Bullocks shine in suckler sales
Bullocks shine in suckler sales
GOOD well grown bullocks with full subsidy payments still available are making good money at suckled calves sales. Some heifers too, are selling well, but plainer cattle are harder to shift.
This is according to auctioneers at recent suckled calf sales, which too have been hampered by bad weather.
Selling was delayed at Cutcombe market, Somerset on Monday, because of flooding at Taunton, says Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions Peter Huntley.
"The floods stopped some buyers attending." But despite the bad weather good quality steer calves were a fair trade at £400 on a green CID, says Mr Huntley.
Heifers were selling for £180-210 on Tuesday, which is about the value Mr Huntley expected. However, despite some buyers being kept away, 2100 calves were snapped up.
Sales at Northampton last week saw top prices for steers and bull calves on green CIDS, says Northampton Auctions Mike Carter.
Highest bids went to a "classy, showy string of steers" that made £420-450 each. Average prices for steers on the day was £350-380, with heifers averaging £120-200.
The difference in price reflecting the different premium payments available on heifers and steers, says Mr Carter.
Top prices at St Boswells, Roxburghshire last week, where John Swan and Sons sold 1137 suckled calves, were for Limousin or Charolais cross steers with no claims. The best made the £500 mark.