Yesterday’s store cattle sale at Dingwall saw a ready demand for all types and weights, with the 438 steers sold averaging a very respectable 230.8p/kg and topping at 295p/kg.
Best price/kg came for a 278kg Limousin cross from Shewglie, Glenurquhart, while best grossing steer was a 598kg Limousin cross from Shawpark, Glaickmore at £1260.
Heifers were equally sought after, with 341 sold to level at 230.8p/kg and peak at 520.4p/kg for a 340kg British Blue cross from Bunchrew, Inverness. This one was also the top grossing heifer at £1800.
A good deal further south at Newark, where auctioneer Paul Gentry is gearing up for this weekend’s sale of Lincoln Reds, trade was fast for all breeds and qualities.
“We had a tremendous entry on offer and some fantastic quality at the top end. The stores sold to £1300 for a pair of Charolais 15-18 month old heifers from John Greener, Worksop. With Messrs Pilkington Farms, Buxton, selling their run of 10-12 month old Limousin cross steers to £1180 for a pen of seven, while their British Blue cross heifers sold to £1000 at 14 months.”
Hackleton Farms, Northampton, sold 16 month old Aberdeen-Angus steers to £1160 and 12 month olds to £1140 with Henry Harvey, Norfolk, selling 12 month old Limousin steers to £1130 and 11 month old British Blue steers to £1070 with 11 month old Limousin heifers to £980.
But while the stores are still looking dear, the prime trade yesterday at Newark could go some way to justifying the prices paid. With Paul reporting an electric prime trade with the largest company of buyers ever assembled at Newark. “Steers sold to a top of 233.5p/kg for a Limousin from by John White, Banbury, while the same vendor sold Charolais to 230.5p/kg to gross a fantastic £1740.28 with his load of 20 averaging 221.05p or £1596.55 per head.
“Heifer trade was equally strong, hitting a top of 249.5p/kg for a British Blue cross from Willy Seals. Best grossing heifer was an 817kg Charolais from S and E Dow at £1523.71.”
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