United Kingdom-Cattle markets. Leek.
THE snow was kinder to us this week but it didn’t bring back any Barren Cow buyers prepared to face financial reality.
A busy Sheep and Calf market this week made up for slight disappointment in entries in the Barren and Store Cattle sections.
The prevailing Store trade should be ample encouragement for those with stock at home to get them tested and get them sold. Clearly, finishers want stock desperately.
Towards 1,500 head of stock exchanged hands.
Clean Cattle (22)Not the best choice on offer, which was reflected in a considerable variation in market prices.
All steers forward were in the heavy bracket topping 179p per kilogram for a Prime Limousin from George Hughes. Considerably heavier cattle (745kgs) from Adam James sold to 159p and 155p for Simmentals with Limousins from Philip Beswick to 145p.
Heifers, once again, were all in the heavy bracket seeing Prime Limousins from George Hughes at 178p and 175p with others from SL Taylor at 164p.
Charolais from Colin Lymer to 158p, Blondes from S L Taylor 156p. Commercial heifers to 121p. Commercial bulls to 113p for an Meuse Rhine Issel.
Top price Steer £1,026.26.
Top price Heifer £818.85.
Quality price reporting: Steers – Prime maximum 179p, average 155p. Heifers – Prime maximum 178p, average 154p. Commercial maximum 121p.
Over Thirty Month Stock (25)
Top prices were reserved for overage Clean Cattle with Belgian heifers from George Hughes at 158p.
Charolais heifers from Philip Edge at 120p and Herefords from J B Proctor at 116p.
Full mouthed Friesian cows went to 96p for Meuse Rhine Issel from F G Ditchfield and Friesians were up to 92p from Messrs Sales.
Grade Two cows to 86p per kilogram with Grade Three to 78p.
The demand was noticeably stronger for tested cows.
Perhaps this is the time to employ your Vet to full advantage.
Dairy Cattle (16)
A good entry of Dairy Cattle met with a slightly easier trade, however, prices still peaked at £1,900.
Top call went to a Weaverline Bench Eddie daughter from Messrs Mellor of Earl Sterndale, sold giving 35kg she went to Ben Elkin of Milwich.
A Moet Melody daughter from the Lowe family of Hulme End reached £1,840 to Mr S Fernyhough.
Cows peaked at £1,770 for a Boss Iron second calver from Mr T Critchlow of Stanton.
She also went to Mr S Fernyhough.
1st Quality Heifers to £1,900, Average £1,820. 1st Quality Cows to £1,770, Average £1,685.
2nd Quality Heifers to £1,580, Average £1,486.
Total Entry Averaged £1,493.
Store Cattle (10)
A small entry of Stores met with a fantastic trade with B/W steers to £750 and Hereford steers to £630.
A 22 month old Belgian Blue cross steer from Messrs Darlington peaked at £770. More numbers needed to satisfy demand.
For further details or advice contact Mark Elliott on 07973 673092.
Butchers Lambs (1,101)
The Lambs keep rolling in, one man had travelled from Hayfield only to break down on the outskirts of the town.
Lightweight Old Season Lambs to 169p, average 158p.
Medium weights to 192p from W C Shirt and 185p from Philip Hooley to average 167p.
Medium lambs to 228p from Messrs Bailey and 220p from A R Lancaster, average 173p.
Heavy lambs to 220p, once again from Roger Bailey to average 165p. Overweight lambs to 172p.
Top price for heavy lambs £102.52 with medium weights to £99.57.
Quality price reporting: Lambs – Premium maximum 228p, average 218p.
Prime maximum 192p, average 171p. Commercial maximum 140p, average 134p.
Ewes & Store Sheep (172)
Killing Ewes to £100 a piece from Messrs Stubbs with others from Roger Bailey at £94 and Bill Archer at £90 returning an average of £53. Killing Rams to £80, average £77.
Ewes with Lambs at Foot to £152 for a Ewe with Triplets.
Calves (95)
A better show with the roads being open again producing Belgian Bulls to £310 from Terry Heath with others at £290 from John Hughes, average £269. Simmentals to £305 twice from Sheila Hine, average £235.
Charolais to £280 from Woodward Partners. Limousins to £189 from Margaret Moss, average £163.
Friesians to £180 from Messrs Bostock, average for 23 Calves £71. Herefords to £185 from Peter Gilman, average £171.