Prime markets and autumn sales lift cattle values

Subdued liveweight prime beef prices through autumn have strengthened into November, a trend matched by autumn store cattle sales taking place across Great Britain.

According to AHDB figures, Welsh primestock values surged through October, propelling steers up 17p/kg to 195p/kg and lifting heifers 15p/kg to 202p/kg.

Heading into November, the GB steer price average peaked at 207.87p/kg on 2 November as heifers hit 220p/kg.

Scotland has seen steers lift to 218p/kg and heifers to 221p/kg on average, although a mixed picture has been seen for bull trade across all regions, with Wales and Scotland in particular reporting plummeting values.

See also: Store cattle trade ‘fantastic’ despite healthy numbers

This was certainly the case at Rugby on Monday, where fewer prime cattle (19) met a flying trade. 

Prime steers were up about 6.2p/kg to average 188.5p/kg. Heifers achieved a more mixed trade, although up 2.5p/kg overall to hit 199.3p/kg.

Brecon’s Monday sale, however, was back on the week. But both farm-assured steers and heifers remained strong at 206.6p/kg and 199.3p/kg, respectively. This was despite smaller numbers, although 61 bulls averaged 180p/kg, up 2.2p/kg on the week.

Stirling suckled bullocks average 263p/kg

A yarding of 941 suckled calves topped at 347.5p/kg for a Saler-cross and saw bullocks level at 263.41p/kg and heifers at 249.51p/kg at United Auctions on Monday (6 November).

A 366kg bullock from Kennedy, Lurgan, made £1,000 and took the championship

Smaller heifers to 250kg topped at £820 and 347.5p/kg, followed by 301-350kg heifers toping at £1,080 and 3140/kg. Largest sorts up to 350kg grossed £1,090 and 245.7p/kg.

Bullocks were topped by Charolais crosses from The Ross which made 319.7p/kg at 297kg and £1,070 gross for a 380kg entry.

(United Auctions)

Thainstone stores up 12p/kg

Trade was up 12p/kg, seeing bullocks average 222.9p/kg and heifers at 216.9p/kg at Thainstone on Friday (3 November) as numbers fell sharply on the week.

Both bullocks (462) and heifers (347) were in tighter supply as the bull entry increased by 88 head and overall throughput fell by 114 head to 910 store cattle.

Trade was up on the last October sale, which had bullocks cheaper at 210.2p/kg and heifers at 204.9p/kg after lifting nearly 7p.kg.

Charolais-cross bullocks topped at 259.5p/kg for a pair at 370kg from Croft N Creich, North Kessock, and at £1,420 for a 678kg offering from Thurdistoft, Castletown.

A pair of 410kg Charolais-cross heifers from Auchnarrow, Glenlivet, made 261p/kg, while a 708kg Simmental-cross from Tamal, Burnside, grossed £1,330.

(Aberdeen and Northern Marts)

Skipton prime heifers up 4.4p/kg

An exceptional autumn show of primestock helped averages lift for most steer and heifers weights at Skipton on Monday (6 November), with heaviest heifers up 18p/kg.

Meanwhile, an Angus bull from Hurries Farm, Otterburn, was the pick of a brace of bulls, making £1,337 or 171.5p/kg.

A Limousin-cross heifer from the Critchley family, Preston, topped the Skipton sale at £1,598

Leading the sale were Lancashire vendors the Critchley family, Hutton, Preston, who took £1,598 (268.5p/kg) and the day’s championship for a Limousin-cross heifer, judged and bought by Alan Beecroft, Countrystyle Meats Farm Shop, Lancaster.

(Craven Cattle Marts)