Bakewell Market

THE market was busy in all departments with 760 Cattle and 1,662 Sheep on offer.

With 492 head of cattle forward the Store & Breeding section was particularly well supported and buyers were out in force topping up their yards while supplies last. The store trade remains very strong with Steers to £1,330, Heifers to £1,420 and Feeding Bulls £950.

In the Breeding department,

Cows and Calves sold to £1,300, in calvers to £1,180 and mature

Stock Bulls to £1,650.

With Christmas show week behind us, it was back to commercial rates again in the Finished Cattle section, with top figures 300p/kg and £2,083 per head.

The entry totalled 103 head and the overall average was a creditable 240.7p/kg.

Farmers must have been weeding out any passengers because there were 132 OTM &

Feeding Cattle on offer.

Top figures 196p and £1,716 per head. The average was back somewhat at 129.7p reflecting a few more plain types in the sample.

Calves a bit thin on the ground with only 33 on offer. Bulls to £340 and Heifers £240.

In the Sheep section, the 1,229 lambs sold exceptionally well with the best on offer to 338p and £166.91 per head. The SQQ average looked very healthy at 293.3p

Some 428 Cull Sheep on offer and trade very strong indeed. Ewes sold to a top of £184 to average £115.36.

132 BARREN, OTM AND FEEDING COWS OVERALL AVERAGE 129.7P

More cows on offer and a very similar trade, although not as many of the show cows that we had last week. Top cow today was a pure Limousin from Richard Haynes at 196p to gross £1716 with all the better bred and fed cows 170p+. Hereford to 159p, Longhorn to 144p, Angus to 170p, Shorthorn to 136p and Highland to 115p.

Sample Results:

196p/kg 876kg Lim K Haynes, Whatstandwell; 185p/kg 880kg B Blue x MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale; 182p/kg 748kg Lim BA & SW Mills, Redmires;

177p/kg 688kg B Blue Hazledine Farms, Watnall; 176p/kg 630kg Stab S Burley, Loxley; 175p/kg 654kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; 174p/kg 758kg Lim BA & SW Mills, Redmires; 174p/kg 794kg Blonde x Hazledine Farms, Watnall; 171p/ kg 688kg

B Blue x Hazledine Farms, Watnall; 171p/kg 668kg B Blue x D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; 170p/ kg 816kg AA JS & M Hollinrake, Flagg.

Gross Prices:

£1716.96 876kg Lim K Haynes, Whatstandwell; £1628.00 880kg B Blue x MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale; £1387.20 816kg AA

JS & M Hollinrake, Flagg;

£1381.56 794kg Blonde x Hazledine Farms, Watnall; £1361.36 748kg Lim BA & SW Mills, Redmires; £1333.20

808kg Lim MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale; £1318.92 758kg Lim BA & SW Mills, Redmires;

£1274.44 844kg Holst

JS & CE & A Hitch, Stainsby

Heath; £1234.20 748kg Char

Thorp Farms Ltd, Baslow; £1220.10 830kg Sim Storer Smith Simmentals, Uttoxeter.

63 BLACK & WHITE AND EX-DAIRY COWS AVE 124.2P/KG

A higher than usual percentage and a solid price again.

The best over 140p

Big Holstein 127-135p

Leaner Parlour Cows 110-125p Plain Cows 90-110p

4 Jerseys, ave 70p

Best today:

169p/kg £1112 Fries, 33 mnths S Sherratt, Walton on Trent; 151p/ kg £1274 Holst, 9yrs JS,

CE & A Hitch, Stainsby Heath; 144p/kg £1077 Fries, 4 yrs P Furness, Monyash;

143p/kg £1038 Holst, 6 yrs P Furness, Monyash;

139p/kg £1048 Fries, 4 yrs

S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires.

3 OTM BULLS

138p/kg Sim 35 mnths Poplas Farming, Hilton; £1293 Holst 66 mnths DC Hoggard, Newark.

2 OTM STEERS

150p/kg Sim 4 yrs RW Valle, Summerly; 110p/kg Holst 6 yrs RG Sisson, Dale Abbey.

103 FINISHED CATTLE – OVERALL AVERAGE 240.7P

Trade exceptional again and equally as good as last week but without the show cattle prices. Some superb cattle again.

20 FINISHED BULLS

Possibly trade of the day and looking very dear indeed. Only 4 under 215p with a high of 278p for a superb Lim from Messrs Longden, Chinley with other best bulls 240-250p. 3 Jersey bulls affected the overall average but look well sold in the 130s.

Sample Prices:

278p/kg 680kg Lim RS & EJ Longden & Sons, Chinley; 250p/kg 670kg Blonde x MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale; 241p/kg 642kg Sim P Thickitt, Morthen; 241p/kg 710kg Char S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires; 240p/ kg 868kg Lim Boden & Davies Ltd, Mellor; 240p/kg 732kg Char S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires; 240p/ kg 600kg Lim K Harrop, Alport; 235p/kg 570kg Blonde x K Harrop, Alport

235p/kg 748kg Sim P Thickitt & Sons, Morthen.

Gross Prices:

£2083.20 868kg Lim Boden & Davies Ltd, Mellor; £1930.04 854kg Char R Prue & Son, Alfreton; £1890.40 680kg Lim

RS & EJ Longden & Sons, Chinley; £1758.72 768kg Char

R Prue & Son, Alfreton; £1757.80 748kg Sim P Thickitt & Sons, Morthen; £1756.80 732kg Char

S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires; £1715.80 846kg Char

S & D Fearn, Wardlow Mires; £1711.10 710kg Char FA & PJ Pilkington, Foxholes;

£1675.00 670kg Blonde x MT Sweetmore, Earl Sterndale.

37 STEERS – OVERALL AVERAGE 240.4P

A similar average to last week without the show prices. Super star quality today sold at 292p for a black blue from Steven Wells & Family, Keith Hodgson at 290p and Peter Shaws heavyweight at 280p, 12 natives had Hereford to 229p, Angus to 244p, W Black at 227p and

Lincoln to 244p. 1 B/W looked well sold at 198p.

Sample Results:

292p/kg 562kg B Blue x MJ Wells & Son, Monyash; 290p/kg 656kg B Blue x P & B Hodgson Ltd, Tumbywoodside; 280p/kg 696kg Lim PJ Shaw, Stanley;

278p/kg 672kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf; 278p/kg 620kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf; 277p/kg 678kg Lim D Lownds, Reapsmoor; 272p/ kg 722kg Lim P & B Hodgson Ltd, Tumbywoodside; 270p/kg 580kg Lim BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor; 270p/kg 614kg Sim D Hadfield & Daughter, Tideswell; 270p/kg 670kg B Blue x D Lownds, Reapsmoor; 269p/kg 652kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock;

268p/kg 732kg Lim P & B Hodgson Ltd, Tumbywoodside; 268p/kg 642kg Lim BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor; 266p/kg 692kg Lim D Lownds, Reapsmoor.

Gross Prices:

£1963.84 722kg Lim P & B Hodgson Ltd, Tumbywoodside; £1961.76 732kg Lim P & B Hodgson Ltd; £1943.20 694kg Lim PJ Shaw, Stanley; £1902.40 656kg B

Blue x P & B Hodgson Ltd, Tumbywoodside; £1878.06 678kg Lim D Lownds, Reapsmoor; £1868.16 672kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf; £1840.72 692kg Lim D Lownds, Reapsmoor; £1809.00 670kg B Blue x D Lownds, Reapsmoor; £1753.88 652kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock; £1723.60 620kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf.

46 FINISHED HEIFERS – OVERALL AVERAGE 249.8P/KG

A stunning average for the heifers today but loads of quality heifers about and all wanted. Super star quality peaked at 300p twice for a Blue heifer from Ben Simpson, of Bradwell (£1086) and Steven, Steff & Owen Wellls (£1740.00). Natives had Lincoln to 216p and Angus to 266p.

Sample Results:

300p/kg 602kg B Blue x

A & B Simpson, Bradwell; 300p/kg 580kg B Blue x MJ Wells & Son, Monyash; 292p/kg 636kg Lim A & B Simpson, Bradwell; 290p/kg 600kg Lim BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor; 290p/kg 672kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf; 282p/kg 572kg Sim D Hadfield & Daughter, Tideswell; 279p/kg 642kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; 279p/kg 626kg Lim

D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; 272p/kg 632kg B Blue BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor; 269p/kg 608kg Lim CA Bunting, Yeldersley; 269p/kg 620kg Lim GC & BJ Cresswell, Atlow; 268p/kg 592kg Sim D Hadfield & Daughter, Tideswell; 268p/kg 610kg Lim G Wardman, Matlock.

Gross Prices:

£1948.80 672kg Lim RG Bacon, Wadshelf; £1857.12 636kg Lim

A & B Simpson, Bradwell; £1810.16 748kg Lim RS & EJ Longden, Chinley; £1806.00 602kg B Blue x A & B Simpson, Bradwell; £1791.18 642kg Lim M Wynne, Snitterton; £1746.54 626kg Lim D & SE Edge, Pike Hall; £1740.00 600kg Lim MJ Wells & Son, Monyash; £1719.04 632kg B Blue x BD & JH Ponsonby, Tideswell Moor; £1714.58 662kg Lim D Lownds, Reapsmoor.

STORE & BREEDING CATTLE

A tremendous entry of 492 cattle sold on a rattling good trade with all long range buyers on parade. A good mix of cattle with plenty of younger smaller sorts for which there was strong competition, likewise at the other end of the spectrum the short finish sorts were also in demand.

BREEDING STOCK COWS & CALVES

£1300 Lim x Cow, 93 mnths & Hfr Calf R Belfield, Leek;

£1180 Lim x Hfr, 27 mnths i/c S Wagstaffe & Sons, Two Dales; £1060 Lim x Hfr, 28 mnths i/c S Wagstaffe & Sons, Two Dales; £1520 Angus Bull, 53 mnths R Fletcher, Windley; £1650 Lim Bull, 90 mnths R Smart, Wirksworth.

100 FEEDING BULLS

A very mixed bag with a good number of small young ones. Sample prices:

£910 Char x 8-9 mnths AC Atkin, Brinsley; £760 Lim 7 mnths

K & S Harper, Dungworth;

£890 Char x 7 mnths D Smith, High Green; £900 Lim x 8 mnths Wright Bros, Matlock; £790 Lim x 13-15 mnths L Slater & Son, Winster; £950 Hfd 16 mnths

Mrs J Barlow, Dore; £750 Hfd x 8 mnths D & DM Turner, Rainow £480 Lim x 6-8 mnths CI Boyle, Disley; £705 Sim x 8 mnths JP Webster, Foolow; £725 L Horn 10-11 mnths JF Gibson, Thorpe; £490 L Horn 7-8 mnths J Winnington, Church Broughton; £710 Lim x 9-10 mnths

C Titterton, Tean; £860 Mont x 14 mnths B Cooper, Tintwhistle; £730 Holst 16-18 mnths P&M Critchlow, Cubley.

202 STEERS AVE £913

A decent selection, but all wanted and trade strong from first to last. Angus & Hereford keenly sought and some very remarkable results for well grown Black & Whites.

Sample Results:

£700 Char x 6-7 mnths

H & SJ Hallam, New Mills;

£745 Lim x 6 mnths K & S Harper, Dungworth; £680 Lim x 5-7 mnths Mrs Y Melland, Bakewell;

£800 Lim x 6 mnths DR Gould & Sons, Grange Mill; £800 S Horn 14 mnths JD Wood, Derwent;

£990 Lim x 12 mnths PJ Chappell, Alton; £760 Saler 9-10 mnths CS Edge, Ballidon; £915 Lim x 10 mnths Bardill Bros, Killamarsh; £1225 Lim x 18-19 mnths

Mrs CA Bunting, Bradley; £665 Mont x 9 mnths AC Atkin, Brinsley; £1080 Lim x 14 mnths A & DJ Gregory, Litton; £1080

Dev 20 mnths Hough Park Farm, Hulland; £1210 Angus 18-19 mnths J Burton, Ilam; £1090 Norway 27-30 mnths G&C&O Kirkham, Hartington; £1185 Norway 30 mnths G&C&O Kirkham, Hartington; £805

B Blue x 12-13 mnths W Watts, Thurgoland; £1035 Fries 18 mnths P Furness, Monyash; £1070 Angus 16-18 mnths G White & Partners, Ilam; £1190 Lim x 18-19 mnths CG Matkin, Alderwasley; £1330 Lim x 19 mnths MA Adams &

Son, Denstone; £1080 Angus x 18

mnths CF Edge & Partners, Alsop; £685 Holst 19-20 mnths DJ Goodwin, Longford; £1280 Lim x 28 mnths EA Sessions, Dalbury Lees;

£1230 Lim x 18-20 mnths

G & M Limer, Taddington; £1090 Hfd x 20 mnths PJ Wheeldon, Longnor; £1160 B Blue x 20 mnths P & M Critchlow, Cubley; £1330 B Blue x 19-20 mnths SJ & L White, Wingerworth; £1130 B Blue x 25 mnths RJ & J Matkin, Hopton; £1170 Hfd 21-23 mnths JJ Blackwell, Doveholes; £890 Holst 21 mnths WJ Heathcote, Grange Mill;

£1260 Char x 23-25 mnths

JG & JM Belfield, Sheen; £1090 Lim x 22 mnths Leasows Partners, Uttoxeter; £1130 Lim x 26 mnths PK & C Heathcote, Grange Mill; £1170 Angus x 18 mnths

PK & C Heathcote, Grange Mill; £1115 Fries 24-28 mnths Gosling Farming, Parwich; £1090 Holst 24-29 mnths Gosling Farming, Parwich.

175 HEIFERS AVE £757

A good cross section of size, age and type, but customers were present to bid for all categories and trade was excellent throughout.

Sample prices:

£580 Sim x 4 mnths Mrs Y Melland, Bakewell; £530 L Horn 6 mnths J Winnington, Church Broughton; £650 Lim x 6 mnths L Slater & Son, Winster; £660 Lim x 6-8 mnths DR Gould & Son, Grange

Mill; £860 B Blue x 9 mnths KR Sherratt, Bretby; £690 B Blue x 7-10 mnths Roger Barlow, Leverton; £800 Lim x 8 mnths Wright Bros, Farley; £1140 B Blue x 12 mnths A Whitelaw, Buxton; £1130 Blonde x 16 mnths TJ & MR Gould, Sheen; £1100 B Blue x 1618 mnths A & DJ Gregory, Litton; £875 B Blue x 16-17 mnths

Hough Park Farm, Hulland; £950 Devon 18-20 mnths Hough Park Farm, Hulland; £1030 Angus x 18-9 mnths J Burton, Ilam; £1130 Angus x 27 mnths G&C&O Kirkham, Hartington; £895

B Blue x 16-20 mnths W Watts, Thurgoland; £805 Angus x 15-16 mnths PJ Buxton, Kirk Langley; £770 Hfd 15-18 mnths Mrs JJ Barlow, Dore;£910 Angus 18-19 mnths MG Mosley & Sons, Rivelin;

£1150 Blonde x 24 mnths C & FM Percival, Youlgreave; £1150 Hfd 26 mnths C & FM Percival; £1015 Blonde x 21 mnths MA Allcock, Brassington; £1140 Stab 21 mnths S Burley, Loxley; £1420 Lim x 21-28 mnths CPR & JM Mycock, Friden; £1230 Lim x 20 mnths CPR & JM Mycock, Friden;

£1050 B Blue x 22 mnths J Walker, Birley Carr; £980 Hfd x 21 mnths JJ Blackwell, Doveholes; £1220 Lim x 24-26 mnths PK & C Heathcote, Harpur Hill.

32 CALVES

Another strong trade for all types with plenty of potential purchasers around the ring. Better end Bulls saw B Blues regularly over £300 to a top of £340 and Welsh Blacks to £210. Heifers light on numbers with B Blue upwards of £200 to a top of £240 and Limousin to £185.

Only a small sample of Black & Whites, but these again well bid for to a top of £100.

BULLS

B Blue £340 JF Hayes, Shottle; B Blue £315 DR & S Kirby, Eastmoor; W Black £210 DR & S Kirby, Eastmoor; Angus £155 PM Naden, Glossop; Saler £145 TN Palfreyman, Flagg; Fries £100 D Fotherby & Sons, Wormhill.

HEIFERS

B Blue £240 JE Seals & Son, Shirland; B Blue £225 TN Palfreyman, Flagg.

1234 LAMBS & 428 EWES & RAMS A very good entry of 1662 sheep included 1234 lambs. Demand very brisk throughout with best meated butchers lambs to 338p/kg, heavyweight butchers lambs to 324p/kg, overweight sorts to 311p/kg and lightweight lambs to 330p/kg. Top gross price of £166.91 per head with a market average of 293.38p/kg.

Leading Prices:

32kg 328p/kg E Long, Birchover; 36kg 330p/kg CN Clayton, Norton Lees; 37.6kg 314p/kg E Watson, Ashover; 38.1kg 329p/kg E Long, Birchover; 39kg 308p/kg P Goodwin, Rowsley; 42.1kg 320p/kg JW Walker & Sons, Tideswell; 42.8kg 328p/kg MT Sweetmore, Sterndale;

43.4kg 328p/kg P Furness, Monyash; 44kg 338p/kg DM Elliott & Son, Hucklow; 44.9kg 327p/kg R Quarnby, Sheffield; 45kg 329p/ kg B Rowlinson, Ramsor;

45.3kg 320p/kg N Cupit, Newark 46kg 318p/kg R & S Salisbury, Abney; 47.1kg 318p/kg J & J Walton & Son, Tideswell; 48kg 310p/kg JF Simpson, Longnor; 50.3kg 324p/kg P Furness, Monyash; 51.6kg 312p/kg H Young, Peak Forest; 53.6kg 311p/kg R & S Salisbury, Abney; 54.8kg 298p/kg M Hambleton, Alstonefield;

57kg 288p/kg JF Simpson, Longnor.

Light: To 328p/kg

Standard: To 330p/kg Average 286.76p/kg

Medium: To 338p/kg Average 294.17p/kg

Heavy: To 324p/kg Average 288.48p/kg

Overweight: To 311p/kg Average

278.16p/kg.

428 CULL SHEEP

A total of 428 Ewes & Rams sold on an outstanding trade with all types in demand. Best heavy Texels peaked at £184 for a pen of 7 from Chamber Farm with other Texels to £174 and £165.

The top 10 pens averaged £161.20/head. Best meated mules sold in the £100-£130 range.

Ewes to £184 Ave: £115.36 Rams to £143 Ave: £137.75

Bakewell Thursday 1,574 SHEEP INCLUDING 1147 FINISHED LAMBS, 329 CULLS AND 94 STORE LAMBS

1147 Lambs Average 288.08p/kg An excellent entry with an equally good trade to match with all weights in keen demand. Top price of 360p/kg to £171 per head and an overall average per head at £124.

Leading Prices:

37.2kg 320p/kg MP Elliot, Eyam; 38.8kg 318p/kg C. Sharpley, Wildboarclough; 45.0kg 360p/kg G Ford, Tunstead Milton; 41.8kg 340p/kg B Ford, Lymehandley; 41.8kg 330p/kg W Hague & Son, High Bradfield; 44.2kg 328p/kg D Fotherby & Sons, Wormhill; 42.2kg 328p/kg J & J Spillane, Fairfield; 42.2kg 325p/kg

DR Flower, Alstonefield; 53.0kg 298p/kg WB Moss & Son, Rainow

Averages:

32.1-39.0kg To: 320/kg Ave: 283.34p/kg

39.1-45.5kg To: 360p/kg Ave: 289.37/kg

45.6 -52kg To: 325p/kg Ave: 284.25/kg 52kg+ To: 298p/kg Ave: 282.14/kg 329 CULL SHEEP AVE £97/HEAD An excellent trade with ewes to £178 and tups to £170. 94 STORE LAMBS AVERAGE £78.66/ HEAD

A large gathering of prospective purchasers ensured a strong trade for all types to a top price of £112.

Leek Market

A busy sheep shed but quieter in the other sections this week. 1357 sheep forward with lambs selling on a competitive trade, albeit slightly less to last week’s sale but still drawing an average of 269.84p/kg, which is excellent. Top headage prices up to £160.68. Cull ewes continue to sell at a pace up to £184 for rams and ewes to £180.

Dairies sold on a good trade up to £2080 for heifers.

An improved trade for barrens this week, selling to 165p/kg for a 600kg Hereford and Black & Whites to 138p/kg to top at £1228.20 per head.

Another excellent entry of pigs and selling on a good enquiry up to 150p/kg for bacon pigs with numerous pens 120p/kg and above.

Calves continue to sell well but more smaller calves forward this week, affecting the averages. Top prices of £418 and £415 for Blue bulls and heifers to £288.

BARREN COWS (25)

Half the entry of last week but sold on an improved trade with another buyer around the ring, seeing a top price of 165p/kg for a 600kg Hereford from J Bailey, of Stanley.

Friesians sold up to 138p/kg for a 890kg cow from BD & MA Hudson, Ipstones, who also sold a 740kg Friesian for 136p/kg and a 885kg Fleckveih at 136p/kg for

J G Curtis & Son, Basford.

Other top prices:

131p 835kg British Blue J R Beeson, Grindley; 130p 695kg Simmental DC & CJ Tunnicliffe, Dilhorne; 128p 870kg Holstein A W Kennerley & Son, Betley; 121p 630kg Montbeliarde PG & DR Goodwin, Gayton; 120p 765kg Holstein WG & J Clark, Bradnop; 119p 580kg Brit Blue DC & CJ Tunnicliffe, Dilhorne; 114p 690kg Limousin J R Beeson, Grindley. Overall average of 115.13p/kg or £801.38.

Top headage price of £1228.20 for the 890kg Friesian from

BD & MA Hudson, with Fleckveih to £1206.30, Holsteins to £1113.60 and British Blues to £1093.85. A 1040kg Simmental bull sold for 108p/kg from Dan Beswick, Ipstones.

CLEAN CATTLE

A small entry with no best quality forward today. Top price of 187p/ kg for a 640kg Blonde steer from G A Wise, Audley, who also sold a 670kg British Blue steer for 185p/kg.

Heifers sold up to 184p/kg for a 570kg Limousin from R E Green, Ash Bank with a 540kg Hereford at 178p/kg and a 515kg angus at 176p/kg.

Top headage price of £1239.50 and £1196.80 for steers and heifers to £1048.80.

DAIRIES

A good trade despite the mixed

quality forward saw a heifer from Andrew Mills of Ratcliffe on Wreake top at £2,080.

Two others passed the £2,000 mark, anther for a smart heifer from the Easom family of Oakerthorpe reached £2,030 and another from R Lomas of Calow at £2,040.

PIGS (169)

Another similar entry this week and trade a slightly back on the week but quality selling very well but lighter, leaner types harder to sell.

Pork pigs sold up to 136p/kg for a 73kg pig from Bernard Minshull, of Buxton, and a trio of 74kg pigs at 112p/kg for R Buckley, Sheffield.

Cutting pigs topped at 144p/kg for 83kg pigs from Massie Farms, Wood Eaton with a pen of 82kg pigs making 137pkg for J & B Fentem, who also sold 84kg pigs at 110p/kg and 82kg pigs for 104p/kg.

Bacon pigs sold the best with a top prices of 150p/kg for 90kg pigs from Massie Farms, who also sold others at 149p/kg, 148p/kg, 144p/kg

(x2) and 143p/kg. A pair of 91kg pigs realised 148p/kg for PF & PD Parsons, Whitchurch, who also sold a 88kg pig for 147p/kg and a pen of 97kg pigs at 146p/kg for Bernard Minshull. A

98kg pig sold for 142p/kg for Steve Bailey, Biddulph.

Heavy pigs sold to 139p/kg for a 109kg pig from PF & PD Parsons, with a 109kg pig for 128p/kg from Steve Bailey, a 115kg pig at 127p/ kg for G Goodwin, of Wetley

Rocks and a pair of 113kg pigs at 113p/kg for S Bailey.

Cull sows sold up to 50p/kg for a 245kg sow from R T Wilson, Oldham, with a 175kg sow at 49p/ kg for A Lockett, Rushton.

A 120kg sow made 40p/kg for Sproctor and the remainder generally 27p 40p.

Averages:

Pork Pigs (16); av 85.22p/kg or £59.81/head

Cutting Pigs (22); av 114.28p/kg or £93.04/head

Bacon Pigs (95); av 124.16p/kg or £117.56/head

Heavy Pigs (21); av 97.98p/kg or £110.40/head

Cull Sows (15); av 31.77p/kg or £62.45/head.

SHEEP SECTION BUTCHERS’ LAMBS (997)

A solid entry sold on a competitive trade, although at a little less than we have been used to lately. The SQQ average was 269.84p/kg, which is still very good against other outlets on the same day.

Best lambs still in good demand and getting harder to source, leading to more orders coming forward for those types. Big lambs again grossing very week up to £160.68, with 45kg plus averaging £128/head.

A good entry required on December 28.

Sample prices:

318p 37.1kg M Jones, Rudyard;

312p 39kg A Shaw, Sturston;

325p 41.2kg R & S Bailey, Cloudside; 314p 45kg FS & MJ Heath, Pipe Gate; 312p 42.3kg

S J Pace & Co, Congleton; 308p 41.6kg J B Rowlinson & Son Gawsworth; 307p 43.2kg Mosley & Son, Wormhill; 305p 40.2kg

DA & CS Wilshaw, Meerbrook; 318p 49kg FS & MJ Heath, Pipe Gate; 312p 51.5kg A G Tomkinson, Thorpe; 300p 53.3kg A G Tomkinson.

CULL SHEEP (360)

Another good entry selling very well. Best Rams to £184/head from Reg Critchlow.

Best Texel ewes at £180 from Paul Johnson, best

Charollais to £170 from Geoff Biddulph. Top 10 pens averaged £158/head.

Mules not quite as dear, but still £110 £115 for the very best and Suffolks to £130 for heavy types. Very strong horned ewes to £88. Overall average of £96.12 for a weathered sample.

CALVES (131)

A good show of 131 calves today with a number of smaller calves on offer being sold before Christmas.

37 CONTINENTAL BULLS

A few very good calves but plenty of younger sorts 10-25 days that would have benefitted from keeping for another couple of weeks. Two posh Blues sold over £400 at £418 for FA & TM Cotton, Tean, and £415 from Alan Mosedale. Better sorts £300 plus, mediums £230 £280 with smaller bulls under £200.

20 Blues av £256 to £418 FA & TM Cotton

7 Sims av £160 to £328 C V Whilock & Sons

8 Lims av £242 to £322 DG & JA Ball

2 Char av £345 to £395 D & G Tudor

32 CONTINENTAL HEIFERS

A very similar story to the bulls with buyers in place but not having enough quality to give the higher prices.

Blues from Peter Gilman topped at £288 with better sorts generally £220 £250 and younger sorts under £200.

22 Blues av £185 to £288

P F Gilman

7 Sims av £128 to £210 P Bennett & Son

3 Lims av £188 to £265 R G Emmott

34 NATIVES

The best easy to place but younger calves about.

11 Hereford Bulls av £122 to £245 S M Mccleavy

11 AA Bulls av £162 to £245 S & J Ryder

5 Hereford Heifers av £149 to £208 S M Mccleavy

7 AA Heifers av £98 to £215 FA & TM Cotton

22 BLACK & WHITE BULLS

Good rearers had strong Holsteins to £122 (x2) and £108. Mediums rearers £65-£100 with smaller sorts £20-£40 today.