Store Cattle

North West Auctions held its annual grass day sale of Store Cattle at J36 on Thursday 2nd May. Buyers were in attendance from throughout the northern counties, midlands, Scotland and Wales who were attracted by one of the largest catalogued entries seen at North West Auctions with 840 cattle being sold.

A feature of the day was the pre-sale show which saw a fantastic, quality entry of cattle put before the judge Mr J Crichton, Egremont in six classes. The Championship rosette was awarded to a 11 month gold Limousin x steer from A & P Hodgkinson, Stalmine which later sold to the top price of £1290 to the judge. The reserve champion was a 10 month old Blonde x heifer from BT Atkinson, Ulverston which sold at £1060. The show was kindly sponsored by the Rural Law Practice, Natural Stockcare Ltd, Hornby Commercial, 1st Base Plant Sales and the Limousin Society. All vendors must be complimented on the quality of the cattle presented at this sale which continues to attract the attention of new customers.

The champion topped the steer trade at £1290 with others selling to £1215 for a Limousin x from AE Atkinson & Son, Endmoor. Strong and well-grown steers were nicely selling between £1100 and £1200, with the strongest of the yearlings achieving £980 to £1200. Steers for summering would generally be £840 to £780 depending on size. Heifers sold to £1170 for a pure Limousin from T Atkinson, Ulverston with others at £1160 for a Blonde x from JBL & I Ellis, Kendal. Well-grown heifers were nicely selling between £1000 and £1150. Yearlings sold to £1045 for a Charolais x from RW & FJ Rhodes, Quernmore with others to £1010 for a Limousin x from MA Barnes, Kendal. Nice yearling heifers regularly selling between £820 and £850 with younger sorts selling between selling between £660 and £780.

A large number of native sired cattle were forward today and were easily sold. Native bred cattle with a named sire sold to a premium with steers selling to £1200 for a Hereford x from J Maxwell, Lancaster. An Aberdeen Angus sold to £1090 from TA & DH Knipe, Ulverston, Shorthorns sold to £940 from MW & PA Rollason, Meathop and Galloways sold to £635 from Forest Hall Farm, Selside. Heifers sold to £840 for a Hereford x from MJ Waller, Lupton, Angus’ sold to £820 from JA & SM Allen, Windermere and Shorthorns sold to £755 from J Twigge, Meathop.

A nice number of younger bulls forward sold to £1090 for a Limousin from T Atkinson, Ulverston with others selling between £950 and £1075.

Cast Cows/OTM Cattle

Cull cows sold to one of the dearest trades seen for several months with 8 active competing for all classes and types. Well-finished heavy beef cows experienced a fast trade selling to 175p/kg for a Limousin x from Forest Hall Farm, Selside with others regularly 150p/kg to 170p/kg with many of the younger sorts going for further finishing. Dairy cows sold to 130p/kg from JW & D Robinson & Son, Nook with medium fleshed cows making up the main of the dairy cow entry and selling at 110p/kg to 120p/kg.

Top grossing cow was a Limousin x from Forest Hall Farms, Selside achieving £1232 with others to £1124 for a British Blue x from I & AJ Armer, Burneside. Over half the cows forward sold in excess of £900 with plenty over £1000.
OTM Heifers topped at 182p/kg or £952 for a British Blue x from S Procter, Selside with dairy heifers selling to 140p/kg or £873 from C & B Capstick, Lowgill.

All cull cows averaged 136p/kg or £860, more cows can easily be sold and are needed to at the next sale on Thursday 16th May to meet buyer’s demands.

Calves

An entry of 116 calves and stirks sold to a fast trade with vendors leaving happy with the prices achieved. Rearing calves sold to £420 for an Aberdeen Angus x bull from JM Simpson who sold others at £400. Other native bulls sold to £320 for a Hereford x from Lawkland Hall Farm. Continental bulls sold to £410 for a British Blue x from W & S Airey with others to £405 from WB Winder & Co. Younger bulls regularly £250 to £320. Heifer calves were easily sold with farmers looking for future suckler replacements. British Blue x sold to £400 from WB Winder & Co, Limousin x sold to £355 from CM & CS Chapplehow, Herefords to £305 from Lawkland Hall Farm, Aberdeen Angus’ to £305 from W & S Airey. Quality rearing heifers regularly sold between £280 and £320.

Dairy bull calves sold to £152 for a Fleckveih from J Scott & Co and Holstein Friesians to £72.

Stirks sold to a large crowd of eager bidders keen to secure stock for turn out. Steers sold to £650 for Aberdeen Angus steers from J Longworth, who sold British Blues at £605. Younger Steers sold between £500 and £580. Heifer stirks sold to £610 for a Simmental x from MG & WD Burton, Limousins sold to £560, Blues to £555 and Angus’ to £490.

Bull stirks sold to £600 for a Limousin x from MH & AR Robinson, British Blues to £555, Angus’ to £505 and black and whites to £350.

The next sale of stirks will be on Thursday 16th May. Please advise the office of entries to assist us with contacting buyers.