Leek market

Good numbers forward again this week, with clean cattle to 191p/ kg and barrens to 126p/kg selling on a firm trade for the quality on offer.

Butchers’ lambs were steadier on the week, but comparing well with other outlets, with best lambs to 192p/kg and top headage price of £85.17. Ewes sold to £106. A good turnout of calves this week, with buyers for all but quality selling very well in comparison. Top price of £355 for Limousin bulls and heifers to £260.

A small entry of dairies ahead of next week’s bumperentry for the Pedigree sale. Top price of £1,600 for a third calver.

Pigs were back slightly on the week, with a top of 124p/kg for bacon pigs.

BARREN COWS (59)

Cows continue to sell on a firm trade, and a large proportion of leaner cattle on offer today.

Top price of 126p/kg for a 680kg Charolais cow from J Barber, Quarnford with a 555kg Limousin from Tom Meakin, Elkstones at 120p/kg.

Other top prices include:

116p 525kg Friesian – D J

& J Mayer, Biddulph Park;; 112p 640kg Friesian - RF & JP Critchlow, Hartington;

111p 680kg British Blue - R J Critchlow, Grindon; 111p 755kg British Blue - R J Critchlow;

106p 690kg Holstein - GW & MA Platt, Gawsworth;

104p 735kg Friesian - T G Adams & Son, Calwich;

104p 690kg Friesian - RF & JP Critchlow, Hartington; 102p 835kg Hereford - G Norbury, Macclesfield; 102p 795kg Holstein - E Morley & Sons, Kirk Langley; 102p 625kg Ayrshire - S Ryder, Dilhorne.

Overall average of 88.51p/kg or £582.11 per head. Top headage price of £924.15 for a 915kg Friesian from F E Whittaker & amp; Sons, Bosley with Charolais from John Barber at £856.80 and Herefords to £851.70.

CLEAN CATTLE (20)

A good trade for the cattle on offer today. Top price of 191p/kg for a 560kg Limousin heifer with other heifers at 178p/kg for a 595kg Limousin and 177p/kg for a 615kg British Blue.

Steers sold to 188p/kg for a 575kg Angus from George Wise, Audley with a 535kg British Blue at 184p/kg from CS JJ & WE Bower, Hollingworth. A 625kg British

Blue from J R Hall, Endon realised 180p/kg with a 585kg Hereford at 179p/kg from J W Brandrick & Son with a 650kg Hereford at 178p/kg from HA & TR Mycock, Grindon. A group of steers from Reg Bould realised 175p/kg for a 610kg Angus, 170p/kg for a 635kg Angus and 170p/kg for a 590kg British Blue.

A 605kg Simmental bull from Rushton Spencer sold well at 181p/kg.

Top headage price of £1157, £1125 and £1081 for steers, heifers to £1088.55 and £1069.60 with bulls at £1095.05.

DAIRIES

The calm before the storm today in the dairy section. A few less around but some superb entries forward for next weeks Pedigree sale with nearly 100 milkers entered.

The trade for the quality forward was on song with a third calver to £1,600 and mid lactation cows to £1,350.

Look out for the catalogue online later in the week, in addition we also have two Limousin and two Simmental stock bulls and 27 New Zealand bred bulling heifers. For further information on any of the above contact Meg Elliott on 07967 007049.

Second Quality Heifers to £1580

av £1410

Second Quality Cows to £1600

av £1513

PIGS (77)

Pigs were a little less than last week but a good number forward and buyer support.

Pork pigs sold to 114p/kg for

72kg pigs from J & B Fentem and 112p/kg for a 67kg pig from J Davenport,of Gawsworth.

Cutting pigs sold to 116p/kg for a pair of 82.5kg pigs from S Bailey, Biddulph and also for 81kg pigs from J Davenport, Gawsworth. Others from J &B Fentem sold at 112p/kg for 81kg pigs and 110p/kg for 84.3kg pigs.

Bacon pigs sold to 124p/kg for 87kg pigs from J & B Fentem with a 88kg pig at 118p/kg from J Davenport.

116p/kg for 89.5kg pigs from the Fentems and 114p/kg for 98.5kg from Chris Hine.

Heavier pigs sold to 108p/kg for 109.6kg pigs from J W Bailey, of Cloudside, who also sold 107.6kg pigs at 100p/kg.

Cull sows sold to 60p/kg for a 223kg sow from E M Beeson, who also sold a 215kg sow at 58p/kg, and a 185kg and 204kg sow at 53p/kg.

Averages:

Pork Pigs (3) av 113.36p/kg or £79.73/head

Cutting Pigs (15) av 112.09p/kg or £90.94/head

Bacon Pigs (36) av 110.27p/kg or £100.07/head

Heavy Pigs (9) av 99.1p/kg or £110/head

Cull Sows (14) av 46.65p/kg or £101.60/head.

SHEEP SECTION LAMBS (786)

A similar entry saw a slightly steadier trade in line with national trends and the previous days trading.

Best sorts sold up to 192p/kg with better sorts generally 180p and better.

Big lambs continue to be difficult to place, generally trading 140 -155p/kg. Having said that, the best big lambs sold to 184p/kg to gross £85.17.

Sample prices: 181p 37.3kg R J Lowe & Partners, Rudyard; 192p 43.8kg P J

Harrison, Priestcliffe;

190p 42.8kg H Hodgkinson & Sons, Earl Sterndale; 188p 41kg D & L Wain, Ilam; 185p 41.4kg Mosley & Son, Wormhill;

184p 46.3kg P J Harrison, Priestcliffe.

CULL SHEEP (315);

Another very strong entry saw spirited bidding to a top of £106. In general, a much plainer entry of ewes with very few heavy ewes in the entry but those forward generally sold £80 and better. Plenty of light and growing types selling at £20-£55.

Overall average of £46 which represented a good trade for a poor quality entry.

CALVES (182)

A grand turnout of calves with buyers for all at appropriate levels. 48 Continental Bulls av £223.59 Good numbers and prices for the best but the disparity between the first and second quality is huge. 13 best topped £315 with Reuben sales top of the tree at £355 and £350 for lovely Limousin bulls. Medium £200-£300 with 13 young plainer bulls under £135.

16 Blues av £276 to £350 - J Bailey & Sons

8 Sims av £216 to £345 - J Fernyhough

19 Lims av £175 to £355 - P I R Sales

1 Char to £340 - D & G Tudor.

46 CONTINENTAL HEIFERS AV £142.32

Very few best on offer but what there was, were well bid for. 10 best over £200 with the top 5 over £250 and selling to £260 twice for the Blues for R & T Clowes & Son and D & EA Jeffery. Medium heifers £150-£200, with smaller sorts under £130.

22 Blues av £173 to £260 - Two Vendors

20 Lims/sims av £101 to £252 - K W Twemlow

37 Native Hereford & Angus Hereford bulls topped at £270 for D & EA Jeffery, Roston with Angus up to £250 for D & W Davenport, Brereton.

32 BLACK & WHITE BULLS £25.46

The majority selling for processing today with only a couple of good rearer’s on offer. Processing bulls generally £10-£30 depending on size.

19 REARED CALVES

A posh suckler bred Limousin bull (three-and-a-half months) sold to £475 for J R Barker & Son, Findern with Simmentals (sevenand-a-half months) from E &MJ Bradbury at £450 and £428.