Snow lifts cattle trade around the marts

Falling prime cattle prices were supported by tighter supplies last week, with some marts reporting a flying trade, although only heifers were dearer on the week for Britain as a whole, lifting to 209.88p/kg, reports the AHDB. 

Bull prices steadied at 185p/kg and steers continued hovering around the 195p/kg mark, averaging the week at 193.36p/kg across British marts. 

See also: Prime markets and autumn sales lift cattle values

Darlington prime heifers up 20.6p/kg

Vendors that successfully battled the snow were handsomely rewarded at Darlington on Thursday (1 March), as a much-reduced throughput lifted prices by 11.3p/kg across the board.

A yarding of 37 heifers (-64.4%) levelled at 238.7p/kg, topping at 276p/kg, 266p/kg and 265p/kg for heifers from MF Hall, as depleted numbers helped support strong trade.

A yarding of 38 bulls levelled at 197.1p/kg, which was slightly back on the week, with 66% fewer going under the hammer. Bulls topped with a homebred Limousin from P&E Ellis, Lisern Farm, at 237p/kg (£1,464), while the top grossing bull was another Limousin from AG Watson and Son, Nunstainton Grange, at £1,710 (Darlington Farmers Auction Mart).

Snow lifts Newark steers to 223.1p/kg

Snow in the East Midlands almost halved cattle numbers on the week at Newark on Wednesday (28 February), where 116 prime cattle lifted 6p/kg on the week to make 205p/kg, of which 34 were bulls at 188p/kg.

A flying trade saw medium-weight steers up 13.5p/kg on the week to 223.3p/kg.

Blues at 549kg from Barry Ablewhite were sold to 237.5p/kg (£1,303.88) and Limousins were also sold to 231.5p/kg (£1,402.25).

Bulls topped with an 814kg Simmental from JW Holmes and Son at £1,575 and a 548kg Limousin at 237.5p/kg at £1,301.50 from JC Crust (Newark Livestock Sales).

Demand outstrips supply at Market Drayton

Bull numbers more than halved at Market Drayton on Wednesday (28 February) to add 10p/kg, leaving young bull prices at 186.3p/kg as snow helped trade.

Several lots were over 220p/kg, including a Limousin from Frank Heath, Pipe Gate, which hit 234p/kg from a run that also hit 228p/kg and 215p/kg.

Native-sired bulls topped at 211p/kg (£1,413), with a Hereford from Bob Holmes, High Offley. Dairy bulls peaked at 217p/kg with Montbeliardes from Rob and David Adams, Stoke-on-Tern.

Steers and heifers met a strong trade, with star quality few and far between. Heifers hit 267p/kg (£1,425) with a Blue-cross and steers topping at 255p/kg (£1,366) (Barbers).