Leek market

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15

(including annual christmas pedigree dairy show & sale)

A PHENOMENAL show of dairies this year, and what a trade, with the whole entry averaging £1981 and 30 over £2000. Thank you to all our customers for their support & patience with the pandemic this year. The Champion Dairy Heifer went to Sterndale Regiment Masquerade from the Nadin family of Earl Sterndale, selling at £2680. Reserve Champion was shown by Norman Mellor & family of Earl Sterndale with another superb heifer selling for £2450.

A strong trade for butchers lambs this week with a super entry forward, selling to 248p/kg and best quality selling over 230p/ kg, with the entry averaging 212p/ kg. Cull ewes were in big demand, topping at £150 for continentals and averaging £73 overall!

More barren cows this week, selling on a solid trade up to 148p/kg, and black & white’s to 125p/kg.

Another excellent show of fat pigs this Tuesday and some very good quality forward, with prices up across the board. Top prices of 168p/kg for cutters and bacon pigs to 160p/kg, with prices up 15-20p on the week.

Calf trade just as dear and some exceptional quality with a British Blue bull calf selling at £450 and heifers up to £306.

BARREN COWS (51);

Good to see more about this Tuesday and trade still strong for all qualities, especially the stronger cattle. Top price of 148p/ kg for a 715kg Simmental cow with other Simmentals to 124p/kg for J Deaville, Bucknall.

CLEAN CATTLE;

A small entry and no best quality cattle forward. Two black & white bulls sold to 164p/kg for a 550kg Friesian and 160p/kg for a 575kg Friesian from J E Archer & Sons, Hilton.

DAIRIES (96);

No one can argue it’s been a difficult year but with the help of good staff and the understanding and co-operation of clients we have kept the job going.

Yesterday proved to be a fitting climax to 2020 with the trade for milkers exceeding all expectations.

Helped by an outstanding show of cattle which were very capably judged by John Minshall of Tean we saw a top of £2680, 30 pass the £2000 mark and the entry average £1981, probably the highest I have ever known.

PIGS (146);

A much improved trade for pigs this Tuesday with a couple of new buyers after stock, especially the best sorts.

BUTCHERS LAMBS (790);

A seasonal entry sold on another solid trade. Big lambs harder to sell on the week, due mostly to Tier 3 regulations coming into force in London damaging domestic trade.