Market saw best ever trade in cull cows

TRADE for cull cows was described as “the best in living memory” by Craven Cattle Marts’ general manager Jeremy Eaton following a beef sale at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Mar 2012, 14:00 GMT

Cull cows averaged a shade over £900 a head, or 132.74p/kg, with dairy cows averaging over £850.

In the prime cattle section, bulls up to 650kg averaged 195.33p/kg, with heavier bulls averaging 186.24p/kg and 650kg+ prime steers 175.94p/kg. Prime heifers up to 590kg averaged 227.50p/kg, heavier types 187.84p/kg.

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The overall selling average of 30 to 48-month-old prime cattle was 132.57p/kg, or £900.35 per head. Prices peaked at £1,351 for a black and white bull from D&C Cockburn, Ripley, while RG Church Ltd, Asquith, also achieved four-figure prices for two British Blue-crosses, a heifer and a steer that both averaged 156.5p/kg.

At Bakewell on the same day, an average 131.6ppk for OTM and barren cattle prompted auctioneer Oliver Hiles to say: “I am almost lost for words. The average today rose by another 3p on the week, which means that they have risen every week so far this year. How long can this continue?”

Back at Skipton, the overall selling average for prime hoggs was £83.34 per head, or 192.1p/kg. Cull ewes averaged £82.75, up to £147.50, and cast rams £85.94, up to £132.50. Ewes with lambs at foot sold to £245 (for Beltex) at an average of £207.14 per head.

The weekly produce sale saw round bale hay sell to £20 a bale, wheat straw to £2 a small bale and small bale hay to £3.60, averaging £3.25.

Andrew and Richard Gascoyne, of Wakefield topped the prices at the feather auction last Saturday.