AROUND THE SALES
AROUND THE SALES
PIGS: The average auction price of pigs shot up again this week, rising 16p/kg to 110.84p/kg. Supply problems on the Continent, following classical swine fever outbreaks, are the main reason, according to the MLC. Last week the EU extended its ban on live exports to include parts of Spain. Japan, meanwhile, is looking elsewhere for pigmeat, following its banning of imports from Taiwan in the wake of a blue ear outbreak.
MOET: A 5000gns call topped the Genus MOET sale of Holstein Friesians on Monday when the nine-month-old heifer Moet Emory Surething A was bought by D E Anderson, Co Down. The heifer is by MJR Blackstar Emory and out of a Heinz Liberty dam. She has a PIN(95)+£92. Mr Anderson also gave 4200gns for Delta Alpen PIN(95)+£107, a five-month-old calf by Eastland Cash and out of a Ugela Bell female line. At 4100gns * S Killick and Partners, Much Wenlock, Shropshire secured Moet Emory Surething B, another summer 1996-bred heifer bred from the famous Sweet family. The sale, held at Bays Leap Farm, saw the 36 cows average £2200 and 39 heifer calves £1632, report auctioneers Norton & Brooksbank.
MILK QUOTA: An auction last Friday (Apr 25) at Chippenham, Wilts, saw 270,000, leased to average 9.87p/litre. Values ranged from 9p/litre for 3.74% butterfat samples to 10.3p/litre for 4.19% butterfat quota. Auctioneer James Stephen of Alder King said prices were above expectations. On Monday (Apr 28), 800,000 litres was leased at Rugby, Warwicks, to average 10.1p/litre. And nearly 50,000 litres of 4.56% butterfat quota was sold for 45p/litre. The weekends rain had put new life into the quota market, said auctioneers Howkins and Harrison after the event.
HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN: Messrs Craig Brothers, Ivybridge, Devon, dispersed their non-pedigree herd to a top of 1200gns paid by local buyer W Luscombe for a third calver by Jydens Willow. Calved heifers by Southwind, F16 and Moet Monitor Contact reached 980gns. The 24 cows levelled at £761, according to auctioneers Stags.
DISPERSAL: Seventy-six years of farming history ended recently when Den and Ruth Smith held a dispersal at Haresfield Farm, Standish, Glos. Auctioneer Joe Hiram of Hamiltons sold a five-year-old unregistered Friesian cow and her two-month-old calf for £905. A three-year-old heifer, currently giving more than five gallons of milk a day, made £800.
MACHINERY: A recent retirement sale for J Smith at Hall Farm, Sheffield, saw a top price of £18,000 paid for a N-reg Ford 6640 4wd Powerstar tractor. At £11,000 was a L-reg Ford 5030 tractor with loader; and making £9400 was a J-reg Ford 6410 2wd, according to auctioneers Bagshaws.n