Flying beef trade at Winslow Christmas Primestock Show
This year's champion © MAG/Charlie Reeve Christmas primestock shows have been in full swing at auction markets across the country in the past week, with an already buoyant beef trade receiving a festive uplift.
Winslow Christmas Primestock Show, believed to be one of only two Christmas livestock shows still held in a town market square, took place on 1 December with prime cattle averaging £5.11/kg.
The annual event, now in its 155th year, typically attracts between 300 and 400 visitors on the day.
See also: Lamb trade strengthens as tight supplies support prices
The numbers
£5.11/kg
Prime cattle average at Winslow (liveweight)
£3.88/kg
Liveweight steer average at English and Welsh auction markets in past week
£3.28/kg
Liveweight lamb average SQQ at English and Welsh auction markets in past week
This year’s champion beast, a Limousin cross heifer [pictured] from KW Ludgate, Leighton Buzzard, sold to the Bell Hotel, Winslow for £7,600, the equivalent to £11.17/kg liveweight.
The reserve champion went on to sell for £6.66/kg and made £3,800.
The auctioneer on the day, Scott Ruck from Melton Mowbray Market said: “Every year you get vendors and buyers travelling from further afield for the show.
“Last year we had buyers from Yorkshire down to Kent, because the quality that you’ve got is quite hard to find at one show on one day.”
He added that the high beef price this year had made it even harder for fatstock shows to achieve a premium, but said they were in a good position.
© MAG/Charlie Reeve
A pen of four Beltex cross lambs from GR Fountaine, Milton Keynes won champion lambs on the day, and went on to sell for £380/head, the equivalent to £8.17/kg liveweight.
More than 400 sheep went through the ring, with the prime sheep SQQ averaging £3.93/kg, well above the national auction market average of £3.28/kg.
Winslow Christmas Primestock Show chairman Richard Haynes said: “We’ve got 101 pens of lambs and 25 head of cattle, with the majority coming from local farmers.”
Mr Haynes added that the event was well supported by farmers and local businesses.
“We’re only a one-off show and we need everyone to support us to keep it going, but we need a good committee group to do all the work throughout the year.”
Winslow show secretary Pauline Claridge said the event was set up from 2pm the afternoon before, with carpets being rolled out, pens assembled, and livestock unloaded.
It is then all cleared away and cleaned by 5pm after the sale, to be returned for use as a car park.
Beef trade at abattoirs
Deadweight steer prices are trending at about 130p/kg above this time last year at roughly 660p/kg.
Demand has been firm. However, as Christmas approaches, orders typically shift towards cheaper mincing cuts and could put some pressure on prices.
Several processors are reportedly talking of price cuts in the coming week in an attempt to cut costs and manage throughputs.
The cull cow trade is also reportedly coming under pressure as greater numbers come forward.