Buyers return to lift calf market

Friday, 20 August, 1999

By Vicky Houchin

CALF prices recovered slightly this week although poor quality Holstein bull calves are still struggling to find buyers.

At Thursdays Guildford market Friesian bull calves ranged between £4 and £46 and no one went home without a cheque, said auctioneer Ashley Ward.

Morale was good and beef farmers were out in force hoping to pick up cheap calves to add to their stock.

“Im going to buy as many as I can at the right price,” said one farmer before the sale.

He was planning to rear the calves to 10 months of age when he could claim the first beef special premium instalment- worth £103 per animal.

Talk around the ring centred on the need for an export market with many still amazed that the government could axe the calf slaughter scheme when live exports were still banned.

“The government has caused the whole problem and they can sort it out,” said one buyer.

While most were unsure who was really at fault, signs of tension emerged between the beef and dairy sector.

“If farmers want a decent price they must put them [their cows] to a decent bull. And to be quite honest theyve had a good run so far getting £40 for every calf,” said one beef producer.

Mr Ward said the trade was much stronger at market this week, partly because a number of the calves sold were older.

His advice to farmers is to keep the animals for a couple of weeks before selling. That way, returns are likely to be better.

But the poorest quality calves should not be sent to market. “Shoot the things that are worth nothing and bring the better ones to market,” he said.

If the poorest calves are shot then those currently buying them for next to nothing will have to come to market and compete with the farmers buying to rear, said Mr Ward.

Sales elsewhere have also picked up this week, with no stories of calves being left at market unsold.

Yeovil market saw 295 calves sold on Wednesday, and, although 165 were beef breeds, the trade was stronger than a week ago.

There were a good number of black and white calves sold at more than £20, while the poorest made between £4-£7.

At Frome on Monday 613 calves were put through, including 207 Friesian bull calves. These averaged £3.32 each but all were sold.

Despite the stronger trade, however, 40 vendors still went home without a cheque, with market commission exceeding the price they received in the ring.

Auctioneer David Lock believed there was some light at the end of the tunnel. “If we get through the next few weeks well be over the worst,” he said.