Price Watch

FROM the Beeston Review, w/e March 23 CATTLE Best heifers topped at 230p/kg for a handy model from Mr John Gate, a further heifer from the same stable made 217p/kg and at the other end of the spectrum big Angus steers sold to 195p/kg grossing a maximum of £1,406 in the lump. POULTRY POL in increasing demand with those vaccinated and wormed achieving the top price this week, with some 20-weekold bluebells and wheaten marans selling to £9. Barred Rock Pullets to £7.50 and a Pekin pullet to £7. Plenty of cockerels forward selling to £7 showing great demand continuing at Beeston. Demand yet again outstripping supply with calls for all types of poultry from buyers, especially POL. PIGS Best pigs of all classes sold readily with slight resistance towards big weights and over-fat pigs. 95kg cutters topped the market at 120p/kg for Messrs Ellis, 83kg porkers sold to 115p/ kg for M Gleave and Messrs Ellis also sold 105kg baconers at 110p/kg. Plenty of well finished clean pigs around £100 but by the same token, a good number of pigs that maybe could or should have made more. SHEEP A lot less in, but, at the risk of repeating ourselves… what a trade! Once again, any top-quality fit ewes flying past £100, plenty of stronger, fit types over £110, half-meated sorts from £85 to £105, and plenty of framy, grazing sorts from £40 to £70, with overall average as high as we’ve seen for years. Geoff Harding delighted with his Lleyn ram making £155. EGGS Free range duck eggs to £1.50 per dozen. POTATOES £4.80 per bag (Wilja) averaging £3. FRUIT & VEG Carrots £2.50 per bag, parsnips £1.40, savoy cabbage to £1.80, tundra to £1.80. PRODUCE Wheat straw sold to £130/ tonne for a seven-tonne load, 16 mini heston bales of barley straw sold to £34 per bale, oat straw sold to £130/tonne for a 10-tonne load, a 18-tonne load of haylage sold to £64/tonne, eight-tonne load of haylage sold to £122/tonne, 14 tonnes of loose silage sold to £23/tonne.