Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

BAKEWELL MARKET

Monday 11^th October

Almost a full house this week with 866 Cattle and 2,234 Sheep on offer.

The increased entries in no way blunted demand and trade remained firm in all departments.  Changes in averages tended to indicate the time of year with some poorer quality animals on sale.

The were 541 Store & Breeding Cattle on offer, a sample that included rather more young cattle together with some middling sorts that all found a buyer at an appropriate price.

At the top end of the quality spectrum trade was as good as ever with Steers to £1,470 and Heifers £1,310, Feeding Bulls reached £1,080.

In the Breeding section Cows with Calves sold to £1,550 and Hereford Stock Bulls to £1,520.

Much the same story in the Finished ring with quality cattle in strong demand and top prices at 301 pence and £1,968.  The rather mixed selection of animals on offer saw averages less with the 47 Steers levelling at 221.5p.

A good turnout of 144 OTM and Feeding Cows with top figures 246p and £1,570.  The average was back a bit at 132 pence.

Rather more Calves about with 54 on sale.  Bulls to £410 and Heifers £275.

In the Sheep section there were larger entries of lambs and cull sheep, possibly because many vendors have previously been tied up with the 6-day rule after purchasing breeding stock.

The were 1,521 lambs selling to a remarkable 281p and £138.47 per head.

The SQQ average looked very healthy at 238.8p.

A lot more Cull Sheep on offer with 704 in total.  Ewes peaked at £147 with an average of £76.26 reflecting some hill breeds in the entry.

Forthcoming Market Fixtures

Thursday 14^th October: Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Friday 15^th October: HPLS Suckled Calf Sale

Saturday 16^th October: HPLS Hill Sheep Sale

Friday 22^nd October: Next Store Lamb & General Sheep Sale

Friday 29^th October: Orange Market for TB restricted cattle

Other Fixtures

Thursday 14^th October: Dispersal Sale at Cowlow, Buxton

Saturday 16^th October: Dispersal Sale at Blithbury, Rugeley

Thursday 28^th October: Dispersal Sale of Machinery for Duttons at Thurvaston

CAPTION COMPETITION

We have a winner who was kindly selected by Alan Griggs our Rural Chaplain.

The winning caption was:

“Ayup mate you alright?”     no not really I’ve got a saw behind!!

Which was submitted by Robert Flower, Alstonefield.

Robert will be presented with his prize at the beginning of the Store Cattle sale next Monday

The Farming Life Centre will be working with DEFRA and the Prince’s Countryside Fund to deliver a FREE programme of support to help you prepare your farm for the upcoming changes.  Sign up by calling 01629 810903 or email rachelmetcalfe@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk .  Participants will receive one-to-one support, an environment workshop, a business workshop plus additional events and resources.

This Thursday 14th October at Bakewell Market (10am – 2.30pm, lunch provided) we will host a FREE workshop aimed at helping you build resilience into your farm business and plan for succession.  Heather Wildman will help you plan for the future, identify visions and goals, work out where you want to be and how to get there.  Open to individuals and groups. Register by calling 07969951101 or email lorna@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk.

ENTRIES CLOSE 20^TH OCTOBER

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: SUNDAY 5^TH DECEMBER

Christmas Show & Carol Service

All are welcome to this years Farmers’ Harvest Thanksgiving at 2.30pm on Sunday 17th October in the main store ring at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, DE45 1AH. We welcome the Bishop of Derby, the Rt Rev’d Libby Lane as our guest speaker as well as Bel Canto and St Anne’s Choir from Baslow to lift our worship, and Derbyshire Poet Philip Holland will creatively capture the farming year as we continue to thank God for His provision and care in these challenging times. There is free parking. The venue is well ventilated and whilst Covid safe measures will be in place we are asking people to also take personal responsibility for attending. For more information, please contact Rev’d Alan Griggs on 07710 088972. All donations for RABI & the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy welfare fund.

144 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 132.1p

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Even more than last week with 67 vendors showing OTM Cattle today, but as you would expect at this time of year, a number of cold, lean B/W cattle in the entry and some newly weaned sucklers coming straight from the fields.  Trade today would be a fraction easier than we have seen with an agent or two less at ringside but still 19 different accounts purchased today.  Top call today and possibly ever for an over 30-month-old beast at Bakewell was 246p or £1392 for a tremendous 35 mnth old, well fed Limousin x Heifer from The Edge Family, Minninglow who also had a cow at 204p.  Another heifer from Charlie Boden sold at 236p (£1529).  Better bred Beef cows still 170p plus still 170p plus with plenty more 150-170p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

52 Black & White and ex-dairy cows Ave 111.8p/kg

Generally, a little less but still good for the time of year.

The better end – 134-136p

Fed Holsteins – 120-130p

Leaner Parlour Cows – 100-115p

Plainer Older Cows – Under £1

Best Today

4 OTM Bulls

120 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 218.2p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

NEW RECORD TOP PRICE 301P/KG!!

41 vendors today showed cattle to 24 different accounts, competition at its finest and at a time of year when prices can be lower, today the best cattle were dearer than ever.

23 Finished Bulls ave 223.3p/kg

Some lovely Bulls and a stunning trade with only 3 under 200p/kg.  The Wells Family (1^st in the ring) topped the bulls at 267p or £1767.  Keith Harrop had 250 and 246p for his best and Sue Jeffery had 244 and 243p.  A big Charolais from Andrew Taylor climbed to the top of the gross charts at £1968 with 7 bulls over £1700.  Friesian sold to 209p and 206p etc.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

43 Steers – overall average 221.5p

The best a remarkable trade and possibly dearer than ever, but half of the entry today would be in need of feeding.  But at Bakewell, we have a green (restricted) market and cattle can return to feeding yards for finishing off.  Adam & Jess Neachell secured the top two slots at 290 and 288p for 2 lovely Limousin x Steers.  Plenty more fed cattle 230-260p.  13 Native had Hereford to 232p, Angus to 239p and Lincoln to 244p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

59 Finished Heifers – overall average 223.3p/kg

The well fed and bred cattle are as dear as we have ever had them, but some cattle coming in out of the field cold and in need of feeding before processing.  Prices today peaked at a new high.  Steven, Steff and Owen Wells of Monyash sold a lovely 574kg Limousin x Heifer at 301p to gross £1727 and purchased by Messrs Staffordshire Meat Packers, Bucknall.  Michael Wynne had 295p and 286p for his pair purchased by Butchers in Rochdale and Leek with Adam Neachell at 288p to another Leek Butcher.  16 Natives had Hereford to 238p, Angus 204p and Galloway to 212p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

Another capacity entry with 541 Cattle on offer.  Trade remains outstanding and price levels were kept up to the mark with assistance from several new buyers who attended the sale.

The entry was rather more mixed than usual, but trade was as strong as ever and everything made its money.

The sale commenced with some 23 Breeding Cattle which included:

Feeding Bulls

There were 17 Feeding Bulls with examples as follows:

265 Steers from £260 to £1,470 ave £847

Do not take too much notice of the lower average which is due to more younger cattle in the entry.  Trade was just as strong as we have seen it as the following examples demonstrate.

Sample Results:

236 Heifers £350 – £1,310 ave £787

A good selection and all wanted.

Plenty of younger sorts and an abundance of bidders for them.  Angus & Hereford selling well.

Typical Prices:

54 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

An increased entry with all types in keen demand.  Best Continental saw Bulls to £410 and Heifers to £275 and all attracting keen interest.

Only a small selection of Black & White, but again a keen interest to a top of £108.

2,233 Sheep including 1,529 Lambs & 704 Ewes & Rams

(Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A good entry of 2233 Sheep on offer included 1529 lambs.  Demand very brisk especially for the meated sorts.  Best lightweight butchers lambs to 280p/kg, butchers lambs to 277p/kg, heavy lambs to 281p/kg and overweight sorts to 238p/kg.  Best heavy lambs saw a top gross of £138.17/head.  Overall average 238.86p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

 704 Cull Sheep

A very good show of 704 Cull Ewes and Rams saw a very brisk trade with several grazing buyers operating.  Best heavy Texel sold to £147 (twice) with Beltex ewes to £142.

Ewes to £147  Ave: £76.26

Rams to £147  Ave: £105.70