Leek Market

A busy day at Leek with a full sheep shed with 1620 forward and a good strong trade. A good show of barren and clean cattle were put forward today and sold on a solid trade with a top of 198p/kg for steers and 136p/kg for barrens. Fewer pigs about and sold of a solid trade, with averages up on the week.

Trade was brisk in the dairy shed with a nice entry forward. A top of £1,770 for a fresh heifer from the Critchlow family of Cubley.

A good turnout of calves, with trade similar to previous weeks, with a top of £395 for a Blue bull calf and heifers to £312.

BARREN COWS (61)

A better trade with good numbers forward and a ring full of buyers. Top price of 136p/kg for a 725kg Montbeliarde from TG Adams & Son, Calwich with another 725kg Montbeliarde realising 128p/kg for JBS Eardley & Sons of Prestbury, who also sold a 630kg Holstein at 128p/kg.

Top prices: 125p 665kg Blue Albion - A Howe, Litton; 124.5p 840kg Holstein - J G Curtis & Son, Basford; 124p 725kg Ayrshire - T G Adams & Son, Calwich; 124p 800kg Friesian - W Maskery & Son, Mappleton 123p 665kg Holstein - G Clews, Biddulph; 121p 680kg Holstein - P F Gilman, Thorncliffe; 120p 655kg Holstein E Morten & Sons, Dove Holes

Top headage price of £1,045.80 for Holsteins, £992 for Friesians and £986 for Montbeliardes.

Overall average of 106p/kg or £668.09/head.

Over-aged steers sold to 184p/kg for a 580kg Angus from Rushton Spencer with others at 157p/kg and 153p/kg for Friesian steers and 149p/kg for a 630kg Angus. Top headage price of £1,067.20.

CLEAN CATTLE (15)

Steers topped the day at 198p/kg for a 565kg Angus from Rushton Spencer, who also sold a 515kg Simmental for 196p/kg. A 565kg Angus from T J Hargreaves, Gratton sold for 196p/kg and a 605kg Blonde from George Wise realised 190p/kg. Young bulls sold well to a top of 189p/kg for a 555kg Simmental with black & whites to 173p/kg, 167p/kg. 166p/kg and 165p/kg for 510 - 550 kg bulls from J E Archer & Sons, Hilton. Top headage price of £1,264 for steers and £1048.95 for bulls.

DAIRIES (38)

A solid trade within the dairy section saw heifers to £1770 and cows to £1,760. Phillip &Marilyn Critchlow showed a lovely group of heifers with the best to £1,770 and a second to £1,710.

The best cow, a second calver from Eric & Oliver Easom reached £1,760. A very busy few weeks ahead starting with the Pedigree sale in a fortnight. This includes a fantastic group of 60 unselected pedigree bulling heifers from Messrs Critchlow of Cubley.

Also on the same day we have a quality herd dispersal on behalf of Messrs Morten of Cowdale. High health status, fully milk recorded with many Montbeliarde X these are well worth a look!

First Quality Heifers to £1,770 av £1,740

First Quality Cows to £1,760 av £1,760

Second Quality Heifers to £1,690 av £1,547

Second Quality Cows to £1,480 av £1,480

PIGS (61);

Numbers down this week, but a strong trade throughout and averages well up on last week with more required each week.

Pork pigs topped at 134p/kg for 75kg pigs from Philip Nadin with others at 124p/kg for 73.5kg pigs from J & B Fentem & Sons.

Cutting pigs sold to 142p/kg for 81kg pigs from J &B Fentem &Sons who sold others to 139p/ kg and 136p/kg. 80.5kg pigs from J Davenport sold to 135p/kg.

Bacon pigs topped at 139p/kg for 89.6kg pigs from J & B Fentem with others to 138p/kg for 96kg pigs from R Wilson, Oldham and 138p/kg also for 86kg pigs from Philip Nadin.

Heavy pigs sold to 110p/kg for 105kg pigs from R Wilson and 106p/kg for a 105kg pig from Chris Hine. Cull sows sold up to 60p/ kg for a 222kg sow from A Worth, Marton, with others at 46p/kg for a 227kg sow from J & B Fentem. Averages:

Pork Pigs (4) av 129.05p/kg or £95.82/head

Cutting Pigs (21) av 131.82p/kg or £107.09/head

Bacon Pigs (28) av 130.01p/kg or £121.69/head

Heavy Pigs (3) av 108.67p/kg or £114.40/head

Cull Sows/boars (5) av 44.06p/kg

SHEEP SECTION LAMBS (1359)

A strong entry sold on a solid trade, although reduced in the previous week, was in line with national trends. Best sorts 180p-200p depending on weight and finish. Big lambs in strong demand to a top of £98 and multiple pens grossing £85-£95/ head. Best big sorts generally 175p and above.

Sample prices:

187p 38.4kg Mosley &

Son, Wormhill; 200p 42.2kg H Hodgkinson & Sons, Earl Sterndale; 193p 41.1kg J B Rowlinson & Son, Gawsworth; 192p 44.5kg T J Bloor, Endon;

190p 42.6kg Mosley & Son, Wormhill; 188p 45.5kg Smith & Wardman, Longnor; 181p 47.8kg E T Simpson, Winkhill; 175p 56kg J A Hine, Biddulph

CULL SHEEP (247)

A reasonable entry saw a solid trade.

Best on offer sold to £110 for ewes from the Lancaster family. Best mules in and around the £80 mark.

Welsh ewes to £41. Overall average a very solid £55 for the entry forward.

Best rams to £100 to average £80 for the entry of 10.

CALVES (205)

A tidy turnout of calves with trade very similar to the last few weeks. Best calves in strong demand but smaller sorts look good value.

62 Continental Bulls av £222.14 Best calves good to sell with several buyers wanting quality. 14 better sorts topped £290 with a high of £395 for a lovely Blue (33 days) from EB & BM Sutton, Moreton.

Other Blues sold at £365, £360, £340 (x2), £335 etc.

25 medium bulls £205-£280 with smaller sorts under £200.

31 Blues av £254 to £395 - EB &a BM Sutton, Moreton;

12 Sims av £245 to £310 - EB & BM Sutton; 19 Lims av £154 to £295

– I Gregson, Hanbury.

56 Continental Heifers av £163.60

A similar story to the heifers the best are good to sell but the second and third quality looking value. Big Simmentals topped at £312 for Messrs Sutton with a smart fresh Charolais (19 days) at £310 for D & G Tudor. 11 Best heifers topped £230. Mediums £160-£200 with smalls under

£140.

29 Blues av £169 to £290 - G

Clews, Biddulph; 11 Sims av

£192 to £312 - EB & BM Sutton, Moreton 15 Lims av £123 to £195 D & G Tudor, Kingsley 1 Char to £310 - D & G Tudor

45 Natives

Bulls to £265 for Herefords from

P J Davies with Angus heifers to £170 for FA & TM Cotton, Tean.

42 Black & White Bulls av £52.05 Strong money with 3 rearer’s and 3 processing calves all competing hard. Friesians to £138 and £140 for Ian Gregson with big Holsteins to £110.

Best processers £50 – £70 with smaller sorts generally £30 – £50.