Strong store trade kick-starts new year
A strong store cattle and sheep trade has graced the start of the new year with many markets reporting demand outstripping supply, with buyers eager to restock sheds after Christmas.
Auctioneers McCartney’s said trade was “tremendous” with more stock required at Knighton market last week (6 January).
See also: More livestock sales news
More than 500 store hoggs sold to £74 a head for Texel-cross mixed hoggs and £72.50 a head for Suffolk-cross mixed hoggs from A Thomas, Llanliggo.
Champion beast consigned by Messrs Sowerby, Terrys Farm, Appleby, sold for £1,500
Ewe hoggs averaged £57.57 a head selling to £65 a head and £62.50 a head for Texel-cross ewe hoggs from JM Jones and Son, Bwlchau.
A firm store cattle trade followed. Store steers averaged 222.58p/kg and £983.64 a head selling to 267p/kg and £800 a head for three 300kg Simmental-cross steers.
Hereford
At Hereford (5 January) demand also outstripped supply with steers soaring to £1,145 a head and heifers to £1,130 a head, and averaging £885 a head and £803 a head, respectively.
Smaller and younger types were the dearest of the day with a 330kg steer making £2.42/kg and a 360kg heifer to £2.36/kg.
Skipton
At CCM Auctions (4 January) a ring full of buyers were eager to snap up the young bulls with continentals going for an average of £1,025 and natives for £940.
Nine hundred and sixty cattle sold in a brisk trade lasting just over six hours.
J Nelson and Son, Clapham, sold the top price feeding bull, a Limousin cross, which went for £1,300.
EW and JR Parkinson, Dunsop Bridge, sold a British Blue cross for £1,280 while J and AJ Coates, Westhouse, sold a Charolais cross for £1,130.
Beef-bred feeding cows averaged £656, with a top price of £950 for a Blonde.
Continental store bullocks averaged £1,050 while natives averaged £949. David Sandham, Lincolnshire, sold two Charolais crosses for £1,340 and another for £1,300.
Kirkby Stephen
At Kirkby Stephen (9 January) it was a Limousin-cross heifer topping the sale at £1,505. Consigned by Messrs Sowerby, Terrys Farm, Ormside, she was bought by Messrs Cooper, Troughton Hall, Broughton In Furness.
Messrs Sowerby also snapped up the next highest lot at £1,500 with their champion animal a 16-month-old Limousin cross steer selling to the judge Mr Dandie.
The reserve championship was taken by a British Blue cross steer from Messrs Pedley, Oaktree Farm, Barbon, with the 13-month-old steer selling for £1,355 to Mr Barnett, Shap.
Lancaster
The opening sale of store cattle at Lancaster had a strong trade from start to finish, with the last animal through the ring from DW and NM Alderson, High Green Farm, making £1,400 for a Hereford bullock.
A Charolais bullock from TN Pye and Partners, Langthwaite Farm, made £1,480.
Auctioneers NWA said there was plenty of strong short-term cattle selling in excess of £1,200 and £1,300.
Sedgemoor
At Sedgemoor trade topped at £1,440 for a well-bred 22-month-old feeding Charolais steer from Mr TJ Richards, Congresbury. Strong Charolais steers (23 and 26 months) from Mr KLH Sweet, East Huntspill sold well at £1,285.
Limousin steers shot to £1,238 for Messrs RW Tapp and Son, South Molton, with Simmental steers peaking at £1,200 for a 19-month-old and 23-month-old from Messrs Habberfield and Priscott.