Livestock & Dairy: Bakewell Market

It was a catch-up market after the Bank Holiday week with plenty of stock on offer, 868 Cattle and 2,071 Sheep to be precise.

Buying power was present or represented in abundance and trade was maintained at recent buoyant levels.

The Store Cattle section was well supported with a total of 570 cattle forward including a few breeding stock, which are now being handled on Mondays.  Prices were well up to snuff with Steers to £1,260, Heifers £1,240 and Feeding Bulls £860.

Cows and Calves sold to £1,520 and Stock Bulls £1,380.

There is talk that Finished Cattle prices are easing a shade, but no evidence of this at Bakewell.  There were 116 head with top figures 246p/kg and £1,548 per head.

Our old barometer of trade the Heifer average looked good at 200.1p.

There were 119 OTM & Feeding Cows with a solid demand in evidence.  Top figures 175p and £1,232 with the overall average a healthy 121.9p.

A useful selection of 63 Calves and plenty of interest with Bulls to £450 and Heifers £362.

In the Sheep Section we were expecting a quieter day with some producers tied up after purchasing Shearlings last Friday, but both Lambs and Ewes were out in force and the trade was there for them.

The 1,542 Lambs sold on a cracking trade with the best on offer to 244p and £115.54 per head.

The SQQ looked particularly good at 219.5p.

In the Cull Sheep section 522 head were on offer with the best Ewes to £157 to average £76.33.

Forthcoming Fixtures Bakewell Market

• Thursday 10^th September: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale
• Friday 11^th September: Store Lamb Sale 5,105 Entered to date
• Thursday 17^th September: Thursday Lunchtime Sheep Sale plus Sale of Mule Ewe Lambs
• Friday 18^th September: Sale of Other Breed Ewe Lambs

Farm Sale Fixtures

• Wednesday 16^th September: Longstone Moor Farm
• Saturday 19^th September: Sebastapol Farm, Shirland
• Thursday 24^th September: Haselour Grange Dispersal

119 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 121.9p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)  

The same number as a fortnight ago before the Bank Holiday and trade generally similar.  The average is certainly less but it is the number of plain Cows in the entry which is common at this time of year.  Meat remains the order of the day with lots up to 169p for a Blue x Cow from Chris Nash with only a handful of best Continentals in the entry today.

70 Black & White and ex-dairy cows Ave 117.8p

A high percentage of the overall entry today and some excellent cows at the top end, but as already stated, more very plain Cows today which, although look well sold on the day, did nothing to enhance the averages.  Best young meated Cows topped at 159p for a 37 mnth old Cow (1 Calf) from Peter Furness, Monyash to gross £1,157.  Better bred Cows generally topped 135 pence with some big Holsteins 125-132p and some leaner Holsteins 112-122p.  Plain Cows under £1 today.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

5 OTM Steers

116 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 194.7p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)  

A good turnout for the entry and a remarkable trade throughout with all buyers on form and wanting Cattle.  Meat is certainly in demand at present and a good premium can be had for the best box fed Cattle.

35 Young Bulls ave 186.9p/kg

A better trade with an extra buyer at ringside bringing the total to 7 and real competition for each and every Bull on offer.  Suckler Bulls peaked at 231p and 225p for Jonathon Salisbury, Hayfield and Micheal Wynne had 220p (£1548) for his big Lim x.  10 B&W’s sold to 181p for a Friesian from Chris Beever.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

43 Steers – overall average 196.2p/kg

Better money for all with the box fed suckler bred cattle easy to sell with plenty of suitors.  Ben Elkin led the way at 240, 238, 230 etc for his well-bred Limousins.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

38 Finished Heifers – overall average 200.1p/kg

Average back over £2 but a big split in prices between the best suckler bred sorts and some dairy B & W non breeders.  Best topped at 246p for a super Charolais from Andy and Luke Mosley, selling to Wayne Smith on behalf of Meakin Bros Quality Butchers in Leek.

Sample Results:

And Gross Prices:

STORE CATTLE – (Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)

The entry of 570 Cattle was very varied in terms of breed, age, size and quality, but there were buyers either present or represented to do them justice and despite some reports that prices were slipping there was no evidence of that at Bakewell.  We have seen a good many Stores over recent weeks perhaps indicating that vendors are selling ahead of schedule this year and that there may be fewer to come.  We will have to wait and see.

36 Feeding Bulls

A very mixed lots with sample returns as follow:

16 Breeding Stock

A small entry boosted by some Limousins – some Pedigree.

284 Steers ave £850

A decent trade right through with all types wanted.

Some smart Cont x animals hitting the highlights.

Angus crosses very well sold and Black & Whites attracting very fierce bidding.

As ever level bunched commanded a premium.  If you have Cattle that are well matched it certainly pays to sell them that way.

Sample prices as follows:

234 Heifers ave £739

Something for everything from a very varied selection.

Trade good from start to finish.

Typical Returns:

63 CALVES (Auctioneer Ivor Lowe)

An excellent show of Calves in terms of quality and an equally good trade to match.

All commodities in keen demand with a very smart B Blue Bull to £450 and an equally smart Heifer to £362.

Numerous B Blue Bulls upwards of £300 and B&W dairy bred calves a similar trade to recent weeks to a top of £92.

 2,071 Sheep including 1,549 Finished Lambs & 522 Cull Sheep (Auctioneer Peter Oven)

A very large entry of 2,071 head of sheep included 1,549 Lambs.  Demand very brisk throughout with trade holding from start to finish.  Best butchers lambs peaked at 242p/kg with heavy weight butchers lambs to 244p/kg and overweight lambs to 218p/kg with top gross of £115.54/head.  Overall average 219.52p/kg

Leading Prices: –

Averages:

Old Season Lambs to 177p/kg Average 146.1p/kg

Cull Sheep

An excellent trade of 522 Cull Ewes and Rams saw brisk bidding with 5 grazing buyers operating as well as the regular men.  All types in demand but best heavy continental sorts in short supply.  Best pure Texel ewes peaked at £157 and ¾ bred heavy Texels to £137, Suffolk x to £118 and Mules to £90.

Cast Ewes        To: £157          Ave: £76.33    

Cast Rams       To: £138          Ave: £122.40