Store cattle prices recover, but it’s still a buyer’s market
© Tim Scrivener Store cattle prices have staged a muted autumn recovery nationally as grazing and forage stocks have started replenishing across some regions.
However, forage shortages and rising cereal prices (up 25% on the year) have left longer-keep stock and dairy-sired types at a discounted level, although special suckled calf sales have still seen continental calves at over 300p/kg, say auctioneers.
Market Drayton
Ben Baggott, market manager for Barbers, says the high numbers of dairy stores they see at Market Drayton are £80-£100 a head less than earlier in the year.
Friesian stores have hovered around the 130-140p/kg in September and October, compared with a spring price of 150-160p/kg.
See also: Advice on winter feeding dairy animals amid forage shortages
He said short-keep stores or ‘yarding cattle’ (440kg+) are making 180-200p/kg for continental-cross types out of the dairy herd and suckler-bred stores are at 220-230p/kg.
“It’s a buyer’s market for the longer-keep cattle and the yearling dairy stores,” he told Farmers Weekly.
“At 12-15 months these farming cattle are 140-160p/kg, maybe up to 170pkg.”
He added that buyers were saying they would rather buy cattle £100-£150 a head dearer in the spring than have to feed them all winter, with forage being tight.
“We’ve sold two-year-old round bale haylage for £50 a bale recently,” added Mr Baggott.
“Another trend we saw, although this looks over now, is more interest in bulls for cereal-based feeding, with silage being short.”
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire’s throughputs have lifted 50% this month, with late October yardings up to 482 and 475.
And while there have been some steady prices, Monmouthshire Livestock Auctioneers director Lyndon Trumper said values seen for the strong, well-bred cattle are ‘very similar’ to last year’s solid trade.
He said a lot of strong weaned calves at 10 to 11 months were making around £1,000, or £3/kg to £3.50/kg. This compared favourably with stronger stores, which were selling at £2-£2.50/kg.
At the October sale of calves, 239 steers levelled at £931, with 195 heifers levelling at £815, up £4 a head on the year.
“People using the right bulls are finding that high-quality, uniform bunches are keenly sought after,” said Mr Trumper. “They are easily traceable as well.”
He said prices dropped £50 to £100 a head in the store ring for three weeks in September, but good autumn weather has helped trade.
Thainstone
Prices have diverged into a ‘two-tier market’ across Britain and this is certainly the case at Thainstone, where John Angus has seen prices and confidence return to pre-drought levels this autumn.
Friday’s sale (26 October) saw 265 weaned bullock calves average 245.3p/kg, while 383 bullocks levelled at 205.7p/kg, 376 heifers made 203.2p/kg and 25 bulls averaged 218.1p/kg.
“There are some people looking for the longer-keep cattle now,” said Mr Angus. “Perhaps the malting barley cheques are in and forage worries have subsided a little.”
He added: “We will be moving into the housed cattle now, so averages could lift a little into the coming weeks as cattle will have been fed. Any lift in prices won’t be down to trade I shouldn’t think, just quality.”