WHAT a difference a few dry days and some sunshine can make.
632 cattle and 3,430 sheep at Bakewell and a spring in the step of most vendors as they left the market office.
Trade was significantly up in virtually all departments with OTM and finished cattle returning record results and store cattle continuing to confound any attempts at valuation.
In the sheep department bigger numbers and for the hoggs significantly bigger prices with the top call 225p/kg and the SQQ average very respectable at almost 180p.
To give a little more detail on the cattle results there were 315 store cattle with steers to £1,240, heifers to £1,260 and a Limousin cow and calf outfit producing a real highlight at £2,120. Whilst they all looked well sold the heifers purchased for suckler replacements were the hot spot of the day.
In the prime ring 128 OTM cattle were described as being as dear as they have ever been with a top price of 215p/kg and £1,681 per head and a remarkable average at 135p.
115 Finished Cattle peaked at 246p/kg and £1,621 per head. The steers and heifers both returned averages of 206p/kg. The High Peak Livestock Society March sale of 860 cattle is coming up on Friday 15th March, if you are after quality store cattle from the Peak District make sure you have the date in your diary.
128 BARREN & OTM CATTLE - overall average 136.1p
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
Certainly the dearest yet! Just when I thought that they must of reached their peak, they get dearer, 10-15p in some instances.
The average shows them 7 pence more but the cows were no better in general with 40 head going for further feeding, both tested and untested and that is the beauty of a green market that everyone views the cows differently.
Very few of the best fed Continentals about today but they sold to 215p (£1,290) for a grand Limousin from David Critchlow, Sheen who had another 8 year old cow at 196p (£1,473).
Henry Wilton had a good Blue cow at 210p (£1,533). Virtually no overage clean heifers about today! Best cows 170p plus with cross bred sorts 150-165p and as already said 40 feeding cattle in the offering.
70 Black and White and Ex Dairy Cows average 126.6p
An unbelievable level of trade with no clean heifers and genuine cows at 162p (5½yrs) for Chris Beever, Alport with Messrs Cresswell, Atlow at 158p (6½yrs) and Geoff Limer’s trio at 155p, 149p and 149p. Best black and whites 145p plus with fed Holsteins 138-145p and leaner sorts 120-135p and only a few more wasteful cows less. Only 5 black and whites under £1/kilo.
The top Cows read as follows:
215p600kgLimD & LA Critchlow, Sheen
210p730kgBBH Wilton, Taddington
196p752kgLimD & LA Critchlow, Sheen
187p662kgLimJB Shirt, Edale
184p526kgAAJP Critchlow, Sheen
181p672kgLimH Wilton, Taddington
173p774kgLimR & KM Bird, Sutton on the Hill
172p642kgLimDW Twigg, Bradwell
171p484kgAAJP Critchlow, Sheen
166p790kgBBHR Johnson, Earl Sterndale
The gross figures are:
£1,533.00730kgBBH Wilton, Taddington
£1,473.92752kgLimD & LA Critchlow, Sheen
£1,372.46842kgHereH Wilton, Taddington
£1,353.60846kgCharJD Brown, Bonsall
£1,339.02774kgLimR & KM Bird, Sutton on the Hill
£1,311.40790kgBBHR Johnson, Earl Sterndale
£1,290.00600kgLimD & LA Critchlow, Sheen
£1,268.96824kgHolstRW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike
£1,252.68876kgHolstW & EE Lomas & Sons, Ashover
£1,240.68844kgHolstRW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike
3 OTM Steers – average 179.9p
186p for a Lim, 32mths from R Webster, Fenny Bentley
178p for a Lim, 36mths from Riverside Farmers, Scropton
3 OTM Bulls – average 143.2p
147p or £1,681 for a Char, 7yrs from S Kidd, Quarnford
142p or £1,130 for a Blonde, 4yrs from J Melland, Pomeroy.
115 FINISHED CATTLE – overall average 202.9p
(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)
A record monday average.
To prove my point with the cows, the clean cattle were also the dearest that we have ever seen with the returning buyers and a marvellous trade that saw bulls to 237p; steers at 242p and heifers at 246p (4 times).
40 Young Bulls –overall average 196.1p
Split exactly half/half between black and whites and beef bulls.
Top price of 237p for a Charollais from Alec Merryman, Dronfield with FN Biggin at 230p (£1,352) and 224p (£1,308).
Black and whites a remarkable trade with a top of 200p (£1,288) for Messrs Cox Bros, Great Longstone and 2 from John Rose, Norton at £1,382 and £1,338.
9 Friesians sold from 180p-199p and averaged 193.2p
11 Holsteins sold from 165-200p and averaged 177.2p
20 Beef Bulls sold from 179p to 237p and averaged 208.6p
The top Bulls sold as follows:
237p500kgCharA Merryman, Dronfield
230p588kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
224p584kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
223p614kgLimJ & AM Battye, Ringinglow
222p494kgCharA Merryman, Dronfield
218p590kgSimFN Biggin, Dronfield
218p656kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
214p550kgBrit BlueWT Greatholder, Turnditch
213p638kgSimFN Biggin, Dronfield
209p574kgLimRM Hadfield LTD, Castleton
200p644kgHolstCox Bros, Great Longstone
and gross prices:-
£1,430.08656kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
£1,382.94702kgFriesJW & M Rose & Sons, Norton
£1,369.22614kgLimJ & AM Battye, Ringinglow
£1,358.94638kgSimFN Biggin, Dronfield
£1,352.40588kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
£1,338.60690kgHolstJW & M Rose & Sons, Norton
£1,308.16584kgLimFN Biggin, Dronfield
£1,288.00644kgHolstCox Bros, Great Longstone
£1,286.20590kgSimFN Biggin, Dronfield
£1,241.76624kgCharWT Greatholder, Turnditch
28 Steers – overall average 206.6p
An unbelievable trade for all with 8 black and white steers as well as Hereford and Angus in the offering, the trade had to be seen to be believed.
Top price of 242p for David and Charlotte Hadfield, Tideswell with Alan and Hayley Stubbs at 235p and David Thorpe at 234p. Friesians sold to 198p with Herefords at 196p and Angus at 194p.
The top Steers sold as follows:-
242p570kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
235p532kgLimAE & HR Stubbs, Uttoxeter
234p530kgLimDM Thorp, Baslow
229p708kgLimG Wardman, Matlock
227p512kgBrit BlueSL Holland & Son, Youlgreave
227p704kgLimG Wardman, Matlock
222p654kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
221p670kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
218p570kgLimRW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike
217p620kgLimJ & AM Battye, Ringinglow
217p698kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
217p520kgLimRM Hadfield LTD, Castleton
215p626kgLimH & G Hollinshead, Lichfield
And Gross prices:-
£1,621.32708kgLimG Wardman, Matlock
£1,598.08704kgLimG Wardman, Matlock
£1,514.66698kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
£1,480.70670kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
£1,451.88654kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
£1,379.40570kgLimD Hadfield, Tideswell
£1,362.68652kgLimJ & AM Battye, Ringinglow
£1,345.90626kgLimH & G Hollinshead, Lichfield
£1,345.40620kgLimJ & AM Battye, Ringinglow
£1,266.88592kgLimDM Thorp, Baslow
47 Heifers – overall average 206.7p
A similar average to the steers and a similar story with some lovely cattle at the top end and a 4 way tie at 246p for Alan and Hayley Stubbs, David Thorpe and two for Michael Wynne. The average today also includes 6 Herefords selling to 213p; 2 Shorthorns to 188p as well as a Holstein Non Breeder.
The top Heifers sold as follows:-
246p580kgLimAE & HR Stubbs, Uttoxeter
246p512kgLimDM Thorp, Baslow
246p600kgBrit BlueM Wynne, Midhopestones
246p594kgBrit BlueM Wynne, Midhopestones
244p508kgLimJW & AJ Blackshaw, Bakewell
244p590kgLimNA Birch, Monyash
238p512kgLimJW & AJ Blackshaw, Bakewell
236p422kgLimJW & AJ Blackshaw, Bakewell
235p508kgLimJW & AJ Blackshaw, Bakewell
235p554kgLimNA Birch, Monyash
Top gross figures:-
£1,476.00600kgBrit BlueM Wynne, Midhopestones
£1,461.24594kgBrit BlueM Wynne, Midhopestones
£1,439.60590kgLimNA Birch, Monyash
£1,426.80580kgLimAE & HR Stubbs, Uttoxeter
£1,324.40602kgBrit BlueJMW & CM Eley, Youlgreave
£1,301.90554kgLimNA Birch, Monyash
£1,282.40560kgBrit BlueJMW & CM Eley, Youlgreave
£1,278.00600kgLimH & G Hollinshead, Lichfield
£1,272.80592kgBazH & G Hollinshead, Lichfield
£1,268.50590kgCharH & G Hollinshead, Lichfield
315 STORE CATTLE
(Auctioneer Alastair Sneddon)
With lambing time upon us there was clearly a move to make room and sell some stores which resulted in an excellent turnout of 315 store cattle.
Additional numbers were readily matched by the demand and prices were strong for all commodities from start to finish.
There seemed to be plenty of people seeking stock whether it was for finishing sheds or as suckler cow replacements. The prices tell their own story.
62 Feeding Bulls
Typical examples as follows:-
£1,110Sim15mPA & HM Wilson, Fradswell
£895Lim x9mJ & R Sims, Fritchley
£870Here13-14mJC Shepherd & Son, Dungworth
£860Here17mMiss E Bennison, Stockport
£820Sim x11-12mPK Heathcote, Buxton
£810Char x9mD & J Wyllie, Tamworth
£780Saler x9mJ & R Sims, Fritchley
£755Lim x10mDM Thorp, Baslow
£655Here10mJ & D Gillies, Shuttlewood
119 Heifers
A good assortment of heifers with some decent matching bunches which clearly suited the buyers and sold at a premium.
Sample results:
£1,260Char x22mJW & RG Ede, Youlgreave
£1,250Char35mS Franks, Bradfield
£1,205BB x22mGM Grindey & Son, Hartington
£1,115BB x22-23mFW Higginbottom, Holymoorside
£1,110Lim x22mMJ Burnett, Rowsley
£1,020BB x11mMiss N Beardsley, Muggington
£940Blonde x20mGH Gregory, Sheldon
£940Lim x17mAP Pugh, Chesterfield
£930Devon18mCT Land, Snelston
£930Lim x22-24mD Gould, Waterhouses
£910Lim x21mW & C & J Barratt, Coombs
£845BB x10-12mRL Pattinson, Wyaston
£845Blonde x18-20mJ & J Walton, Tideswell
£800Gall21-22mDA & F Brown, Brassington
£780Lim x9-10mJT & RA Deacon, Rolleston
£760Lim x22-25mSR Hinchley, Ashover
£735Lim x8mCPR & JM Mycock, Friden
£725Char x12-13mDR Gould & Son, Grangemill
£720Lim x7-9mP Hambleton, Waterhouses
£665Sim x9mEW Moss & Son, Abbotts Bromley
£650Here x12-13mJ & D Gillies, Shuttlewood
£530Here9-11mJH Riley, Longnor
114 Steers
A rather mixed selection with a good number of black and whites – all well sold, but short of top end quality.
Sample prices:
£1,240Lim x12mMD Shimwell, Youlgreave
£1,240Lim x22mGM Grindey, Hartington
£1,200BB21mJA Skidmore, Chelmorton
£1,110BB x12mRL Pattinson, Wyaston
£1,100BB x12mRL Pattinson, Wyaston
£1,050BB x19-21mWT Heathcote, Grangemill
£1,000Lim x10mMiss N Beardlsey, Muggington
£970Devon13mCT Land, Snelston
£900Gal22mDA & F Brown, Brassington
£885Char9mN & S Pearson, Peak Forest
£880Lim x11mMrs SB Torr, Tissington
£870Lim x10mTJ & MR Gould, Sheen
£870Lim x16mG & M Limer, Taddington
£850Fries23mPK Heathcote LTD, Buxton
£805Char x12-14mDR Gould & Sons, Grangemill
£800Lim x9mP Hambleton, Calton
£770Sim x9mJ Woolley & Son, Longnor
£685Fries18mM Lomas, Flagg
£620Holst14-19mN & S Pearson, Peak Forest
20 Breeding Cattle
Plenty of interest.
£2,120Lim x Cow, 47mths & Hfr CalfJR Lumbard, Muggington
£1,920Lim x Cow, 69mths & Bull CalfJR Lumbard, Muggington
£1,700Lim x Cow, 29mths & Bull CalfHM, H & S Shann, Sheen
£1,460Lim x Cow, 29mths & Hfr CalfHM, H & S Shann, Sheen
£850AA Cow, 77mths, PD I/CMiss J Bonsall, Atlow
74 CALVES
(Auctioneer Simon Oborn)
A slightly increased entry of 74 calves met with a much reduced trade, reflecting the wider national trend experienced over the last week.
Calves of all types were much harder to sell, although quality continued to attract a premium.
There were few premium Continental x calves and hence averages were significantly down. With many young calves on offer and reduced demand there were few noteworthy prices. Hornsby and Round of Beeley had Blue Bulls to £274, with W Salt & Sons of Water Swallows having Limousins to £290.
There were some superb native bred calves most notably a run of Friesian bulls from W Salt & Sons with a fabulous calf and probably one of the best seen at Bakewell over recent years, realising £186, and with 4 others over £100. D Fotherby & Sons of Wormhill had two super Herefords in, with a bull realising £230 and the heifer £172.
