Sale highlights from Royal Welsh Winter Fair
A grand show of cattle at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair met a firm level of demand with prize cards sought after. But more important than this were the demand and prices being paid for some sound beef cattle. Most cattle, no matter the weight, made from 190 pence a kilo to 270 pence a kilo with all of the steers averaging 201 pence a kilo and all of the heifers 289.5 pence a kilo.
The champion beast the
The reserve champion Cheeky Girl came from Dylan Hughes and weighed 602 kg and made £3500, being purchased by Alan Davies, Berriew, Welshpool.
Although a limited entry in the baby beef section, there was a flying trade with a good strong demand for all types and a top price of £3200 achieved for a genuine steer calf from Messrs D S and C M Edwards with Dyffryn Mr Muscle, which was sired by a Limousin bull out of a British Blue X cow and made £10.53/kg while another steer in the Young Farmers Classes shown by Miss Morgan made £2400 and £8.00/kg. A heifer from D S and D A Brute made £1900 (£8.40/kg).
The majority forward were sold, which numbered 31 cattle to average an incredible 406 pence a kilo on the steers (£1375 a head) and 415 pence a kilo on the heifers (£1200 a head). It was a pleasure to offer such a quality show of young cattle from both the YFC and farmers and we look forward to next year’s show.
Other prices paid for winning champions were £1364.16 (232p/kg) for the 588kg champion steer from G R Fountaine and to R Rattray Bucthers, Dyfed. For reserve steer from Emily Jones, Ceredigion this 582kg British Blonde made £1594.68 (274p/kg) also to Rattray Butchers.
Welsh Black cattle also met a good demand with the breed champion from Derek and Lynn Davies, Aberystwyth selling for £1450.40 (280 p/kg) to William Lloyd Williams, Machynlleth.
A tremendous show of sheep in all sections sold to a large crowd of buyers for McCartneys’ first year as auctioneers. The highlight of the proceedings was the sale of the reserve supreme champion lambs being Beltex X ewe lambs (47.5 kg) from Dafydd Lewis of Pentwyn, Carmarthen selling to £2520 (£53.05 p/kg) each going to Michael Owens, Glantre. The supreme champion Beltex ewe lambs (51 kg) were from S J Smith, Penbryn, Welshpool sold for £400 (£7.84 p/kg).
Overall trade was much better than previous years on all breeds selling to an overall average of 223.92 p/kg.
Pig trade also achieved good prices with top price a £195 bid for a 83.5 kg pure bred Large White (£2.33 pence per kilo). The buyer was Messrs Walls Butchers of Craven Arms,