Mart Christmas sales lift trade above last year

Christmas sales have continued to buoy primestock averages, helping lift the trade above last year’s levels.

Liveweight steers rocketed 20p/kg to end the first week of December at 203p/kg, the first time weekly steer averages have hit 200p/kg or more this year.

Heifers saw a similar lift to sit at 213p/kg and bulls hit an 11-month high of 180p/kg.

Prime lambs, which have been in demand since the autumn weather hit supply, rose to a five-month high of 194p/kg, with deadweight prices seeing R4Ls at 405p/kg and E3Ls at 444.1p/kg.

See also: Christmas primestock sales see trade lift further

Colchester

An entry of 81 prime cattle included 42 entries in the show classes at Colchester last week (3 December), with the Ketleys of Fingringhoe claim both cattle and lamb championships.

Cattle trade topped at 480p/kg (£2,438) for the Ketley’s 550kg champion Limousin-cross steer, which was sold to George Blackwell, Black Farm Shop, Earls Colne.

In reserve was a Limousin heifer at 310p/kg (£1,980) from Graham and Heather Blythe, Horsford, which was snapped up by John Coleman, Boxted.

An entry of 789 sheep including 60 show lambs saw the Ketley’s pair of 42kg Charollais-cross lambs make 625p/kg (£300 a head) and take home the red ticket. George Blackwell was in the bidding once again.

Overall trade saw 32.1-39kg lambs average 202p/kg (£76), 39.1-45kg lambs hit 206p/kg (£85) and heavies average 206p/kg (£99.58).

Knighton

A good entry of 1,056 prime lambs averaged 195p/kg at Knighton last week (5 December), topping at 333p/kg for the champion pen of lambs from Mark Tortoriello, Garbett Hall.

This entry won the class of 10 or more lambs sired by a continental breed not exceeding 41kg.

A pen of 46kg lambs secured a bid of £110 a head and the reserve championship rosette, while another pen of 42kg Texel-cross lambs hit 227p/kg (£95.50).

Dumfries

Prime cattle entries were topped by a 650kg black Limousin bullock from A and E Vance, Bridgehouse, selling to W Lindsay, Creetown Butchers, for 300p/kg at Dumfries last week (9 December).

In reserve was a 690kg red Limousin heifer which sold to Border Meats, Lockerbie, for 240p/kg. Galloway cattle topped at 230p/kg.

The centre’s first pig sale for 30 years saw keen bidding support a brisk trade for porkers, cutters, sows and boars, although weaners were harder to cash.

Weaners sold to £85 and growers to £45. Light porkers sold to £85, cutters to £100 and baconers to £120.