Strong trade across the board at Bakewell

Trade was good on all sides at Bakewell market this week, which saw 1810 head of sheep forward, with a range in quality of the 571 lambs forward. Topping trade was a pen of Texel‘s shown by R and J and D Wain, Ilam, realising 269p/kg grossing £105 each. The top ten pens of butcher lambs also averaged 235/7p/kg with an overall average of £199.19.

A mixed bag was also forward on the hogg front, which saw best fleshed hoggs selling in excess of 165p/kg and peaking at 179p/kg  for R Swift, Little Onn. Hoggs averaged 162.64p/kg.

Ewes and lambs finished off the days trading nicely, with buyers keen to convert cull ewe money into breeding families. Strong competition meant several farmers returned empty handed after Suffolk doubles topped £145, with singles at £92. Texel doubles sold to £149, singles £92 with Mules at £126, Jacobs at £110 and Swales at £74.

Cattle

Cattle trade was also strong despite a hampered attendance due to good silage weather. On the OTM front with 116 cattle forward it was a Belgian Blue which topped trade for M A Griffin, Ashbourne at £1074.63 for a 634kg beast. OTM steers averaged 134.3p/kg and topped at £1169.92.

Average trade was realised for continental crosses, with an 838kg Belgian Blue Cross from K Belfield, Longnor selling for £1282.14.

Steers on the other hand saw an excellent bunch forward and grossed £1179.20 for a 670kg Limousin cross from H P Prince and Son, Ashbourne. Belgian Blue steers topped at £1030.32 for a 648kg animal from R F T Marshall, Tansley.

Limousin crosses also topped the heifer trade, with a 602kg cow making £1089.62 for K D Burton, Uttoxeter.

An entry of 56 calves met an outstanding trade, with more needed to fill demand, with buyers travelling from as far field as Norfolk. Best continental bulls sold to £318 for a Limousin, with several others to the £300 mark. A smart Montbeliarde bull from G A Ward and Son, Wirksworth sold at £266 with heifers peaking at £310.

In Black and Whites demand was equally as good with Holsteins to £111, average £60 and British Friesians to £150, averaging £81.