Bakewell market

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

DECENT entries of stock at Bakewell with 904 cattle and £1,946 sheep on offer.

Sufficient buying power present or represented to ensure a good trade in all sections.

New rules had been introduced at the end of last week to ensure that Government guidance was being complied with.

It was good to note that as a consequence of Facebook, Bagshaws website and word of mouth everyone seemed to be aware of what was expected of them and were abiding by the guidance.

Another very large turnout of 536 store & breeding cattle saw recent price levels maintained with another cracking trade from start to finish.

Steers sold to £1,280, Heifers £1,155 and Feeding Bulls £1,040

Cow & Calf outfits made up to £1,600.

The finished cattle section had a useful selection of 119 animals with the best on offer to 254p and £1,712.

This week’s average for the 48 heifers was

199.5p a decent figure for the regular Bakewell type of cattle.

The OTM department attracted 142 head with top figures 177p and £1,494. The overall average looked good at 121.3p.

There was an abundance of Calves with 107 on parade. There was plenty of interest with bulls to £440 and heifers £405.

In the sheep department there were reasonable numbers on offer despite the breeding sales last week, which would have tied up some potential vendors under the 6-day rule.

The 1,400 lambs looked well sold with the best on offer to 243p and £111.30.

The SQQ average emerged at 203.p, very similar to last week and some 30p per kilo more than the same market last year.

In the cull sheep section 519 head sold on a solid trade with ewes to £159 to average £78.13.

142 Barren, OTM and Feeding Cows Overall Average 121.3p (Auctioneer Oliver Hiles)

More than last week but interestingly identical numbers to the equivalent week last year when they averaged 103p. Yes, cows are dear this year and if you have any passengers before winter approaches, now is the time to sell with buyers looking for good meat but an increasing number looking for feeding cows to grow on the plentiful forage stocks that are about. Top cow today was a lovely well-fed Simmental x from Jack Blackshaw selling at 177p or £1384 with the top gross cow was one of the last of the day from Richard Harris.