On the full day of sunshine we had, we optimistically cracked on with spreading fertiliser, ringing lambs' tails and dosing ewes prior to turning out in the fields. Other folk, I notice, have done likewise. Although there is very little grass, there is little in the coffers to pay for feed and bedding.
The bad weather really is taking toll on the stock. Sadly, we lost an old favourite Texel stock tup, who had recently started to show his age and went downwards these past few weeks. This weather isn’t inspiring much to stay alive!
The positive, big story this week is that hogg prices keep going up and up. Where will it end is the question? A dip in trade could have been expected after Easter, but it has been quite the reverse, with many markets reporting the highest prices ever. A couple of highlights have been hoggs to £200 at Rugby and 402.8p/kg at Skipton. Fewer numbers to market and more sheepmeat going for export will be the main causes to these never experienced before prices. While not such a spectacular trade, prime cattle are also buoyant, with numbers fairly tight and store cattle are also selling well as buyers look for stock to turnout, if the weather ever improves. Not many pedigree sales at the moment but Hereford bulls sold to 8,200gns twice at Hereford for Romany 1 Poseidon from J.R.B Wilson and Normanton 1 Perky from T.D. and W.T. Livesey |
Sales coming up this week |
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