Prices struggle at Thainstone show
Prices struggle at Thainstone show
DISAPPOINTMENT at the easing of beef prices was evident at Aberdeen & Northern Marts Spring show and sale, Thainstone last week, where many commercial and pedigree producers experienced a difficult trade.
Attended by the Princess Royal, patron of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, a strong entry of potential show cattle tried in vain to shrug off the ills of the trade in Scotch beef which has seen prime steers fall by up to 2p/kg last week and heifers by about 2.5p/kg.
Speaking to a crowded ringside, the Princess Royal acknowledged the support by exhibiting producers and said: "I know the agricultural industry in North East Scotland has been hit hard by the problems in the beef industry, but I hope we can look forward to a better future for the quality beef you produce in this area."
To help realise these hopes, prices will have to return across the £1/kg barrier, reversing the recent trend which has seen values slip to about 90p/kg.
However a strong start to the showing season for commercial cattle came with a leading bid of £1500 for the heifer champion, a yearling Limousin X from John and Maureen Hunter, West Cairnhill, Culsalmond, Aberdeenshire. It was bought by exhibitor Bertie Paton of Angus.
The steer which took top honours was a 10-month-old Limousin X Belgian Blue weighing in at 494kg from first-time exhibitor Ronald Mackay, Lybster, Caithness. But buyers couldnt meet its owners expectations and it remained unsold at £1300.
However, the reserve championship steer from Aberdeenshire-based Robbie Wilson, sold for £1020 to Somerset-based butcher and exhibitor Gerald David.
Some of the 104 pedigree cattle entered for the show were also trying to shrug off the beef trades ills, but with little success. Ranking among the few brighter moments, the entry of Charolais cattle set a new record for the centre at 7000gns (see Stock and Sales Update, p33). That was for the 20-month-old Kinclune Ormand from JA Wilson & Son selling to Banffshire-based suckler producers Mark & Ian Baxter.
Interest in Limousin cattle saw a top bid of 2900gns for the second prize winner from John and Margaret Penny, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire. Shannas Olympus, a 22-month-old son of Ronick Jalopy sold to MC Thompson & Sons, Banffshire. But trade has yet to flourish to realise the sort of interest seen at other beef breeding sales and a total of 11 Limousin bulls averaged £1851.81.
Reflecting commercial prices, other breeds also experienced a difficult trade.
Notably, Aberdeen Angus saw numerous bulls withdrawn as bids failed to meet vendors expectations. Best on the day was a 2400gns pitch by J & * Flett, Orkney for the second prize-winning Escort X1 from Charles and Liz McCombie from Auchincrieve, Aberdeenshire.
The champion Aberdeen Angus, two-year-old Paragon of Fordafourie from Sandy Lee, Fraserburgh, made 1500gns to Ken Howie, Cairnton, Aberdeenshire.
Demand for Simmental sires saw two sell to a top of 2000gns a piece. Blonde dAquitaine found buyer-support to 1550gns. *
Beef producers would welcome a return to pre-BSE days (above) but a new Charolais record brought a lift to proceedings at Thainstone.