Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

BAKEWELL MARKET

Monday 1^st August 2022

Decent entries for a summer time market with 574 cattle and 1,172 sheep on offer.

Trade still good for quality stock, but less desirable types making harder work for the auctioneers.

The Store & Breeding cattle section was well supported with 302 head on offer and there were plenty of highlights for the top-notch animals.  Steers sold to £1,590 and heifers £1,390 with feeding bulls to £1,100.

Second quality types and animals that were small for their age were harder to sell.

Clearly those prepared to invest in expensive feed want to give it animals with the most potential.

In the finished ring it was the same story with the best on offer to 310p/kg and £2,232 per head.

The averages very similar to last week at 172.5p.

51 calves this week with bulls to £495 and heifers £240.

In the sheep section lamb numbers were steady following last week’s significant drop in price.  Top priced lambs were 262p and £148.23 per head with the SQQ average at 236.6p about 10p less than last Monday, but significantly better than many outlets last week.

Time will tell where prices will settle after the recent volatility.

459 cull sheep on offer with ewes to £178 and ave £102.60 another indication that there is plenty of demand for the best.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 4^th August:  Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

BAKEWELL SHEEP SALES 2022

BAKEWELL BREEDING SALES 2022

Whether you buy or sell Ewe Lambs or Theaves please note the dates of this year’s Breeding Female Sales at Bakewell

Friday 2^nd September: Theaves & Ewes

Thurs/Fri 15^th/16^th September: Mule/Any other breed Ewe Lambs

Friday 30^th September: Theaves & Ewes

Saturday 15^th October: HPLS Sheep Sale

Entries are now being taken

Any questions, speak to Alastair Sneddon on 07973 982441

Farm Sales

Friday 26^th August: The Beeches Fm, Seighford, Stafford

***************************************************************************************************************

News from the Peak Farmers Group (PFG)

Farm Walk with expert speakers: Is it all in the genes?

UNDERSTANDING how genetics, nutrition and effective husbandry contribute to a successful livestock system.

Our next event will take place at land and buildings between Tideswell and Litton (SK17 8QN) on Friday 12th August from 11am -2.30pm, by kind permission of Richard Baker, lunch included.

Farmer and host Richard will lead the farm walk and give an insight into his farming practices which comprises of a mainly grass-based, paddock system with herbal leys and stubble turnips. He breeds Stabiliser cattle and ‘easy care’ Exlana sheep and has carried out research into genetics and selection.

The PFG also welcomes Dr Claire Whittle and Charlie Mays from LLM Farm Vets. Charlie will be speaking on techniques for improving young stock survival and housing/ventilation while Claire will be talking on how healthy ecosystems mean healthy livestock, on parasite control and how dung beetles are the farmers’ friend!

Please contact us to find out more about becoming a member or to join one of our free events by calling 07483 373 435 or email info@peakfarmersgroup.co.uk.

***************************************************************************************************************

The following AHDB Dairy meetings are taking place over the coming months:

4^th August, 11am (prompt) – 2pm – Developing the rumen for optimal calf health (suitable for anybody rearing calves). A discussion-based meeting looking specifically at the weaning stage and the most efficient process with David Wilde (Massey Feeds), David Woolley (Moscar Farm) and Steve West (AHDB). Moscar Farm, Monyash. DE45 1JQ

7^th September, 11am (prompt) – 2.45pm – The future of dairy farming, opportunities and challenges. A review and farm walk of an AHDB Strategic Farm and a panel discussion with Nicholas Saphir (AHDB Chair), James Osman (NFU), Thomas Gill (Promar), Emma Gregson (DairyUK), Patty Clayton (AHDB) and Tony and Michael Ball (Coton Wood Farm). Coton Wood Farm, Sudbury. DE6 5HL.

Booking is essential via 01904 771218 or email ke.events@ahdb.org.uk or more information can be found at https://ahdb.org.uk/events.

**************************************************************

We have been asked to inform you

The Funeral of

Mr Gordon Matkin

Aged 91, of Wigwell Cottage Farm, Alderwasley

will take place on

Friday 12^th August 2022

at 11am

St Mary’s Church, Wirksworth

105 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 175.2p or £1121.55

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Similar numbers to last week and a slightly better average overall by 2 ½ pence with the returning buyer at ringside making his presence felt. Competition is what is needed to keep the price firm and the only place for good competition is the live ring at Bakewell. 15 best sorts topped 200p/kg with good red Limousin at 218 for Mark Hadfield and 217p for Joe Gibbs. All the better beef cows 190p plus.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

37 Black & White and ex Dairy Cows ave 156.2p/kg

The majority were plainer cows today, but a few well fed sorts about.

6 better cows 182-190p

Big Holsteins 170-180p

Parlour cows 150-165p

Very lean cows 120-140p

The best today:

1 OTM Bull

3 OTM Steers

116 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 237.6p

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

A good show of cattle again, with numbers up on the year and very similar to last week.

21 Finished Bulls ave 216.2p

An identical average to last week with a buyer missing.  7 best topped 239p and up to 248p and 242p x2 for James Wardman, Friesians to 201p

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

25 Steers – overall average 237.1p

Light on numbers but a superb trade for the clean steers today.  Rose Foster and Jack Blackshaw had a fantastic homebred strong Limousin at 312p to gross £2034.  Steven Wells had 300p for his handy weighted Lim with the best 275p plus.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

70 Heifers – overall average 244.8p/kg

A bumper show of heifers this week and some outstanding cattle about again.  21 heifers topped 270p/kg with a high price of 310p/kg to gross a remarkable £2232 from Messrs Foster & Blackshaw (Steer/heifer double – well done!) with both purchased by RW Walmsley Quality Butchers at Catterton, York.  Roger White had 302p for his best and Keith Harrop at 291p.  18 Natives today had Hereford to 255p, Angus to 225p and S Horn to 230p.

Sample Results:

Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

More about this week with 302 on offer.

Trade very good for the best, but concerns about keep and feed costs starting to concentrate minds of those buying the lesser sorts.

The sale commenced with a few Breeding Cattle which included:

An Angus Stock Bull, 40 mnths sold at £2,280 for Mrs J Milner from Dilhorne.

Feeding Bulls

Only 19 feeding bulls with examples as follows:

132 Steers ave £916

Plenty of demand for quality animals with some remarkable highlights, but cattle small for their age were harder to place.

Angus & Hereford in great demand so long as they were big enough and several lots of black & white demonstrated that Bakewell is the place to sell them.

Sample Returns:

138 Heifers ave £791

A great trade for the best.  Angus and Hereford crosses clearly sought so long as the cattle were in decent order.

Sample returns as follows:

51 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

Another excellent trade for all types with a lovely B Blue bull from the Walton family topping at £495, with others to £440 and heifers to £240.

A few more black & whites about today with plenty of interest seeing Friesian to £156 and Mont to £205.

Bulls

B Blue                 £495     J & J Walton, Tideswell

B Blue                 £440     TW Kent & Co, Yeaveley

B Blue                 £385     WJ Adams & Son, Mackworth

Char                    £245     PL Boam, Monyash

Mont                   £205     J & J Walton, Tideswell

Fries                    £150     D Fotherby & Sons, Wormhill

Heifers

Hfd                       £205     D Fotherby & Sons, Wormhill

B Blue                 £240     PA & J Swindell, Chelmorten

713 Lambs & 462 Ewes & Rams (Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A total of 1175 sheep included 698 new season lambs.  With trade back last week, vendors kept numbers down and as a result best heavier meated sorts were a good trade throughout.  Butchers lambs sold to 262p/kg with heavy sorts to 260p/kg and overweight butchers lambs to 245p/kg with a top gross of £148.23.  The overall market average was 237p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

Old Season Lambs to 201p/kg ave 176p/kg

Cull Sheep

A very good entry of 462 cull ewes & rams saw bidding very brisk for all types with 4 grazing buyers operating.

Best Texels peaked at £178 with numerous other pens over £165/head.  The top ten pens of Texels averaged £164, meated Suffolks sold in the £125-£145 range with Mules in the £100-£128 range, Dorsets in the £120-£130 range and horned ewes best meat in the £70-£88 range.

Ewes to £178     Ave £102.86                Rams to £250    Ave £142.47