CAST / OTM CATTLE

A sharper jump in numbers saw 154 forward, sell to an overall market average of 140p/kg for an entry of predominately leaner parlour type dairy cows, with vendors leaving well suited with prices achieved and reporting well ahead of other local centres. Beef cows sold to a top of 174.5p/kg for an Aberdeen Angus from W&A Cardwell, Stalmine with others generally 148p/kg to 165p/kg, with a keen interest in those suitable for feeding. Top grossing beef cow was an Aberdeen Angus from RR&M Bamber, Gatebeck achieving £1268, with others at £1261 from A&CM Taylor, Lancaster. Heavy well fleshed dairy cows sold to a top of 159.5p/kg for a Holstien Friesian from Lawsons Farm Ltd, Cockerham with others at 154.5p/kg for a Fleckvieh from EW&R Towers, Hornby and Holstien Friesians from CJ&HM Parry, Cockerham, SW&K Metcalfe & Son, Whittington and Wannops Farm Ltd, Morecambe. Medium dairy cows were generally 130p/kg to 145p/kg, with the leaner and lighter weight cows 105p/kg to 120p/kg with several of the very smallest at realisation. Top grossing dairy cow achieved £1379 for a Holstien Friesian from Lawsons Farm Ltd, Cockerham.
OTM beef heifers sold to 249.5p/kg and £1745 for British Blue x from AT Burrow & Son, Hornby with Aberdeen Angus x selling to 239.5p/kg and £1532 from O Butler, Kirkham. Dairy heifers sold to 191.5p/kg and £1147 for a Holstien Friesian from SW&K Metcalfe & Son, Whittington with others generally 170p/kg to 185p/kg.
OTM steers sold to 234.5p/kg and £1594 for an Aberdeen Angus x from A Kirkby & Co, Pilling with others at 234.5p/kg from W&A Cardwell, Stalmine and £1381 for a Welsh Black from WT Eastham & Son, Goosnargh.
Cull bulls sold to 159.5p/kg and £1499 for an Aberdeen Angus from M&E Forshaw & Son, Longridge and 119.5p/kg and £1230 for a Holstien Friesian from RW Bainbridge & Son, Whittington.

CALVES & WEANLINGS

An entry of 115 rearing calves were forward at the popular weekly sale, which included the special prize show for calves under 56 days kindly sponsored by Semex and Norbreck Genetics and judged today by Mr Peter Anderton. The championship rosette was awarded to a seven week old British Blue x bull from GH Sanderson & Family, Catforth which later sold for £460. The second price bull and reserve champion was a twenty nine day old British Blue x bull from DR&C Galbraith, Grayrigg which achieved a final hammer price of £455. The first price heifer was awarded to a six week old British Blue x from JH Towers & Son, Tunstall which sold at £325, with a twenty one day old British Blue x from DR&C Galbraith, Grayrigg and selling at 2753.
Away from the show best rearing beef bull calves were regularly £380 to £420, with mediums £290 to £350 and the very youngest and smallest £220 to £280. Dairy bulls sold to £250 for an eight week old British Friesian from WG Farms Ltd, Cockerham who sold other at £240, with medium rearing dairy bulls generally £85 to £120.
Heifer calves sold to £410 for a Charolais x from WG Farms Ltd, Cockerham with other stronger rearing heifers £300 to £380, mediums £240 to £300 and the younger end £140 to £200.
A large number of reared and weaned calves were forward, attracting keen buyer interest with a Charolais x bull from AF&BA Dawson, Sedbergh selling at £710. Nicely reared 4 month old British Blue x bulls from SH&M Batty & Son, Quernmore sold to £605 with others at £580 and Aberdeen Angus x at £530. Hereford x sold to £505 from RE&P Miller, Barnacre. Weaned dairy bulls sold to £430 for Holstein Friesians from AF&BA Dawson, Sedbergh with other younger recently weaned bulls to £335 from WG Farms, Cockerham. Weaned heifers sold to £455 for an Aberdeen Angus x from SH&M Batty & Son, Quernmore with Aberdeen Angus x selling to £400 from RE&P Miller, Barnacre and British Blue x also achieving £400 from AW&AM Park & Son, Ellel.

DAIRY CATTLE

A similar story as reported in other local auction centres, with buyers still requiring additional and replacement stock but with a lesser appetite due to increasing costs and lower milk prices. The sale saw new calved cows sell to £1600, with others at £1400 and £1300 with a total clearance achieved.

STORE CATTLE

A strong show of store cattle sold to a fast and competitive trade, with all vendors leaving well suited with today’s prices. British Blue x steers sold to £1750 from SH&LE Birkett, Nether Kellet with others at £1660 from H Birkett & Son, Morecambe. Limousin x steers sold to £1610 from R&A Easterby, Westhouse with Aberdeen Angus x selling to £1580 from L Parsons & Sons, Levens. Other strong pens of steers were regularly selling at £1300 to £1550. Dairy bred steers sold to £1300 for MRI and British Friesians from J&H Bland Ltd, Levens with Fleckviehs selling to £1290 from RW Ewan, New Hutton. All steers forward today averaged £1208.
Heifers sold to £1640 for Charolais x from JD&GM Bracken, Catterall with others at £1600 from R&EA Gardner, Briggsteer. Other stronger heifers regularly £1350 to £1500, to include Beef Shorthorn at £1420 from EW&CR Clegg & Sons, Stalmine and Aberdeen Angus at £1400 from O Butler, Kirkham. All heifers averaged £1154.

NWA Lancaster enjoyed a buoyant traded across four sale rings, with 478 cattle sold. Another strong entry is required next week, which will include the month sale of farmer stirks and young store. Please advise the office catalogue entries by 12noon on Monday 23rd October.