Sedgemoor Livestock Market report, Saturday February 29

A new record cull ewe price of £187, when 995 averaged £100.57.

58 Dairy Cattle. Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a much smaller entry saw another excellent trade for the middle of the road types. Best heifers over £1800 looked very good value for money against the rest.

£2000 was achieved twice for both pedigree and non pedigree heifers. Pedigree heifers to £2000 from R Wilcox, Wedmore and non pedigree to £2000 DWC & CE Jones, Chepstow.

Other heifers to £1900 and £1640 x2 for AR Edwards & Son, Newport; £1900 MGC & SM Carter; £1880 RC Taylor; £1830 and £1820 RL & ME Trott; £1830 JH & SA Denbee; £1800 Snook Ltd and £1780 DJ Cheacker.

Only a few cows forward to £1600 and £1500 for DW, EG & PW Jones, Bridport. Others £1570 for AR Edwards & Son: £1450 RL & ME Trott and £1400 Deptford Farm. Ayrshire cows to £1240 (3rd) TJ & SM Hobbs.

Red and white in-calf heifers to £1440, £1240 and £1210 all from TG & H Wooff and RG Powell.

Red and white calves to £180 AE Allen & Sons, others to £125.

903 Store Cattle and Grazing Cows. Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a much increased entry of 903 store cattle, part of a massive 1337 with the stirks, met another very bright trade.

Top was £1235 for a superb feeding Limousin steer (19m, FA) from K & M McEwen Smith, Bristol. Another top drawer red Limousin steer at £1230 (23m & FA) from EC Haste, Shebbear. Further absolute best feeding Limousin at £1220 (20m & FA) NJ & RT Popham, Enmore. Further better type Limousin steers £1180 (3x 20/25m & FA) ET Summerfield, Oxford; £1125 (20m) LE Sweetland & Son, Musbury; £1090 (34m & FA) R Coate, Broomfield and £1085 (3x 23m & FA) MA Berryman, South Molton. Well grown, big Blue steers at £1210 (18/20m & FA) from E Gay & Sons, Musbury. Further Blues £1105 (only 19m & FA) EC Haste again; £1100 (24m & FA) and £1055 (27m, FA) Ham Farm Partners, Creech St Michael; £1095 (3x 22m & FA) MA Berryman again; £1065 (23/24m & FA) RD & SA Patch, Wilmington; £1055 (26m & FA) Arscott Partners, Upottery and £1045 (23m & FA) EC Haste again. Charolais steers rose to £1190 (20m) from LE Sweetland & Son again, who sold another at £1125 (21m). Good types £1185 (19/21m & FA) from S Payne, Washfield, who sold another at £1055 (22m & FA); £1180 (3x 21/22m & FA) £1150 (3x 20/22m & FA) and £1130 (5 x 18/23m & FA) ET Summerfield & Son again; £1170 (4 x 20/23m & FA) MA Berryman again; £1095 (7x 21/23m & FA) RJ Maltby, Long Bredy; £1060 (4x 18/19m & FA) TJ Samways & Son, North Perrott and £1045 (2x 18m & FA) CA & MA Ralph, Trull. Simmental steers sold to £1175 (5x 20/22m & FA) from ME Sampson & Son, Upottery. Others £1130 (3x 26m & FA) RC & K Wright & Son, Dunkeswell; £1100 (21m & FA) H & M Thorne and Son, Umberleigh; £1085 (17m) LE Sweetland & Son again and £1055 (23m & FA) Snook Ltd, East Coker. Smart Blonde steers peaked at £1155 (7x 21/24m & FA) from RM Ashman, Redhill, who sold others at £1130 (4x 22/23m & FA). Further Blonde at £1150 (21m & FA) ET Summerfield & Son again.

Native steers peaked at £1210 for a fit Hereford (29m, FA & sire) from NJ Paulley & Son, Broadoak. Further grand Herefords £1175 (20m, FA & sire) K & M McEwen Smith again; who sold another at £1070 (19m, FA & sire) £1030 (6x 20/23m & sires) LE Sweetland & Son again; £1015 (23m) R Clegg, Cornwood and £1005 (19m, FA & sire) NJ & RT Popham again. Angus steers rose to £1190 twice. 30m, FA, sire and fit from TE Harris, Kingston Seymour and only 17m, FA, and sire, G Bown & Son Ltd, Wells. Others £1080 (22m, FA & sire) Snook Ltd again; £1025 (23m, FA & sire) RD & SA Patch again; £1020 (26m & FA) AC & JH Loxton, Spaxton and £1010 (22/23m, FA & sire) M & R Vellacott, Greenham. South Devons at £1085 (22/24m) and £1000 (21m & FA) MA Berryman again.

Really well fed and grown Holstein steers to £1030 (10 x 20/24m, FA) from G Bown & Son Ltd, Wells, who sold others to £920 (12x 20/21m & FA). Fleshed Friesians at £995 (2x 22m & FA) from DJ & SE Merrett, Potterne, who sold a Holstein at £870 (25m & FA). Fleckvieh to £900 (19m & FA) from A Baker, Meare. Further Fleckvieh £870 (17m & FA) EC Haste again. Further black and whites £845 (19m & FA) and £820 (21/22m & FA) Arscott Partners, Upottery; £825 (2x 31m & FA) RS Dorse, Fivehead; £790 (7x 21/24m) RP & JE Trounson, Helston; £770 (3x 19/22m & FA) GD & DM Parris, Howley; £755 (4x 25/26m & FA) CW Chapman, Langport and £750 (6x 19/24m) Jones & Pether, Badgworth.

Heifers topped the day at a tremendous £1250 (19/20m, FA) for superb feeding Limousins from K & M McEwen Smith again, who sold more again at £1170 (19/20m & FA). Further smart Limousin heifers £1030 (29m & FA) KJ & LC Popham, Fiddington; £1025 (2x 31m & FA) £1015 (4x 29m & FA) £980 (7x 21m & FA) and £950 (3x 18/20m & FA) R Coate, Broomfield; £1015 (21m & FA) DJ Cossins, Blagdon Hill; £990 (27m, FA) BC Knapp, Pilning and £950 (23/25m & FA) KJ & LC Popham again.

Outstanding Blonde heifers at £1130 (5x 22/24m & FA) from RM Ashman, Redhill, who sold others at £1080 (3x 22m & FA). Fleshed Blues at £1095 (2x 19m & FA) from E Gay & Sons again. Further fleshed Blues £1085 (30m & FA) AJ Paulley, Broadoak; £1060 twice (15 and 18m & FA) SER Hunt, Kilve; £1040 (21m & FA) NJ Paulley & Son again; £1020 again (24m & FA) RD & SA Patch again; £995 (26m & FA) and £970 (27m & FA) DJ Cossins again and £960 (4x 24m & FA) CWM & GN Bolt, Huntsham. Charolais heifers peaked at £1000 (4x 22m & FA) from RJ Maltby again. Further suckler bred Charolais £990 (6x 20/22m & FA) and £930 (6x 21/22m & FA) from HG Bishop & Sons, Treborough. £975 (21m & FA) S Payne, Washfield. Simmental heifers rose to £960 (4x 19/21m & FA) from RC & JL Pickering & Sons, Hadlow.

Native heifers sold to an excellent £1190 for an exceptional Hereford (18m, FA & sire) from K & M McEwen Smith again, who sold others similar at £1060 (19m, FA & sire) and £1030 (20m, FA & Sire). Further good Hereford heifers £960 (2x 22m, FA & sire) and £950 (22m, FA & sire) AJ Paulley again and £910 (28m, FA & sire) Ham Farm Partners again. Angus to £1100 for fit types from G Bown & Son Ltd again. Further fit Angus £960 (35m, FA & sire) TE Harris, Kingston Seymour; £910 (6x 24/29m, FA & sire) Snook Ltd again and £905 (2 x25m, FA & sires) DJ Cossins again.

12 Grazing Cows (pre-movement tested). Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a medium entry of 12 grazing cows topped at £770 (2x) for a Hereford (2018) from NJ Paulley & Son and a Welsh Black (2007) from Manor Farms.

433 Busk Calves and Stirks. Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a larger entry of stirks, when there was not the general quality forward of last week, saw a continuation of the fast trade for the best. Smaller second quality stirks met some resistance from buyers due to the number on offer.

Top price of £915 (10m) for a Limousin steer from RJ Gooding, who sold other good steers to £885 (2x & 10m) and £835 (2x & 11m). A quality entry from CA & BJ Jarvis saw further Limousin steers to £905 (4x & 12m) when others sold to £890 (9m) FJ & CN Burrough; £832 (10m) £810 (3x & 11m) £760 (3x & 10m) Hanchard Farming Partnership; £750 (2x &13m) EC Haste; £748 (2x & 10m) S & D Wilson; £745 (10m) N Brooks and £732 (3 x & 11m) G Burrough. British Blues to £875 (9m) EC Haste, who sold others to £780 (8m). Further British Blues to £850 (10m) FJ & CN Burrough and £790 (8m) RT & PJ Northover. A cracking run of Charolais from MJ Higgins shot to £870 (2x & 10m) £850 (2x & 10m) £800 (11m) and £760 (5x & 7m). Further Charolais to £795 (5x & 10m) EC Haste and £730 (3x & 8m) AG Evans. South Devons to £800 (7x & 10m) JA & YJ Hopkins, who sold others to £645 (5x & 9m).

Angus to £795 (2x & 10m) £770 (9m) and £745 (2x & 10m) Scott & Son. Herefords to £780 (2x & 10m) JD Lock, when others sold to £695 (10m) and £670 (10m) G Burrough. Simmentals to £732 (2x & 8m) JH Waterman & Son, when others sold to £715 (11m) A Wall. Devons to £600 BJ & MJE Bartlett.

A large entry of bulls which sold to £750 (11m) for a pure Simmental from N Jamieson, who sold another to £735 (12m). Angus to £700 (10m) FAW Bakers Kingston Farms Ltd. Limousins to £685 (9m) and £620 (3x & 9m) WA Williams & Son. South Devon to £660 (11m) JA & YJ Hopkins.

Heifers sold to a top price of £845 (2x & 14m) for top drawer Limousin heifers from CA & BJ Jarvis, who sold others to £835 (2x & 14m). Further Limousins to £655 and £650 (8m) EC Haste; £605 (11m) G Burrough and £600 (4x & 12m) FH & DB Gibbons & Son. Angus to £750 (2x & 11m) Scott & Son, who sold others to £675 (2x & 11m) and £650 (2x & 9m). Charolais to £745 (4x & 10m) MJ Higgins, who sold others to £725 (6x & 10m) £675 (8m) and £560 (2x & 8m). Further Charolais to £672 (2x & 12m) FH & DB Gibbons & Son; £670 (9m) JD Lock; £605 (5x & 9m) AG Evans; £595 (10m) and £590 (10m) G Burrough. Simmentals to £720 (8m) J Gregory; £760 (2x & 15m) A Wall; £660 (10m) EC Haste and £635 (5x & 9m) JH Waterman & Son. British Blues to £660 (8m) EC Haste; £640 (2x) MA Francis and £560 (10m) Giddings Bros. Herefords to £615 (11m) JD Lock.

430 Non-Export Calves. Auctioneer's comments:

Beef Breeds (348) – not able to be exported from market

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report more calves and more buyers forward again felt the trade firm. Continentals topped at £405 (2x) for reared Blues from NF George. Younger Blues to £370 for Giddings Bros; £340 and £320 NG Clothier & Sons Ltd. Young Limousin to £340 for HT & ME Quick; £310 J Stott and £252 D & M Legg & Sons. Simmentals to £280 for R Hares and £255 PT Bale & Sons.

Continental heifers to £380 for a reared Blue from T Letts & Son. Others £370 (2x) NF George and £370 NF Clothier & Sons. Younger Blues to £260 MEJ & PJ White; £260 CJ & JA Reed and £255 JWO Marsh & Partners. Reared Limousins to £305 (2x) NF George. Younger to £268 HT & ME Quick. Young Charolais to £250 and £248 for SM & DM Turner Ltd and £210 CE Veysey Ltd. Simmentals to £195 Ireosa Ltd and £180 DE Down & Son

A lot of reared natives sold well to £428 (2x) for Angus from NF Clothier & Sons Ltd and £415 (5x) NF George. Younger Angus to £240 for LS, KM & CJ Davies. Reared Herefords to £352 (4x) for NF George. Younger to £230 JR Bucknell and £220 (2x) House & Sons. Native heifers to £268 and £250 for reared Angus from NF Clothier & Sons Ltd. Others £205 F & S Aplin. Young Hereford to £268 for R & J Tibbs; £180 House & Sons and £125 University of Bristol.

Friesians (82) – not able to be exported from market

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report 82 dairy sired bull calves met a similar trade where all types seem wanted. Even the smaller calves sold to their value. Top of £130 (2x) for M & S White & Son and F & S Aplin. Best rearing types £80 plus, mediums £45-£75 and plainer types around £10-£25. Montbeliarde to £248 SE & TL Lye. Fleckvieh to £165 (2x) RF & BA Larcombe. Brown Swiss to £130 for SE & TL Lye. Sheeted Somerset £125 for MRG Taylor. Danish Red to £45 Woodlands.

3767 Sheep. Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report the following sheep trades:-

Store Lambs (1932)

A larger entry of 1932 store lambs sold to an equally strong trade, although a higher proportion of smaller types pegged the average. Top price of £118.50 went to a strong pen from AJ & HB Hector. Others to £118 from S & A Bevan; £116 from MJ Patch; £115 from JW Wyatt; £114.50 from Andrew Ford Farming; £110 from JF Tidboald, R & K Dorpman and DJ Palmer; £109.50 from RJ Lee; £108.50 from S & A Bevan; £108 from JC Salmon; £107 from DH Westmore, S Tundley and MT & K Jackson and £106 from SF & KL Evans. Overall average £83.73.

Cull Ewes and Rams (995)

The best continental ewes achieved what is believed to be a record top price of £187 from T Parris. Other best ewes to £186 from E Davis; £180 and £171 from SER Hunt; £180 and £168 from WH Coles & Daughters; £176 from MD & KE Lanfear; £175 from GJ Cottrell; £160 from T Heal; £157 from T Newth and AGF Lockyer. Cull rams sold to £157 from LW Ford & Sons, when others sold to £140 from Wakely & Brunt and £134 from E Davis. Medium ewes £70-£100, plain £50-£70 and boners generally £36 plus. The overall average was up to a record level at £100.57.

Breeding Ewes (100)

Another good quality entry of 100 breeding ewes sold readily. Flock age Suffolk Mules from A & N Pearce sold to £152 on five occasions. 6T/FM Scotch Mules to £134 four times from Beeswax Dyson Farming. Overall average £143.36.

Couples (191 Ewes and 290 Lambs)

An even larger entry of couples when 191 ewes with 290 lambs at foot were forward. The persistent bad weather has finally taken its toll on the trade, when outfits with smaller lambs in particular experienced less demand. Best of the doubles to £200 (£66.67/life) from AL Popham. Others to £195 (£65/life) from MD & KE Lanfear; £192 (£64/life) from D Chappell; £190 (£63.33/life) from CL Popham and £185 (£61.67/life) from G & J Chorley & Son. Best of the singles to £168 (£84/life) from AL Popham and £148 (£74/life) from CL Popham. A bunch of ten ewes with 14 lambs at foot realised £168 (£70/life) from N Hoskin. Overall average slipped to £56.64/life.

Goats (113)

A large entry of 113 goats sold to £141 for a nanny with two kids at foot from RG, AJ & JA Habberfield. Strong billies from the same vendor sold to £128. Further nannies to £125.50 from J Nichols & Son and £103 from Verney Enterprises.

Orphan Lambs (133)

The largest entry of this year sold very well considering the number forward. A top price of £34 was seen three times for strong lambs from Thornhill Farm (Dorset) Ltd, Stalbridge and P Harris, Ivybridge. Overall average of £16.

143 Pigs. Auctioneer's comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report slightly reduced entry. Excellent cull and weaner trade. Fat trade a lot better but not back to the heights of six weeks ago.

Weaners (20)

Small entry – good trade. Best whites to £32 from N Richards and GOS x OSB to £36 from I Moon. Seven w/o white weaners to £23 from TJ Dolman & Sons.

Cull Sows and Boars (18)

Super trade for all classes. Top of the day £262 for a heavy weight from L Ellis and £250 from A & R Durston.

Medium weights to £175 from RJ & SJ Dare and AR Brown and £172 from J & R Hopkins. Even small coloured sows to £70. Boars to £172 from RA Hill and £128 from A Hares.

Forward Stores (105)

A good show of pigs sold to a stronger trade. The best to £123 for a good run from N Tope & Sons and £118 from J & R Hopkins. Good lights from T Palmer to £113. Super lights (65kg) from A & P Rose £61.

READ MORE: Sedgemoor Livestock Market report, Saturday February 22