Demand outstrips supply at Bakewell sale

The first market of the New Year at Bakewell saw 287 cattle and 1,652 sheep forward despite it being held on the Bank Holiday. Monday buyers were clearly happy to attend and demand outstripped supply resulting in a strong trade in all sections.

Those vendors who had chosen to consign stock were well rewarded especially in the store cattle section where purchasers were working very hard to restock yards.

Finished cattle and OTM’s produced some very respectable figures and the sheep section put in a strong performance with hoggs grossing up to £110.97 and ewes topping at £150.

A good entry of 70 barren cows and OTM cattle saw top price of the day go to a superb Limousin heifer from Messrs Wright, Parwich which sold for 187p to gross £1,312. Other good Continentals sold over 150p with very few on offer. Feeding buyers back and operating well again looking to refill the yards.

Black and white cows sold on a fine trade with the best over 125p with fed Holsteins over 120p. Second rate sorts 105-120p with the leanest cows under 100p.

Two excellent Blue calves topped the youngstock trade with B D Hudson, Ipstones topped both the bulls and heifers at £348 and £288 respectively. A Simmental bull from David Gadsby and Son, Darley Bridge sold for £280 with a heifer from same farm selling at £245. Friesian Bulls saw very brisk bidding to top at £112.

SHEEP

A very good entry of nearly 500 saw a strong trade from start to finish with a top price of £150 for exceptional Texels from Frank Rushton at Fresh Fields. Yet again the horned ewes looked a strong trade with the last pen of the day some part meated Swales at £47/head.

Biggest Mules sold in the late £90 bracket with lesser frames and lighter goods £62-£69/head.

The top five pens of ewes averaged a massive £138.20. In the rams Wayne Smith topped the day at £125 with a Charollais, Suffolks up to £116.

(Auctioneers: Bagshaws)