'Very good' store cattle trade at Bishops Castle Auction

Auctioneers Halls reported a good trade for the best quality store cattle as 350 went under the hammer at Bishops Castle Auction on Thursday, January 23.

“The trade was very good for the top quality cattle and a shade easier on the rest, which is understandable given the current vagaries of the finished beef trade,” said David Bryan-Jones, manager of Halls’ Bishops Castle office.

“All in all, it was a pretty good sale to kick off 2014 and let’s hope the prices strengthen or stabilise from here.”

Overall steers averaged 230p per kilo and £1,005 per head, with highs of £1,300 for a smashing pair of Limousins from I. E. and M. Gittins, Lower Ucheldre and 319p per kilo for a pure 270-kilo Limousin from Messrs Bowen and Bowen, Penthryn.

Heifers averaged 205p per kilo and £870 per head, peaking at £1,130 for a 480-kilo British Blue from T. A. Davies and Partners, Red House and 259p per kilo for a 290-kilo Limousin from B. L. and J. E. Griffiths, Lower Penygelli.


The sale started with two Limousin heifers with bull calves at foot from J. L. Parry, Abermule, which sold for £1,720 and £1,520. J. E. Huffer of Clunton also offered a Welsh Black heifer in calf to a Simmental at £1,100.

Fifteen feeding bulls also sold to average 215p per kilo and £775 per head with highs of 245p per kilo for a 390-kilo Limousin from B. L. and J. E. Griffiths, Pen y Gelli, 234p and 231p per kilo for two Limousins from Bowen and Bowen, Penthryn, 222p per kilo for a Limousin from I. E. and M. Gittins, Lower Ucheldre and 217p per kilo for six Limousins from Aston Hall Farm.

Other leading store prices were: Steers: Charolais: £1,270 for a 615-kilo steer from Messrs Davies, Monksfield Farm and 214p per kilo for a 415-kilo steer from Messrs D. A. Jones and Co, Bronhaulwen. Limousin: £1,300 for two 570-kilo steers from Messrs I. E. and M. Gittins, Lower Ucheldre and 319p per kilo for a 270-kilo steer from Messrs Bowen and Bowen, Penthryn. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £1,250 for a 500-kilo steer from Messrs B. O. and C. E. Roberts, Forge Farm and 258p per kilo for two 360-kilo steers from Messrs N. and K. Unwin, Panty Crasty. British Blue: £1,160 for three 500-kilo steers from Messrs I. E. and M. Gittins, Lower Ucheldre and 280p per kilo for a 415-kilo steer from the same vendor.

Heifers: Charolais: £1,080 for a 490-kilo heifer from Messrs F. Humphries and Son, Moydogfawr and 222p per kilo for three 405-kilo heifers from Mr M. Bayliss, Coed y Brian. Limousin: £1,100 for two 460-kilo heifers from Messrs I. E. and M. Gittins, Lower Ucheldre and 259p per kilo for a 290-kilo heifer from Messrs B. L. and J. E. Griffiths, Lower Penygelly. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £1,020 and 234p per kilo for a 435-kilo heifer from Messrs B. O. and C. E. Roberts, Forge Farm. British Blue: £1,130 for a 480-kilo heifer from Messrs T. Davies and Partners, Red House and 236p per kilo for two 350-kilo heifers from Mr A. E. Potter, Oaktree Farm.