Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

 BAKEWELL MARKET

Monday 15^th August 2022

Whether St Swithin had anything to do with it or not the weather definitely changed from wall-to-wall sunshine to overcast with the prospect of rain even if Bakewell only received about 3 drops.

So, with rain forecast 496 cattle and 1,235 sheep on offer the market was usefully busy and trade generally good.

The store & breeding cattle section with 298 head had some excellent consignments on offer which had attracted a full line up of buyers.

Steers reached £1,490 with the average a remarkable £1,034 and heifers £1,600 to average £910, so that even though grass is virtually non-existent, trade for strong cattle was distinctly upbeat.

In the finished cattle section, which is now starting at 11.30am with bulls, numbers were down with 73 in total with top figures 293p and £1,910 per head.  The 35 heifers averaged 249.2p and the 29 steers 237.1p.

OTM numbers up a shade at 99 with top figures 225p and £1,926 per head.

The average was back a few pence, but still a good result with the average OTM cow an astonishing £1,153 per head.

Calf numbers well down at 26 in total with bulls to £400 and heifers £250.

In the sheep section well meated lambs are in short supply, which bearing in mind the keep situation is not really surprising.

Lambs peaked at 268p and £168.20 per head with the SQQ average at 234.2p.

Trade was distinctly two tier with a good demand for better fleshed heavier lambs.  To illustrate this, lambs in the 39-45kg bracket averaged 236.2p, but those over 45kg averaged 248p.

A moderate show of cull sheep saw ewes to £165 to average £91.51.

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

Thursday 18^th August:  Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale

Saturday 20^th August: Ashbourne Show

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

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

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.

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99 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 174.4p

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

A better turnout of cows this week with more B/W about.  Some super quality in the entry and all buyers working hard to secure the cattle.  Cows are very dear at present and the only way to sell them is on their legs and preferably in Bakewell Market.  20 cows today topped £2/kilo with a good Limmy cow (11yrs) at the top of the line at 225p or £1665.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

42 Black & White and ex Dairy Cows ave 161p/kg

Plenty of lean and plain cows today.

The best 175-190p

Big & meated Holsteins 165-175p

Plainer parlour cows 150-160p

Leaner smaller cows just 6 under 130p

The best today:

6 OTM Steers

73 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 239.8p/kg

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Every Monday at 11.30am

The new earlier selling arrangements seem to suit all concerned with the cattle away earlier to their final destination.

9 Finished Bulls ave 212.3p

Only a few today with a top call of 238p twice for a smart Simmental and a small shapey Hereford.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

29 Steers – overall average 237p

Just as dear as last week, but we could do with a lot more to keep the buyers satisfied.  Nigel and Julie Birch won the day at 290p and 286p with their Lims and a trio of big boys from Michael Hadfield all over £1800.  10 natives had an Angus to 246p.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

35 Heifers – overall average 249.2p/kg

Like the steers no where near enough for the buyers at ringside.  Michael Wynne had a lovely run up to 293p (£1804) and purchased by Wayne on behalf of H Meakin, Quality Butchers in Leek.  3 other heifers made 288p.

Sample Results:

Gross Prices:

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

A good turnout of 292 cattle in this section sold very well with a strong line up of buyers operating for all categories of stock.

Despite the fact that the ground is as dry as snuff there is still plenty of confidence in the beef sector.

We had some excellent cattle on offer with several large runs which enabled level bunches to be sold and attract a distinct premium.

The sale commenced with a handful of Breeding Cattle and a small number of Feeding Bulls.

A 22 mnth Limousin Bull made £1,850, the vendor being Mrs D Swindell for Lea Bridge.

Feeding Bulls

examples as follows:

140 Steers ave £1,034

A cracking trade right through with younger sorts finding a ready market and plenty of interest at the short keep end which shows the outstanding average.

Angus & Hereford making their money and plenty of highlights along the way.

Sample Returns:

129 Heifers ave £910

Some superb cattle in the entry sold as both individuals and as bunches.  Plenty of demand at all age groups as the following results demonstrate.

Sample returns as follows:

CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

A reduced entry of calves with many potential purchasers going home short of requirements.

All types an excellent trade with B Blue bulls to £400 and heifers to £250.

Black & White calves particularly well sold today to a top of £160 and an overall average at £119.

Bulls

B Blue                 £400     JE Seals & Son, Shirland

B Blue                 £350     F Mycock & Sons, Wormhill

Lim Str               £370     JF Kirkham, Hartington

Fries                    £160     D Fotherby & Sons, Wormhill

Heifers             

B Blue                 £250     GV Matkin, Kirk Ireton

962 Lambs & 275 Ewes & Rams (Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A total entry of 1237 sheep included 962 lambs.  Demand for the best meated sorts very good, but a large proportion of store and plain types harder to sell.  Best butchers lambs to 268p/kg with heavy weights to 264p/kg and overweight lambs to 252p/kg with a top gross of £168/head.  The overall market average 234.27p/kg.

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

Cull Sheep

A small entry of 275 cull ewes and rams saw demand very brisk with 4 grazing buyers operating.  Best Texels to £165 with Beltex to £140, Lleyn to £135 and Suffolk to £146.

Ewes to £165     Ave £91.51                Rams to £129