Bakewell Market

Contrary to expectations rather more stock arrived than anticipated in the light of the extreme weather warning.

We ended up with 266 cattle and 970 sheep and an expectation that store cattle which had been listed and not presented would be with us next week on the 25th.

Measures were in place to deal with the high temperatures with stock given extra space, ventilation fans in operation in the cattle shed and all stock watered after the sale finished at 12.30pm. Purchasers were encouraged to remove stock as soon as possible with very little left by mid-afternoon.

Just 119 store & breeding cattle on parade, but enough buying power to maintain recent levels of trade.

Steers hit £1,390 and heifers £1,330. In the breeding section a Lim Stock Bull made £1,500 and a cow & calf outfit £1,340.

59 finished cattle were forward with most major buyers operating and a decent trade throughout. Top figures 296p and £1,939 per head.

Heifers averaged 235p, Steers 241p and Bulls 255p.

In the OTM & Feeding Cows section there were 67 forward with recent values holding up.

Top figures 223p and £2,152 with the average back a bit at 173.6p.

21 calves on offer with bulls to £385 and heifers £302.

The sheep department was remarkably busy with 738 lambs forward. Producers clearly concerned about the keep situation were anxious to market lambs and buyers seemed keen to buy them. Top figures 327p and £155.55 per head.

The SQQ average was a respectable 300.1p making an average lamb in the 39-45kg bracket came to £126.10 not bad for the time of year. In the cull ewe department there were 204 on offer with ewes to £205 to average £117.82.

67 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS OVERALL AVERAGE 173.6P OR £1144.65

(Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

Only a few less than last week but generally a similar trade overall, although a couple of long-range buyers were absent for obvious reasons. Best cows still nicely over £2 with a good shaped Angus at 210p for Neil Brock. Plenty of good cows 180-200p