Bakewell Market

886 Cattle and 1,574 Sheep forward made a very busy day at Bakewell.

There was a bumper crop of 571 Store & Breeding Cattle which sold on a tremendous trade with outstanding prices from start to finish.

Heifers reached £1,430, Steers £1,460 and Feeding Bulls to £980. In the breeding section, Cows & Calves reached £1,600.

Demand for the stores is still being underpinned by the strong demand for finished cattle.

There were 136 this week with top figures £1,967 and 288p/kg. The heifer average was back a bit at 220.8p largely due to the quality of the entry.

OTM cattle remain in very strong demand and the entry of 117 included examples at 227p/kg and £1,702 per head. The overall average was a hefty 141.7p.

More Calves about with 62 on sale, Bulls to £425 and Heifers to £290.

In the Sheep department numbers were down following a variety of sheep sales which will have left many vendors with six day standstill issues. The 110 lambs looked well sold on the day with the best to 287p and a top gross price of £127.02.

There were 466 Cull Sheep with ewes topping at £158 to average £82.61 for an entry which included a good many plainer sorts.

117 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS OVERALL AVERAGE 141.7P

One more cow than last week and generally a very similar trade for the cattle forward. OTM clean Heifers led the way with a lovely Limousin from Wheeldon Partners, Taddington selling to 222p for a 35 mnths old sort. Cows sold to 188p for a Baz from Craig Wint, Alton to gross £1473. Better cows 170p plus with plenty more 150-170p. 31 Native cows had Hereford to 182 and Angus to 175p.

Sample Results:

222p/kg 610kg Lim Wheeldon Farms, Taddington; 198p/kg

544kg Lim CE Jones, Bakewell; 198p/kg 462kg Lim CE Jones, Bakewell; 193p/kg 658kg Sim DL Batterbee, Sparrowpit; 189p/kg 514kg Sim RJ Litchfield & Son, Litchfield; 188p/kg 784kg Baz CM Wint, Alton; 187p/kg 788kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; 185p/kg 718kg Lim J Simpson, Bradwell; 182p/kg 700kg Hfd RW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike; 180p/kg 704kg Lim JA Hall, Longnor; 179p/kg 714kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall

Gross Prices:

£1473.92 784kg Baz CM Wint, Stoke on Trent; £1473.56 788kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; £1441.30 994kg Hfd EMF Penrose, Baslow; £1382.88 804kg Blonde x D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; £1360.32 872kg Fries TA & EJ Harrison, Okeover; £1354.20 610kg Lim Wheeldon Partners, Taddington; £1338.48 936kg Fries RW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike; £1328.30 718kg Lim J Simpson, Bradwell; £1315.16 854kg Hfd EMF Penrose, Baslow; £1278.06 714kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; 53 Black & White and ex-dairy cows Ave 126.4p/kg

Generally, a very similar price and look well sold. The best 150-162p; Big Holstein 140-150p; Leaner Holsteins 115-135p; Plainest Cows under 110p

5 OTM BULLS

227p/kg £1702 BB (31 mnths) BA & SW Mills, Redmires; 146p/kg £1419 Lim (10yrs) Lea Partners, Wortley

4 OTM STEERS

166p/kg £1507 BB (7yrs) DC Hoggarth, Newark

136 FINISHED CATTLE – OVERALL AVERAGE 2191.2P

Cracking good numbers again and the cattle are a very similar trade to last weeks record high. Today however, we had 48 cattle in the entry that were not Farm Assured and also seven that were over 30 months. No complaints though as we are happy to sell all the cattle presented but some of these would have been worth more if they had been assured.

16 FINISHED BULLS AVE 210.4P/KG

A cracking Limousin from John Ottewell rung the bells at 264p or £1747 with Messrs Cresswell at 237p for a Limousin x Friesian and also had a B/W at 205p.

Sample Results:

264p/kg 662kg Lim JT Ottewell, Calow; 237p/kg 576kg Lim GC

& BJ Cresswell, Atlow; 225p/kg 770kg Lim JT Ottewell, Calow; 220p/kg 582kg Char DL Batterbee, Sparrowpit; 218p/kg 682kg Lim D Fretwell, Ashbourne; 218p/kg 580kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock

Gross Prices:

£1474.68 662kg Lim JT Ottewell, Calow; £1732.50 770kg Lim JT Ottewell, Calow; £1486.76 682kg Lim D Fretwell, Ashbourne; £1365.12 576kg Lim GC & BJ Cresswell, Atlow; £1363.10 634kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock; £1280.40 582kg Char DL Batterbee, Sparrowpit; £1264.40 580kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock; £1238.16 616kg Sim EP Brailsford, Farley; £1205.40 588kg Fries GC & BJ Cresswell, Atlow

51 STEERS – OVERALL AVERAGE 219.6P

All shapes and sizes today with 23 Continental, 21 Native, 3 B/W and 4 OTM. Best cattle an absolute joy to sell with Michael Wynne selling a show Bullock at 286p or £1967 and a couple from Jack Blackshaw at 273p (£1736) and 262p (£1682) with Michael Hadfield’s pair at 259p and 258p. Angus sold to 258p, Hereford to 246p and Longhorn to 241p.

Sample Results:

286p/kg 688kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 273p/kg 636kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; 262p/kg 642kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; 259p/ kg 632kg Lim G & J Hadfield & Son, Alsop en le Dale; 258p/kg 638kg Lim G & J Hadfield & Son, Alsop en le Dale; 258p/kg 708kg AA PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; 246p/ kg 672kg Hfd MR Walker, Alport; 245p/kg 608kg B Blue x GK & E Robinson, Wheston; 244p/kg 652kg Hfd MR Walker, Alport; 241p/kg 624kg L Horn TH Mills, Baslow; 241p/kg 606kg Lim L Burdekin & Sons, Belper; 241p/kg 690kg Hfd MR Walker, Alport 240p/kg 564kg B Blue x Green Dales Farm, Alderwasley

Gross Prices:

£1967.68 688kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; £1826.64 708kg AA PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; £1744.32 736kg AA RW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike; £1736.28 636kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; £1725.00 750kg Aa RW Ardern & Sons, Topley Pike; £1682.04 642kg Lim PJ Blackshaw, Pilsley; £1662.90 690kg Hfd MR Walker, Alport £1653.12 672kg Hfd MR Walker, Alport; £1646.04 638kg Lim G & J Hadfield & Son, Alsop en le Dale £1636.88 632kg; Lim G & J Hadfield Ltd, Alsop en le Dale

68 FINISHED HEIFERS – OVERALL AVERAGE 220.8P/KG

49 Continental and 19 Native including a couple of OTM, but all sold well for the goods on offer. Best showy heifers from Michael Wynne with a trio of others over 270p. Big powerful heifers from Messrs Johnson sold at 262p (£1928) and 241p (£1928)

and Hereford to 220p. Sample Results:

288p/kg 548kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 276p/kg 552kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 275p/kg 524kg Pied K Harrop, Alport; 270p/kg 508kg Lim JH Jones, Monyash; 270p/kg 608kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 268p/kg 604kg Pied K Harrop, Alport; 264p/kg 630kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 262p/ kg 736kg Lim GW Johnson & KG Shuttlewood, Burnaston; 260p/ kg 664kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock; 260p/kg 558kg Lim Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow; 256p/ kg 590kg Lim Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow

Gross Prices:

£1928.32 736kg Lim GW Johnson & KG Shuttlewood, Burnaston; £1928.00 800kg Lim GW Johnson & KG Shuttlewood, Burnaston; £1726.40 664kg B Blue x G Wardman, Matlock; £1663.20 630kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; £1641.60 608kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; £1618.72 604kg Pied K Harrop, Alport; £1589.28

602kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock; £1578.24 548kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; £1548.00 774kg B

Blue x W & EE Lomas & Sons, Ashover; £1542.08 632kg B Blue x IP Carrington, Kniveton

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE

A massive entry of 571 head caused us to close the book in advance of the usual deadline. One item of interest was the Albion Cattle Society who had a stand outside the sale ring drawing attention to the breed which is celebrating their centenary. Trade remains very firm and there were plenty of highlights within the sale.

59 BREEDING CATTLE

£1980 B Blue x Cow, 49 mnths suckling 4 calves IC Hulme, Buxton; £1600 Lim Cow, 105 mnths & Hfr Calf IC Hulme, Buxton; £1240 Hfd Cow, 106 mnths & Bull Calf S Rains & Son, Ible; £1475 B Blue Cow, 96 mnths & Hfr Calf S Rains & Son, Ible; £1230 SH x Cow, 65 mnths & Bull Calf HP Ratcliffe, Sudbury; £1330 Sim x Cow, 56 mnths & Bull Calf HP Ratcliffe, Sudbury

25 FEEDING BULLS

£660 Lim x 10 mnths Miss JE Bradley, Castleton; £795 Hfd x 15 mnths Walker Farms, Hulland Ward; £970 Blonde x 11-13 mnths D Brown, Bonsall; £950 MRI x 12-13 mnths JC Shepherd, Dungworth; £625 Blonde 1-6 mnths CH Ede & Son, Alkmonton; £980 Blonde x 9 mnths GA & SM Wainwright, Bamford; £880 B Blue x 10 mnths GA & SM Wainwright, Bamford; £660 Lim x 5 mnths L Hibberd, Denstone

243 STEERS AVE £979

A good proportion of strong cattle in the entry as the overall average would indicate. Plenty of buying power in operation and prices remaining firm right to the end of the sale. Angus and Hereford crosses well sold as were the few Black & White on offer.

Sample Results:

£700 Sim x 9 mnths R Vernon, Rocester; £510 Fries 10-13 mnths JW & AE Faulkner, Radbourne; £815 Lim x 10 mnths Miss JE Bradley, Castleton; £660 Lim x 11 mnths TW Yates, Longford; £735 Hfd x 7 mnths K & M Ede, Checkley; £855 Lim x 13 mnths ID & J Hammersley, Offcote;

£940 Blonde x 15 mnths J & M Riley, Hartington; £970 Lim

16-17 mnths V Tabbernor & N Brassington, Youlgreave; £675 L Horn 14-15 mnths V Tabbernor & N Brassington, Youlgreave;

£840 Angus 15-16 mnths CS

Edge, Ballidon; £1290 Lim x 16-20 mnths R Gratton, Buxton; £500 Holst 13 mnths Mrs ME Collins, West Hallam; £900 Sim x 22 mnths P Southwell, Uttoxeter; £1190 Lim x 15 mnths AR Milner, Pilsley £1070 Sim x 15 mnths AP Pugh, Pilsley; £1060 Blonde x 14 mnths CJ Nash, Dayhills; £1310 B Blue x 25 mnths C & FM Percival, Youlgreave; £1130 B Blue x 14 mnths C & FM Percival, Youlgreave; £1375 B Blue x 28 mnths DR Gould, Grange Mill; £1360 B Blue x 26 mnths DR Gould, Grange Mill; £1220 Char x 26 mnths DR Gould, Grange Mill; £1305 Lim x 22 mnths DR Gould, Grange Mill; £990 B Blue x 12-15 mnths MT Wainwright, Poynton; £1165 B Blue x 24 mnths SM Fletcher, Heathcote; £1265 Char x 17 mnths FA & PJ Pilkington, Kniveton; £1280 B

Blue x 17 mnths TW & E Gratton, King Sterndale; £1390 Char x 16 mnths A Hall, Chisworth; £700 Albion x 15-18 mnths C Birch, Alport; £1180 B Blue x 15 mnths Philip Brittain, Buxton; £1090 B blue x 20 mnths A Slater & Son, Mayfield; £1310 Char x 18 mnths DJ Sowerby, Edale; £1105 Hfd x 16 mnths I & J Cantrill, Longford; £895 Fries 15-19 mnths J Melland & Son, Pomeroy; £1010 Angus x 18-19 mnths DR Heatley, Dilhorne; £1250 Angus x 19 mnths CF Edge & Partners, Alsop; £1105 Lim x 23-24 mnths JS Bramall, Totley; £950 Fries 23-24 mnths JS Bramall, Totley; £1240 Angus x 20-23 mnths GPK Trickett, Rowsley; £1325 Angus x 22 mnths D Spencer, Winster; £1080 Lim x 24-26 mnths DA & AM Campeau, Crowdicote; £1200 B Blue x 2022 mnths FR Cooper, Bolehill; £1175 B Blue x 23-25 mnths J

& D Skidmore, Chelmorten;

£1460 Hfd 23 mnths CW & BM Hudson, Longnor; £1420 Sim 25 mnths CW & BM Hudson, Longnor; £1305 Lim x 26 mnths Shirley & Boam, Longnor; £1215 Angus 19-27 mnths NJ Clarke, Ambergate; £1000 Fries 26-27 mnths GA & R Spencer, Winster Moor; £1265 Angus x 28-29 mnths GA & R Spencer, Winster Moor; £1295 Angus x 30 mnths L Maw, Penistone

244 HEIFERS AVE £922

Some wonderful bunches of Heifers which attracted very keen competition and ensured regular highlights as the sale progressed. Angus and Herefords looking particularly well sold as the following prices will attest. Typical Prices:

£680 B Blue x 9 mnths R Vernon, Rocester; £620 Blonde 9 mnths GA & SM Wainwright, Bamford £500 Angus 8-9 mnths GJ Wells, Loughborough; £510 Hfd x 8 mnths R Hughes, Stanley; £1025 Hfd x 16-17 mnths K & M Ede, Checkley; £860 Lim x 13 mnths ID & J Hammersley, Offcote; £1100 Lim x 18 mnths J & M

Riley, Hartington; £775 Sim x 13-16 mnths CS Edge, Ballidon; £1390 Blonde x 19 mnths TJ

& MR Gould, Sheen; £1030

Sim x 23 mnths P Southwell, Uttoxeter; £1340 Lim x 14 mnths AG Tomkinson, Thorpe; £1100 Lim x 16 mnths AR Milner, Pilsley; £1280 B Blue x 18-21 mnths H Young, Peak Forest; £1265 Lim x 19 mnths C & FM Percival, Youlgreave; £1260 B Blue x 18 mnths C & FM Percival, Youlgreave; £1265 Lim x 19 mnths DR Gould & Son, Grange Mill; £1080 Lim x 17 mnths SM Fletcher, Heathcote; £1100 Char x 16 mnths FA & PJ Pilkington, Kniveton; £1430 B Blue x 18 mnths TW & E Gratton, King Sterndale; £1195 Char x 15-16 mnths A Hall, Chisworth; £900 Hfd x 17 mnths C Birch, Alport; £1145 B Blue x 15 mnths Philip Brittain, Buxton; £1210 Lim x 18 mnths BD & A Yates, Middleton; £1245 Char x 17-18 mnths DJ Sowerby, Edale; £840 Angus 19-20 mnths DR Heatley, Dilhorne; £1000 Angus 20 mnths CF Edge & Partners, Alsop; £995 B Blue x 19 mnths C Mathews & Son, Castleton; £1030 B Blue x 21 mnths I & M A Wilson, Tean; £1170 B Blue x 21-23 mnths PR & JM Percival, Waterhouses; £900 Angus x 20 mnths GPK Trickett, Rowsley; £1085 Lim x 25 mnths DA & AM Campeau, Crowdicote; £1075 Hfd x 27-28 mnths AA Ridgeway, Bradwell; £955 B

Blue 23-25 mnths AA Ridgeway, Bradwell; £1095 Angus 22-26 mnths NJ Clark, Ambergate;

£1015 Angus x 29 mnths GA & R Spencer, Winster; £1085 Angus x 30 mnths L Maw, Penistone

62 CALVES

A slightly easier trade than last week with not quite so much quality in the entry. Best Continental calves still £300 plus to a top of £425 with heifers upwards of £200 to a top of £290. Plenty of interest in the stronger B/W with the best of these to £215.

BULLS

Lim £425 DR & S Kirby, Eastmoor; Lim £410 DR & S Kirby, Eastmoor; BB £302 TN Palfreyman, Flagg; BB £300 RS Torr, Tissington; AA £240 WT & P Fearn, Alfreton; Fries £215 J & J Walton, Rising Sun; Saler £170 JF Hayes, Shottle

HEIFERS

BB £290 RS Torr, Tissington; Lim £280 JF Hayes, Shottle

1,574 SHEEP INCLUDING 1,108 LAMBS & 466 EWES & RAMS

A slightly smaller entry of 1574 sheep included 1108 lambs. Despite a dip in trade at the end of last week Bakewell saw the best meated lambs very well bid for regardless of weight. Best light weight sorts peaked at 287p/ kg with butchers lambs to 254p/ kg, heavy weight butchers lambs to 252p/kg and overweight catering lambs to 232p/kg. Top gross price of £127.02/head and an overall market average of 228.82p/kg.

Leading Prices

35.2kg 233p/kg JA Painter, South Wingfield; 36.2kg 287p/kg SR & PM Prince, Rocester; 36.5kg 265p/ kg JL Foster, Notts; 37.6kg 249p/kg MG Mosley & Sons, Rivelin; 38kg 256p/kg D & M Collier, Hucklow; 40.5kg 254p/kg N & S Pearson, Peak Forest; 41.2kg 247p/kg SR & PM Prince, Rocester; 42.2kg 245p/kg MP Elliott & Son, Eyam; 43.7kg 248p/kg JW Blackshaw, Bakewell; 44.1kg 242p/kg M Gregory, Peak Forest; 44.4kg 245p/kg JW Blackshaw, Bakewell; 47.8kg 252p/kg J Trueman & Partner, Cheshire; 48.5kg 240p/ kg J Butler, Calow; 49kg 232p/kg PE Yates, Quarndon; 51kg 240p/ kg I Carrington, Kniveton; 52.7kg 232p/kg R & S Salisbury, Abney; 56kg 220p/kg MP Elliott & Son, Eyam

Averages:

Standard To: 287p/kg Ave: 232.88/kg

Medium To: 254p/kg Ave: 227.84/kg

Heavy To: 252p/kg Ave: 219.87p/ kg

Overweight To: 232p/kg Ave: 224.2p/kg

466 CULL SHEEP

A very good show of 466 cull ewes and rams included a large proportion of plain and grazing ewes which was reflected with the overall average. The 10 best lots of Texel ewes sold at £140 or more and averaging £149.20, with a top of £158 for a Derbyshire vendor, £157 for a Yorkshire Vendor and £156 for a Cheshire Vendor. Heavy Suffolk ewes sold to £139 with best Mules £85-£100 bracket. A very good entry of rams saw heavy Texels to £174/head.

Ewes to £158 Ave: £82.61

Rams to £174 Ave: £94.44

Bakewell Thursday

1266 SHEEP INCLUDING 758 FINISHED LAMBS, 400 CULLS AND 107 STORE SHEEP

758 LAMBS AVERAGE 218.99P/KG Fewer numbers about but trade distinctly sharper than last week for all types. Top prices of 260p/kg and £124 per head.

Leading Prices:

38.3kg 246p/kg JH & IEA Bennett, Branside; 37.9kg 240p/kg M Gregory, Perrydale; 38.5kg 240p/ kg H Hodgson & Sons, Earl Sterndale; 41.4kg 260p/kg C Ford, Whaley Bridge; 46.3kg 249p/kg AC Langridge, Fole; 45.0kg 246p/kg B Ford, Lymehandley; 47.5kg 235p/ kg C Ford, Lymehandley; 53.0kg 235p/kg B Ford, Lymehandley

Averages:

32.1 – 39.0kg To: 246p/kg Ave: 225.28p/kg

39.1 – 45.5kg To: 260p/kg Ave: 217.53p/kg

45.6 – 52kg To: 235p/kg Ave: 218.26p/kg

52kg+ To: 235p/kg Ave: 227.00p/ kg

400 CULL SHEEP

A tremendous show of 400 Cull Ewes and Rams met very brisk bidding from all sectors with several grazing buyers operating. Best Texel ewes peaked at £143, Char to £114, Mules to £104 and Woodlands to £93.

Ewes to £143 Ave: £71.43 Rams to £137 Ave: £104.53

107 STORE SHEEP

A total of 107 Store Sheep included 41 Ewes, these being hard working sheep with Texels to £80 and Aberfield also to £80. A run of 16 Jacob Ewe lambs attracted brisk bidding to a top of £79. Feeding lambs to £82.

Leek Market

Another busy Tuesday sale incorporating the monthly Pedigree Dairy Sale, which saw heifers to £2300 and £2100, with cows up to £2080.

Barrens sold on a solid trade, up to 171p/kg or £1201.20 with clean also in good demand up to 222p/ kg for a 490kg Limousin heifer. Lambs a little less on the week as to be expected this time of year, but trade staying firm, with the best still up to 266p/kg and overall average of 212p/kg. Cull ewes in demand selling to £163, with plenty of stronger types £90 plus.

More calves about with plenty of buyers forward, with bulls up to £400 and heifers to £370.

A much improved trade for pigs selling up to 158p/kg or £168.53.

BARREN COWS (28)

A small entry sold on a solid trade, up on last week, topped at 171p/ kg for a 675kg Shorthorn cow from JA & JE Griffin, Osmaston. Herefords sold up to 154p/kg for a 780kg Cow from J Roberts, Upper Hulme and a 710kg Hereford at 143p/kg for Needham Bros, Bradnop . A 605kg British Blue cow realised 137p/kg for JA & JE Griffin who also sold a 715kg Hereford at 134p/kg.

Black & white’s sold up to 136p/kg for a 750kg cow from WG & J Clark, Bradnop, with a 600kg Friesian at

135p/kg for J Brough & Son. A 880kg Holstein realised 133p/kg for SJ & KL Leadbetter. A 865kg Simmental cow made 133p/kg for RA & KD Day, Cheddleton, and a 720kg Angus realised 131p/kg for GE & RCW Lees, Whiston.

Overall average of 126.89p/kg or £907 per head.

Top headage price of £1201.20 for a 780kg Hereford from J Roberts, Upper Hulme, with Holsteins to £1170.40; Shorthorns to £1154.25 and Simmentals to £1150.45.

Also, a 790kg Hereford bull made 131p/kg for Mrs M Salt, Hollington to gross £1034.90.

CLEAN CATTLE (15)

A decent entry sold up to 222p/kg for a 490kg Limousin heifer from Chris Barnsley, Morridge. A run off Simmental steers topped at 220p/kg twice for 715kg and 685kg steers with another two at 210p/kg for a 760kg and 755kg steers, from Rushton Spencer. A 615kg Hereford steer realised 200p/kg and a 690kg Hereford at 190p/kg.

Top headage price of £1596, £1585.50 and £1573 for steers with heifers to £1111.50.

DAIRIES (77)

An unpredictable trade on Tuesday saw the best sell very well and the third quality more difficult to move.

Topping the day at £2300 was a very sweet Yoda daughter from Messrs Easom, Broomhouse Yoda Retro 6753. She boasted an EX90 50 ton dam and was sold giving 29kg. She was eventually clinched by Messrs Sellors of Grangemill.

The Easoms also saw a second heifer of theirs reach £2100. A Welcome-ted Bromley daughter, she was giving 28kg and went to Messrs Jolliffe of Yarlet.

Cows topped at £2080 for a third calver from the Braemarhouse Herd of Messrs Mellor. She had given 7027kg last time and went to Messrs Gilman.

Next week we have a Special Entry of 23 spring calving cross bred cows from one home.

PIGS (93)

A smaller entry sold on a solid trade, with some excellent prices achieved. Cutting pigs sold up to 148p/kg for a 80kg pig from J & B Fentem, who also sold a pair of 85kg pigs for 131p/kg and 83kg pigs for 130p/kg.

Bacon pigs sold up to 146p/kg for a pair of 95kg pigs from J &

B Fentem, who also sold 90kg pigs for 138p/kg. PF & PD Parsons sold bacon pigs to 145p/ kg for a 90kg pig and 90kg pigs at 144p/kg, 95kg pigs at 140p/kg and 91kg pigs at 137p/kg. A trio of 86kg pigs realised 133p/kg for MR Banham, Bromsgrove. An excellent trio of 106kg pigs made 158p/kg for David Goldstraw, Meerbrook.

Cull sows not as dear, selling to 58p/kg for a 260kg sow from JW & B Bennett, Abbots Bromley, with a 180p/kg sow at 46p/kg for DR Cooper, Whaley Bridge.

AVERAGES: Cutting Pigs (11); av 121.99p/kg or £100.92/head; Bacon Pigs (66); av 119.29p/kg or £112.42/head; Heavy Pigs (8); av 103.91/kg or £125.34/head

Cull Sows (8); av 40.16p/kg or £82.08/head

SHEEP BUTCHERS LAMBS (960)

A good entry sold on a steadier trade in line with other centres, with concerns over abattoirs not being able to operate impacting on demand from a couple of outlets.

Best lambs in strong demand, topping at 266p/kg and best shaped lambs 240p and better. Big lambs well bid for the best, selling to 233p/kg or £131.84 per head. Overall average of 212p/kg, being below the previous day’s trading.

Sample Prices: 266p 36kg B

Shaw, Parwich; 254p 36.4kg B Shaw, Parwich; 266p 42kg B Shaw, Parwich; 249p 44kg D Williams, Basford; 240p 43kg P J Harrison, Priestcliffe; 233p 47kg A G Tomkinson, Thorpe; 232p 47.7kg A G Tomkinson, Thorpe; 230p 53.7kg J Langridge, Uttoxeter

CULL SHEEP (419)

Another bumper entry selling to a solid trade. Best Texel ewes sold to £163 from S Gallimore, with better sorts generally £130 and better and heavy ewes £105 - £125. Best Mules to £100/head and leaner sorts generally £70- £80. Again, the high proportion of hill ewes in the entry but all finding their level. Best Texel rams at £146.

CALVES (188)

A grand show of 186 calves, representing all shapes, breeds, sizes and ages and a good line up of potential buyers led to a solid trade. 50 Continental Bulls av £263.38 10 best sold over £350 and seeing a high of £400 for a lovely shaped Blue from the Handford family, Aspenshaw. Mediums bulls £270 - £320 with smaller sorts under £250.

25 Blues av £249 to £400 - J W Handford & Sons

14 Sims av £316 to £380 - JJ & PN Holdcroft; 10 Lims av £213 to £360 - R J Salt; 1 Charolais to £385 - D & G Tudor

50 CONTINENTAL HEIFERS AV £205.86

Exactly the same number of bulls as heifers today with the heifers looking better sold. 21 heifers today topped £230 with an odd strong heifers at £370 with the best generally £240 - £260.