The 2023 Christmas Fatstock Show and Sale did not disappoint at Leek, with fantastic numbers forward and crowds of people spectating.
Champion Beast, from the Sweetmore Family of Earl Sterndale, sold to 600p/kg or £3660 for a 610kg Brtish Blue.
Champion Pen of Lambs, from R Tomkinson & Son Butterton, sold to 710p/kg or £319.50 for 45kg Lambs.
Champion Pigs sold to £380p or £376.20 for 99kg Gilts from Massie Farms Stafford.
A smaller entry of Dairies this week seeing a top price of £2040 for a Heifer from David Brailsford.
Good trade in the Calf section with a Simmental Bull from Jim & Carol Hudson topping at £445.
A huge Thank you to all the judges and sponsors on the day.
BARREN COWS (19);
Selling time – 10:00am
Auctioneer – Graham Watkins (07976 370894)
A smaller entry than recent weeks with again a good number of buyers around the ring. Trade was similar with the top price being 186p/kg for a 570kg Holstein from GW & MA Hickam of Onecote with a 470kg Holstein from A & JE Goldstraw of Waterhouses which achieved 178p/kg.
A 670kg Limousin X Cow, from James Gilman of Bosley, achieved 168p/kg.
The first prize cow was a 910kg Holstein from P J Davies of Werrington which sold to 160p/kg with the second prize cow being a 730kg Aberdeen Angus that achieved 158p/kg.
Other top prices: –
149p 705kg Hereford J Fernyhough
148p 705kg Friesian J W Brandrick & Son
148p 635kg Simmental P N Holdcroft
Top headage price of the day was £1456.00 for P J Davies’ Freisian Cow.
CLEAN CATTLE (12)
An entry of some good quality cattle for the Christmas Show and Sale.
The judging was carried out by Lee Machin of Manifold Valley Meats who awarded the Champion Beast Rosette to the Sweetmore Family from Hollinsclough, a 610kg British Blue Heifer, which created a lot of competition in the sale ring, exchanged hands for 600p/kg, being bought by Lee Machin at £3660/head.
The Reserve Champion was a 21-month-old Limousin Heifer, weighing 545kg from Phillip Hooley of Wildboarclough which sold for 420p/kg -£2289/head, again being purchased by Lee Machin.
The Smallholder’s Cup was awarded to Ian Brown and Family of Werrington with a 565kg Limousin Heifer which achieved 375p/kg – £2118.75/head.
The First Prize Steer was shown by David and Gill Storer of Wincle with a 600kg Shorthorn which sold for 360p/kg – £2160/head.
Other top prices included: –
B/ Blue Heif 655kg to 340p/kg James Family,Gratton
Lim Heif 540kg to 318p/kg Mitchell&Murray,
Angus Heif 570kg to 301p/kg Mitchell & Murray,
Lim Heif 530kg to 292p/kg E Whitfield, Newcastle
Simm Str 670kg to 270p/kg Willaims Family, Basford
Overall average was 332.38p/kg, £1912.60/head.
PIGS (154).
Selling time – 9:15am
Auctioneer –Ed Groves (07964 510145)
A fantastic entry for show and sale day and the trade to match, the averages very much do speak for themselves across the board.
A big thanks to the judge Robert Bowring and the sponsor Thorneycroft Solicitors.
Show Results
Overall Champion Pigs to 380p or £376.20 from Massie Farms, Stafford for 99kg Gilts.
Porkers
1st – D Goldstraw, Meerbrook sold to 270p (73kg)
2nd – AJ&ME Minshull Tean sold to 223p (71kg)
Cutting Pigs
1st – J&B Fentem, Alsop en le Dale to 246p (83kg)
2nd – PF+PD Parsons, Whitchurch to 230p (80kg)
Bacon Pigs
1st – Massie Farms Stafford to 380p (99kg)
2nd – D Goldstraw Meerbrook, sold to 235p (89kg)
Sows
1st Marsden & Paddock 174p or £403.68 (232kg)
Outside the show there were fantastic prices achieved.
Porkers – 215p for P J Bowers & 213p for J&B Fentem.
Cutters – 232p & 228p for D Goldstraw, 224 & 222p for J&B Fentem. 222p for C Hine and 217p for RA Hughes.
Baconers- 226 for PF+PD Parsons, 225p Massie Farms, 224p for PF+PD Parsons, 224p for J&B Fentem, 223p for JA&B Minshull.
Heavies – to 196p for PF+PD Parsons who had others to 194p, 192p, 184p & 180p.
Porkers (9) av 228.54p/kg or £163.79/head
Cutting Pigs (33); av 220.58p/kg or £180.88/head
Bacon Pigs (105); av 217.79p/kg or £203.60head
Heavies (6) av. 190.05p/kg or £210.96/head
Sows (1) av 174.00p/kg or £403.68/head
DAIRIES (21)
Selling time – 11:30am
Auctioneers – Meg Elliott (07967 007049) & Mark Elliott (07973 673092)
DAIRIES TO £2040
A quieter day in the Dairy shed on Tuesday saw the best to £2040 for a fresh heifer from David Brailsford of Chesterfield. Cows topped at £1800 for a second calver from Messrs Easom.
Next week we have a very genuine Herd Dispersal of 40 Cows & Heifers In-milk & In-calf on behalf of John Whittaker of Bosley with entries for the Christmas Show & Sale on the 19th coming in nicely.
For further details contact Meg Elliott on 07967 007049.
SHEEP SECTION
Selling time 11:00am
Auctioneer – Robert Watkins (07929 946652)
LAMBS (982)
Away from the show, there was a good entry of commercial Lambs. Trade remains a little steady nationally, but we are pleased to again report a solid trade throughout.
Best Lambs generally 280p – 310p, depending on weight and finish.
Overall average at 268p/kg for a varied entry.
A superb entry of Lambs for this year’s Show and Sale at Leek.
Thank you to David Doody for judging the lambs, the prize winners are as follows: –
Overall Champion Lambs & First Prize Heavy Pairs
–
R Tomkinson & Son, Butterton, 45kg sold to 710p/kg (£319.50)
2nd Prize Heavy Pairs – W Allen, Butterton, 53kg sold to 315p/kg (£166.95)
1st Prize Heavy Pen of 5 – RG & AS Williamson, Wetley Rocks, 54.8kg sold to 325p/kg (£178.10)
2nd Prize Heavy Pen of 5 – FS & MJ Heath, Pipe Gate, 45.6kg sold to 320p/kg (£145.92)
1st Prize Light Pairs – R Challinor, Dilhorne, 41.6kg sold to 378p/kg (£157.25)
2nd Prize Light Pairs – R Challinor, Dilhorne, 40.6kg sold to 350p/kg (£142.10)
1st Prize Lights Pen of 5 – FS & MJ Heath, Pipe Gate, 42kg sold to 470p/kg (£197.40)
2nd Prize Lights Pen of 5 – R Challinor, Dilhorne, 40.5kg sold to 400p/kg (£162)
CULL SHEEP (257)
Trade much improved on previous weeks, with a lot of Ewes looking £15/head better on the week.
Best Texel Ewes to £230/head from G T Worsley & Son and Texel Ewes generally £150 plus.
Mules generally better to sell with best £80-£90.
Best Cull Rams to £201/head.
Overall average at £97/head.
CALVES (116)
Selling time – 10:00am
Auctioneer – Oliver Hiles (07801 530899)
Similar numbers to last week with Calves generally good to sell.
34 CONTINENTAL BULLS
A good solid trade throughout with plenty of customers for the best. A very posh Simmental topped the day at £445for Jim & Carol Hudson of Hollinsclough with the best ten over £325. Mediums £210-£280 with smaller sorts harder to sell this week.
22 Blues av. £242-£425 NE Goodwin & Son
4 Sims av £330-£445 JC & D Hudson
6 Lims av £196-£375 JP & SR Slack
2 Char av £260-£345 D & G Tudor
23 CONTINENTAL HEIFERS
Less customers this week, although the best still good.
Stronger Blues sold to £300 for Andrew Hulme with the top eight over £220. Mediums £120-£150 with poorer calves under £100.
18 Blues av. £166-£300 DW & P Hulme
4 Sim av £120-£175 F & R Brassington
3 Lim av £137 -£240 NE Goodwin & Son
45 NATIVES
Strong money, particularly the bulls.
6 Here Bulls av £207-£320 J & W Knight
SATURDAY
16TH DECEMBER
Store
& Breeding Cattle Sale
Closing
Date for Entries Friday 8th December
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SATURDAY 6th JANUARY
Store & Breeding Cattle Sale
Closing Date for Entries Friday 29th
December