Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

BAKEWELL MARKET

Monday 14^th February 2022

After another wet and windy weekend that was not conducive to sorting stock, entries were pretty good with 512 Cattle and 1,171 Sheep on offer. Trade was brisk in all departments with decent averages and plenty of highlights.

The were 273 head of Store & Breeding Cattle on offer with recent levels of trade matched or exceeded.

Many more cattle would have readily sold without making any dent in the demand.  If you have Store Cattle to sell, give Alastair Sneddon a call on 07973 982441.

Steers sold to £1,530, Heifers £1,390 and Feeding Bulls £900.

A pure-bred Limousin Stock Bull made £1,800.

The Finished Cattle trade seems to be holding itself together and there was a useful entry of 128 forward.  Top figures 286p/kg and £1,944 per head.

The average for the 65 Heifers looked good at 240.3p.

The OTM department was also upbeat with the 93 animals selling exceptionally well.

Top figures 225p and £1,710, with the overall average similar to last week at an outstanding 151.5p

Calves a bit thin on the ground with only 19, but some nice examples were well sold with Bulls to £350 and Heifers £280.

In the Sheep department there were more Hoggs than anticipated in view of the atrocious weather.

798 Hoggs sold to 343p and £149.54 with the SQQ average 276.1p.

A useful entry of 373 Cull Sheep saw Ewes to £199 ave £116.16

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 17^th February: Regular Lunchtime Sheep Market

Friday 18^th February: Store Cattle Sale

Friday 18^th March: HPLS Cattle Sale

FARM SALES

Wednesday 9^th March: Brook Farm, Atlow

Friday 11^th March: Plardiwick Farm, Stafford

Announcements

We are sorry to inform you that Eric Tricklebank of Leeches Farm, Wardlow died in Chesterfield Royal Hospital on 12^th February aged 86.

As soon as funeral arrangements are available, we will pass them on.

 93 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 151.5p or £1035

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

A dozen more and an almost identical average to last week.  All shapes, sizes, breeds and ages in strong demand from the big ring of buyers looking for cows.  Processing meat is very much on the menu at present with cows 15-20p dearer than the same week last year.  The only surprise is that there were not 200 cows with the trade that is being experienced, but as always, I am grateful for all that we have sold and I thank the 52 vendors who sold cows today for their support.  Top cow today was 1 calf 32 mnth old Lim x from Jane Bonsall, with older cows to 206p or £1,664 for a Baz for Craig Wint, Alton and a big Charolais came to £1710 for Messrs Prue.  16 top cows over 170p with plenty more 150-170p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

46 Black & White and ex-dairy cows Ave 145p/kg

Dearer on the week, no heifers today.

12 best cows   155-175p

Big Holsteins   130-150p

Parlour Sorts   120-130p

Plainer Cows   110-120p

2 Jerseys         78p & 96p

The best Today

1 OTM Bull

2 OTM Steers

128 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 233.1p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

42 Vendors sold to 22 different accounts

Competition at its finest at Bakewell once again with a full line up of buyers with the butchers, wholesalers and feeding men all working hard to secure numbers.

10 Finished Bulls ave 210.8p

Only 10, but what a trade!  Keith Belfield had a corker at 266p or £1846 with B/W to 204p for Messrs Massie.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

53 Steers – overall average 229.4p

More on offer and a stunning trade for all the cattle, perhaps more on the week.  Very posh suckler bred Lim from Michael Hadfield topped at 280p (£1836) with others at 268 and 260p.  Richard Shaw had 266p and Don Lownds 262p.  10 Natives had Hereford to 235p, Angus to 225p and 2 Mont sold up to 206p/kg.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

65 Heifers – overall average 240.3p/kg

Certainly, dearer on the week with a tremendous trade for all and some super high gross prices.  Jack Blackshaw topped the day at 286p or £1944 for a super heavy Limousin selling to RW Walmsley Farm Shop at Catterton, York.  Robert Belfield had 282p for his posh Stabilizer and Mark Hadfield 280p for a lovely Lim with both selling to Wayne on behalf of Meakin Bros, Leek.  16 best over 260p, 6 Native sold to 229p for Hereford with a couple of B/W non breeders also in the mix.

Sample Results:

Averages:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

A healthy entry of 273 head, about average for the time of year, but nowhere near enough to satisfy demand.

We could certainly do with some more to keep our buyers happy.

The sale commenced with a handful of Breeding Cattle which included:

25 Feeding Bulls

Sample prices as follows:

116 Steers ave £899

Rather more young cattle about this week and plenty of bidders for them.

At the other end of the spectrum competition for the short finish animals was just as hot.

The figures below speak for themselves.

Sample Results:

126 Heifers ave £883

Some excellent level bunches attracted very fierce competition and definitely commanded a premium.

All types well sold with sample prices as follows:

CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

A reduced entry of calves after the increase last week with trade very fast.

B Blue Bulls to £350 & £320 with all types in keen demand.

Similar story for the Heifers with B Blues to £280, Limousin to £255 and Saler to £250 and many more could have been sold to advantage.

Black & White very short on numbers but those forward attracting considerable interest.

798 Lambs & 373 Ewes & (Auctioneers Peter Oven & Mark Elliott)

A total entry of 1171 Sheep included 798 lambs, numbers back slightly but demand very brisk.  A larger proportion of overweight lambs saw demand easier but best meated sorts still grossing close on £150/head.  Best lighter weight butchers to 343p/kg with butchers lambs 337p/kg, heavy butchers lambs to 321p/kg.  The overall average 276.14p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

373 Cull Sheep

Some excellent runs of quality continentals forward today from a very wide area including Cheshire and Further North into Lancashire.

Yet again solid meat a very good trade with the best Mules over £120.  Extra men about for small and plain sorts with some Swales looking the trade of the day at over £60.

Top call £199 for Texels from Pete Jeffery and Family at Sudbury with the Nairey & Lucas close behind at £196 & £195.

The best 8 pens were all Texels in the ewes and averaged a superb £192.75 and were an absolute credit to the vendors concerned.

Big Suffolks well over £150.

Generally, a very good trade from start to finish.

A lot of bidders for slaughter tups with a top at £160 for a Texel and others over £120.

The ewes averaged just over £116 all in.

Ewes   To: £199          Ave: £116.16

Rams   To: £160          Ave: £118.80

Goats  To: £86