packed ring of buyers operating and fierce competition from start to finish.

The sale commenced with a nice sample of 21 breeding cattle which included:

32 Feeding Bulls

Sample Prices:

165 Steers ave £1685

Great prices achieved at all levels of age, size and quality.

Plenty of interest in the younger end with weaned calves selling very well.

Short finish cattle definitely dearer than last week with outstanding prices achieved.

Sample Results:

168 Heifers ave £1417

A good trade for both individuals and bunches with plenty of demand on display.

If you have cattle ready to sell – do not hesitate, Bakewell buyers would like the chance to bid at them.

Sample Results:

41 CALVES (Auctioneer Natasha Hall)

An increased entry of calves today with trade strong for the best.  Bulls topped at £640 for a B Blue from BD Hudson and heifers topped at £525 for a B Blue from GW & WL Neville.

B/W’s topped at £160.

A 6 month old Sim from SW Frith Ltd topped at £760.

Bulls

B Blue                 £640     BD Hudson

B Blue                 £505     Welbeck Estates Co Ltd

B Blue                 £465     WEJ & HJ Neville

B Blue                 £450     WEJ & HJ Neville

Hfrs

B Blue                 £525     GW & WL Neville

B Blue                 £435     GW & WL Neville

Hfd                       £410     DJ Metcalfe & Co

B Blue                 £395     Welbeck Estates Co Ltd

B Blue                 £390     Welbeck Estates Co Ltd

1593 LAMBS AND 315 EWES & RAMS

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

An increased entry of 1908 sheep included 1593 lambs, with lamb numbers well up demand stayed very good throughout with best butchers lambs selling to a top of 402p/kg and a further 16 pens 380+p/kg.  Best heavy lambs grossed at £194/head.  A larger proportion of hill bred lambs was reflected in the overall average at 330.36p/kg.

Leading Prices

Averages

315 Ewes and Rams

(Auctioneers Mark Elliott & Holly Swift)

A bigger entry and the best style a good trade but the crossbred seconds harder to place today.

Mules steadier as well but the best meated horned ewes good to sell.

Top call £240 for Texels with others at £212 and £200 for Micheal Wainwright.

Stronger crossbred ewes £165 plus with £176 for the Hallam Family at Warslow.

Generally, very few real lean ewes, but with wet backs and wet fields these were harder to place.

Best slaughter rams a strong trade but plainer sorts were harder to move.

Top price £236 for a Texel.  Medium tups £139-£147 dependant on finish and the weather and the end of season is definitely now showing.

Ewes 100% clearance ave £125.22

Rams 100% clearance ave £137.60