North West Auctions once again proved to be the place to sell all classes of stock on a Friday, with buyer and sellers all keen to do their business on one day and reaping the rewards of this NWA Service. 512 cattle were sold today in all three sale rings, with several new faces in attendance.

CAST / OTM CATTLE

The day commenced with cull cows which saw a much leaner show forward, with prices reflecting the current falling level of demand. Beef cows sold to 174.5p/kg for a Stabiliser from RW & FJ Rhodes & Son, Quernmore with others at 171p/kg for a Hereford x from The Isle of Man. Other feeding type cows were generally 150p/kg to 165p/kg, depending on breed and quality. Top grossing beef cow achieved £1245 followed by another a £1222, both being Stabilisers from RW & FJ Rhodes & Son, Quernmore. Dairy cows sold to 159.5p/kg for a British Friesian from WT Whitaker & Son, Nether Kellet, with Holstien Friesians selling to 157.5p/kg from I Atkinson & Son, Warton and Fleckviehs to 154.5p/kg from EW & RM Towers, Hornby. Over 75% of the sale comprised of leaner parlour type cows, generally selling at 120p/kg to 135p/kg, with the very smallest and leanest at realisation. Top grossing dairy cow was a Fleckvieh from EW & RM Towers, Hornby achieving £1239 with Holstien Friesians to £1219 from I Atkinson & Sons, Warton.
OTM heifers sold to 207.5p/kg and £1207 for an Aberdeen Angus x from JM Capstick, Lancaster.
OTM steers sold to 211.5p/kg and £1321 for a British Blue x from DR Preston, Caton with other beef steers generally 190p/kg to 205p/kg.
Younger bulls sold to 189.5p/kg and £1027 for a Charolais x from the IOM, with dairy stock bulls selling to 129.5p/kg and £1023 for a Holstien Friesian from Richmond Hall Farm, Cockerham.

CALVES & WEANLINGS

A packed ring side of buyers ensured all calves once again sold to their full value, with many commenting on being ahead of other local centres. Eight week old British Blue x bull calves sold to £450 from JP&C Robson, Garstang with Aberdeen Angus x also achieving £450 from G&ME Woodhouse & Son, Ellel. Month old bull calves sold to £380 from AD&R Milner, Claughton on Brock with Charolais at £340 from GJ&G Billington, Garstang with three week old British Blue x selling to £290 from Walmsley Beef, Cockerham. Rearing heifer calves sold to £400 from JP&C Robson, Garstang who sold others at £400, £390 and £370 with young Aberdeen Angus x heifer to £200 from G&ME Woodhouse & Son, Ellel.
Several pens full of weaned calves sold to £670 for British Blue x bulls from JS&KM Wilson & Son, Kendal who sold Fleckvieh at £600 and Aberdeen Angus at £570. Charolais and Simmental x bulls from GJ&G Billington, Garstang sold at £585.

DAIRY CATTLE

The fortnightly sale of dairy cattle continues to attract interest with new calved cows, heifer and in-calf heifers all selling today, with more needed to satisfy buyers demand. Third calved cow sold to £1850, with heifers to £1750 and in calf to £1420.

STORE CATTLE & STIRKS

A top price of £1650 was achieved on several occasions for both British Blue x steers from JD&GM Bracken, Garstang and Charolais x from J&H Bland & Son, Levens. Other well grown short keep steers were regularly £1450 to £1550, to include Aberdeen Angus x at £1440 from J Prest & Son, Bay Horse. Dairy bred steers sold to £1480 for a Fleckvieh from J Prest & Son, Bay House with Montbeliarde to £1450 and Norwegian Red and White to £1410.
Heifers sold to £1510 for Charolais x from J&H Bland & Son, Levens with others at £1460 from the IOM. Stronger heifers were generally £1300 to £1450, to include Aberdeen Angus x achieving £1420 from T Robson & Son, Poulton le Fylde.
The monthly sale of stirks saw another increase in numbers forward, attracting buyers from far and wide. Bulls sold to £940 for seven month old British Blue x from JS&KM Wilson & Son, Kendal who sold others at £920. Aberdeen Angus x bulls sold to £810 from P&ME Higginson, Pilling who also sold Holstien Friesian and Montbeliardes at £800. Younger Continental bulls were generally £600 to £700, with young bulls required every week to fulfil buyer requirements.
Steers sold to £900 for British Blue x from RH&RA Fawcett, Carnforth with D&M Foster selling Aberdeen Angus x and Hereford x steers at £800. Other well grown steers at 6 to 8 month old generally £700 to £800. Dairy bred steers sold to £620 for 10 month old British Friesians from R&J Parkinson, Preesall.
Heifers achieving a top price of £900 for a pair of British Blue x from FW Rhodes & Son, Ellel with others at £880 from G Rawlinson, Astley. Native sired heifers sold to £850 for Aberdeen Angus x with Herefords to £780. Younger Continental heifers sold to £700 for 6 month old Charolais x from EE Thornton & Son, Heaton with other younger heifers £600 to £660.