Sedgemoor Livestock Market report for Monday May 18

The best Barren Cow trade for years. All cows averaged 130ppk.

(66) UTM & (21) OTM Prime Cattle. Auctioneer’s comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a reduced entry of 87 prime cattle met a flier. After the AHDB promotion of steaks (#steaknight) which was picked up by most major supermarkets and combined with the good weather, beef is back on the menu.

Sales of beef through supermarkets was up 30 per cent in April compared to the previous month, while sales of non-meat products such as Quorn remain stagnant.

The 200 pence barrier was exceeded at 207ppk for a very shapely red Limousin steer from CJM Shackleton, Wiveliscombe. A suckler bred Hereford steer rose to 199ppk from RW Darby, Bridgwater. Mediumweight Blue steer (565kg) at 191.5ppk from TE Pocock & Co, Stringston. Heavyweight Charolais (688kg) at 187ppk from RE Webber, Stringston. Suckler bred Angus at 186 and 183.5ppk from Brightley Farms, Umberleigh.

Steers sold to a massive £1,334.05 for a grand grey Charolais from L & A Maddock & Co, Wiveliscombe, who sold further Charolais at £1,319.51 and £1,303.05. Big framed Angus steer at £1,328.54 from Habberfield Bros, North Newton. Hereford steers at £1,327.33 from RW Darby and £1,306.74 from H Carnell, Barrow Gurney.

Over, overage Friesian steer (40m) at £1,122.19 from F & EJ Strawbridge & Son, Axminster.

Read more: Sedgemoor Livestock Market report for Friday May 15 and Saturday May 16

Heifers also went through the 200pence mark to 205ppk for a superb Limousin from J & S Vinnicombe & Son, Ottery St Mary, who sold other similar Limousin heifers at 197, 195.5 and 193ppk. A good Blue from GW King, Glastonbury rose to 194ppk. Mediumweight (502kg) Limousin at 191.5ppk from Habberfield Bros, North Newton. Further mediumweight (503kg) Limousin at 189ppk from MJ Tuckett & Partners, Exeter. Heavyweight Blues at 188.5 (657kg) and 187ppk (643kg) and 184.5ppk (611kg) from SJB Adams & Son, Rhode. 546kg Simmental at 188ppk from TE Pocock & Co. Very well fleshed Blue at 186.5ppk from JF Walker & Partners, North Petherton.

Native heifers rose to 185ppk for a Hereford from H Carnell. Angus to 183.5ppk from TE Pocock & Co.

Heifers sold to the days top of £1,342.48 for a strong 692kg Blue from GW King. J & S Vinnicombe & Son’s heifers returned at £1,296.96, £1,246.40, £1,189.88 and £1,184.73. The Blue heifers from SJB Adams & Son sold at £1,238.45 and £1,202.41.

67 Barren Cows and Cull Stock Bulls. Auctioneer’s comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a reduced entry of 67 barren cows met a flier. A really good show of cows, both sucklers and dairy but trade was tremendous. As burger takeaways look to reopen, mince is needed and all buyers were very keen to source stock.

Top was 165.5ppk for a very clean Limousin slip from JA & G Aldworth, Madford. Young fleshed Devon cows at 159.5 and 158.5ppk from F & EJ Strawbridge & Sons, Axminster. Young Blue cow at 157.5ppk from RE Webber, Stringston, who sold an older Blue at 140.5ppk. Run of smart continental cows from KJ & S Bishop, Enmore, met calls of 155.5, 154.5, 148.5 and 143.5ppk for Limousins, 153.5 and 148.5 for Simmentals and 151.5 (2x) 150.5, 148.5, 139.5, 138.5, 135.5, 134.5 and 131.5ppk for Charolais. Further Blue cows at 146.5 and 138.5ppk from F & M House, West Huntspill and 137.5ppk from CG & C Vigar, Currey Rivel. Further Devon cows at 135.5ppk twice from both Lynham & Chidgey, Woolavington and Wadhayes Farm Partners, Awliscombe. Angus to 134.5ppk from F & M House again. South Devon at 129.5ppk from GP Tratt Ltd, Weston Super Mare.

Sucklers sold to £1,274.05 for a 830kg Simmental from KJ & S Bishop, who sold another at £1,214.73, Charolais at £1,250.37, £1,228.08, £1,171.10, £1,139.72, £1,127.16, £1,080.30 and £1,073.16 and Limousins at £1,158.48, £1,099.21, £1,096.95 and £1,032.08. Blue cows at £1,097.31 and £1,083.60 from RE Webber. Further Blue cows £1,081.17 and £1,029.06 from F & M House & Son and £1,068.38 from CG & C Vigar. Devon cow at £1,061.41 from PH & ME Buckingham & Son, Brompton Regis. Angus cow at £1,000.68 from F & M House & Son again.

A desperate shortage of dairy culls rose to 137.5ppk for a very smart Friesian from F & EJ Strawbridge & Sons, who sold similar Friesians at 135.5ppk twice. Further Friesians at 129.5ppk, CD & VJ Winn, Westonzoyland; 128.5ppk, DG Ham, Axbridge; 128.5ppk again and 119.5ppk, JM & JM Baker, Glastonbury; 125.5 and 116.5ppk, TW & JC Cross, Churchstanton and 124.5ppk, GG Dyer, Whitestaunton. Holstein cows peaked at 131.5ppk from SJ Perry, East Worlington, who sold others at 129.5 and 124.5ppk. Further good Holsteins at 130.5 and 124.5ppk from NF & CO Ellis & Sons, Rampisham; 125.5 and 124.5ppk, SE & RM Fry, Ashill and 124.5ppk again TW & JC Cross again.

Dairy cows sold to £1,025.70 for a Holstein from SJ Perry. Further black and whites £1,012.19 and £947.43, NF & CO Ellis; £998.45, DG Ham; £995.22, SE & RM Fry and £957.99, F & EJ Strawbridge & Sons.

1828 Finished Lambs and Hoggs. Auctioneer’s comments:

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a much larger entry of 1419 lambs sold to another very strong trade for all presented. The best sold to 287 and 270 from KJ Seymour. Others 286ppk from T & I Collard; 285 and 270 from TE & SJ Popham; 277ppk from HM & KI Stowell & Son; 273 and 272ppk from ME Kidner; 273 and 270ppk from C Reasons; 271 and 270ppk from PR Nicholls; 271ppk from IJ Williams and V Knott and 270ppk from S Francis and K Roberts.

Heavier lambs sold to £127.50 from PR Nicholls. Others £124 from JR & RH Williams; £122 from V Knott; £121.50 from K Long; £120.50 from HM & KI Stowell & Son and £120 from G & J Butt, A Quick and R Hann & W Hooper. Overall average £107.11.

A smaller entry of 409 hoggs sold to a very strong trade with the best to 243ppk from EJ Rockett & Son. Others 237ppk from AJ Crabb; 231ppk from MB & KN Crabb and 230ppk from RW Brunt and J Hallett.

Top prices were £119.50, £117.50 and £115.50 from MB & KN Crabb. Others £115.50 from RW Brunt; £114 and £113 from J Baker and £113 from J Hallett and HJ Tratt. Overall average £104.68.