Calf prices reach a three month high at Shrewsbury market

Auctioneers Halls reported the best prices for three months in the calf section at Shrewsbury Auction Centre today (Tuesday).

A Charolais cross-bred bull calf from Chris Paine, of New House Farm, Cotes, Staffordshire sold for £376, closely followed by two British Blue bull calves from Messrs J. D. Jones and Son of Marton Grange Farm, Marton, near Shrewsbury, which sold for £369 and £365 respectively.

Top priced heifer calf was a British Blue from Mr P. T. Stinton, of New House Farm, Brimfield, Ludlow, which sold for £330 followed by another British Blue from Mr J. C. Hughes of Trench Farm, Ellesmere.

Auctioneer Tom Jones said 102 calves went under the hammer, with a strong trade throughout. "Calf numbers are increasing every week, as more farmers opt to sell them through the market rather than directly off the farm," he said.

"Having finished the corn harvest, farmers are returning to the market in search of calves. Due to the strong trade in store cattle further down the line, farmers are keen to restock for the winter.

"There has been a noticeable increase in Friesian calves, as more farmers are now breeding their own dairy replacements."