Northamptons first sale since F&Moutbreak
Northamptons first sale since F&Moutbreak
NORTHAMPTON auction market held its first on-farm livestock sale since the foot-and-mouth outbreak began.
Suckler cows, store bullocks and dairy cattle went through the sale ring last week at College Farm, Woodend, near Towcester, Northants, because of a change in farming policy of the proprietors NG Osborne & Son.
Importance
A spokesman for the market said the sale showed how important auction sales were in achieving fair market prices.
"Judging by the numbers of purchasers that turned up, sales of this nature are the only way to obtain a true market price for stock," he said.
Dairy cows were the first under the hammer. Freshly calved third calvers plus calves made £480-£540; second calvers with calves £520-£640; and in-calf heifers up to £710.
Aged suckler cows with calves at foot made £380-£510 apiece.
Store cattle prices varied, with 22-month-old Belgian Blue cross steers on a blue card (one beef special premium claim remaining) topping the trade at £580.
Blonde 25-month-old cross steers on a red card (no BSP claims remaining) sold for £560. *