Archive for May 2016

Well the advert in Farmers Guardian certainly worked! Six of the nine puppies found new homes.

We've had calls from all over: the two bitches were sold straight away and could have sold five times over. One of the male pups is going to live in Skye!

We're at Northumberland Show on Monday showing Suffolks, so any spare time has been spent washing, dressing and colouring sheep. On top of that, we've managed to get most of the stock sheared.

Sunday night was rather fraught when our two Patterdale terriers went AWOL. One made her way home battered, bloody and bruised and, after a time searching the area by torchlight, we found the mother. She was in rather a bad way so we whipped them both off to the vets. It looks like they've had a run in with a badger. Both are feeling sorry for themselves. I'm relieved they're alive and my husband is in vet bill shock!

The Blue sale at the weekend saw plenty of buyers around the ring and a solid trade. There was also a decent trade for Limousin bulls at the new pedigree sale at Hexham and also at Welshpool. More positive signs across all sectors in the prime rings with cattle up a bit again this week, although it still needs to improve substantially to make a much of a difference to profitability.Spring lambs are also up a penny or two after dipping sharply last week as numbers increase, and at last there looks to be some relief for pig producers as prices seem to be on an upward trend.

Friday, May 27 – Pedigree beef day at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, including the Mart's the Heart-supported sale of Beef Shorthorn cattle.

Saturday, May 28 – Dispersal of the prize-winning Rapidbay-UK herd and the Rendham herd, sale by Hassall Brothers at Market Drayton.

Saturday, May 28 – Complete dispersal of arable and stock farm machinery at Thame Market.

Monday, May 30 – 275 breeding cattle and bulls at Bryncir Market.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend.

Steph Ryder

Head of Commercial Sales & Development

The warm weather continues, much-needed grass is growing nicely, and the woods are full of bluebells. Unfortunately, the weeds are taking off too, so we’ve been out spraying.

The pups are benefiting from the sunshine and we've set up a run in the field for them to use up some of their energy and mischief. They are being advertised in this week’s paper. It’ll be sad to see them go, but you never know, they could be future price record breakers like we saw with the 14,100gns sheepdog sold at Skipton mart on Friday. I am tempted to keep one, however, my husband goes deaf when the subject arises!

Balmoral Show was superb last week. The weather was kind, folk were friendly and quality of stock high, with a British Blue winning the beef inter-breed and Charollais winning the sheep inter-breed. I did come away a tad concerned that my show sheep aren't nearly as strong as some I saw in the ring.

Charolais trade was a tad sticky in parts at the weekend, however, top price of 14,000gns was made for a Goldies Bull at Carlisle.

Prime cattle trade has seen a bit of a lift, at least for steers and heifers in the last day or two,so let's hope that continues. Spring lamb averages have seen a sharp drop this week as numbers increase but a lot of markets are still making good price of the best. Surprisingly there has been an improved dairy trade, with several auctioneers surprised just how good it has been. Read this week's paper for all the reports.

Some sales coming up this next week:

Friday, May 20 – Bletsoes is holding a dispersal sale of a horse feed manufacturer to include a coarse mix plant, augers, storage and bulk bins, at Nene Milling, London Road, NN29 7LT.