Ringside: Strong prime cattle trade at Derby

Ringside at Derby Livestock Market.


Last Thursday’s (31 March) auction proved the biggest for some time, with 238 prime cattle commanding a tremendous trade.

Bulls peaked at 190p/kg liveweight or ÂŁ1410 a head, with heifers reaching 200p/kg liveweight (ÂŁ1175 a head), and steers selling to 176p/kg liveweight (ÂŁ1085 a head). Overall, prime cattle averaged 155p/kg liveweight, with over-30-month stock peaking at 160p/kg liveweight and settling at 121p/kg liveweight.

Demand for young calves outstripped supply, with bulls selling to ÂŁ332 a head and averaging ÂŁ157 each. Heifers averaged ÂŁ190 a head, up to a top of ÂŁ248. A larger entry of reared calves also met a strong trade, with bulls selling to ÂŁ475 a head, steers to ÂŁ575 and heifers to ÂŁ625. Store cattle peaked at ÂŁ940 a head for feeding bulls, ÂŁ880 for steers and ÂŁ645 for heifers.

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