CALVES & WEANLINGS
A few less calves about today following the bumper entries seen in previous weeks, with the trade remaining very similar with buyers keen for stronger types and slightly shying away from younger ones. A British Blue weanling led the way from R Dick, Freckleton selling to £475. Charolais bull calves sold to £455 from TM Townley, Over Wyresdale with British Blue heifers selling to £375 from G&ME Woodhouse, Ellel. Plenty of strong Continental calves easily sold into the £300’s. Native calves saw 6 week old Aberdeen Angus bulls sell to £285 from JP&C Robson, Garstang with Angus heifers to £255 from G&ME Woodhouse & Son, Ellel. Friesian bull calves sold to £100 from JT&B Fox, Quernmore.
STORE CATTLE
A successful day for the Salers as the Lancaster store ship surges on, peaking at £1580 for a strong Saler steer from GR Bargh & Co, Caton. Next in the Lancaster lime light was Limousin steers selling to £1570 from Pilling Hall, Pilling. With other Limousin steers to £1560 from DE&SM Moorehouse, Kendal, followed by £1470 and £1450 from H Chapman & Son, Middleton. Charming Charolais’ created a stir peaking at £1550 from DE&SM Moorhouse, Natland followed by others to £1460 from J Hesketh, Hutton whom sold Simmentals to the same price. Native cattle always create plenty of interest at Lancaster with a pen of three Angus’s selling to £1420 from P&ST Entwistle, Abbeystead. Plenty more pairs of strong steers easily sold in the £1300’s.
The heifer trade peaked at £1350 for Limousins from WS Burrows & Sons, Silverdale with Angus heifers to £1280 from L Parsons & Sons, Levens, followed by £1270 from K&DE Woodhouse, Ellel. Other noted prices for Angus heifers saw £1250 achieved numerous times from JM&A Wallbank & Son, Wray, M Shepherd & Son, Pilling and G Sagar & Son, Caton. Dairy bullocks saw Black & Whites sell to £1340 from L Parsons & Sons, Levens with Fleckviehs selling to £1180 from MJ&LC Lund, Quernmore.
OTM / CAST CATTLE
The weekly sale of OTM cattle at Lancaster had an entry of 94 forward averaging 135p/kg with the trade in general very similar to the previous week. A good selection of OTM beef heifers were forward today, which peaked at 249p/kg or £1521 for a British Blue from Mason & Gardner, Chapel le Dale. This was closely followed by Limousins selling to 234.5p/kg or £1407 from T Ayrton & Son, Abbeystead. OTM Black and White heifers sold to 187.5p/kg or £1087 from HJ Robinson & Son, Milnthorpe. OTM steers peaked at 194.5p/kg from EE Thornton & Son, Heaton or £1300 for an Aberdeen Angus steer. Beef cows sold to 171.5p/kg for Limousins and 169.5p/kg for British Blues from EJ Ward & Sons, Nether Kellet. The top price per head beef cow today, was Blonde from J Drinkall, Anglezarke realising £1192. Plenty of best meated dairy cows today sold between 140-148p/kg. Dairy cows peaked at £1119 from AT Burrow & Son, Gressingham with others selling to £1106 from TL Baldwin & Son, Forton followed by Ayrshires to £1105 from D&K Howarth, Hambleton.