Breeding heifers peak at £5,100 in strong store cattle trade at Bishops Castle
One of the strongest store cattle trades in recent years was reported by Halls auctioneers at Bishops Castle Auction Centre yesterday (Thursday), as breeding heifer prices peaked at £5,100.
The hugely successful prize show and sale, conducted by auctioneer James F. Evans, a Halls director, for Bishops Castle & District Quality Cattle Association, attracted a strong and competitive buying crowd.
The overall market averaged 474.3p per kilo and £2,046 per head, reflecting exceptional demand for quality store and breeding cattle, with British Blue and Limousin crosses dominating trade across all sections.
The pre-sale show, judged by Mathew Roberts and sponsored by Bibby Agriculture, highlighted the strength of cattle, with the champion British Blue cross heifer from J. A. Wood & Sons, Kinnerton, Ratlinghope, setting the tone for a standout heifer trade.
The Wood family also secured the prize for best show potential steer, confirming their strong overall consignment of cattle.
The heifer section was the clear highlight of the day, with 163 head averaging 501.7p/kg (£2,182) with demand described as electric throughout.
The section peaked at 975.9p/kg for a 415kg British Blue cross heifer from J. A. Wood & Sons. The top gross price of the sale was £5,100 achieved by E. H. Pennie & Son, Gwern Yr Ychain, Llandyssil, for a 630kg British Blue cross heifer, closely followed by £5,000 for a Limousin cross heifer from the same home.
A dozen heifers sold for £4,000 or more, underlining the exceptional depth of demand in the breeding heifer section. The Owen family, Red House Farm, Aberhafesp achieved £4,100 and £3,800, while J. A. Wood & Sons again featured strongly throughout with multiple heifers exceeding the £4,000 mark.
Store steers sold to a solid and consistent trade, with 120 head averaging 438.5p/kg (£1,928). Top price per kilo was achieved by Bowen & Bowen, Penthryn, Berriew, with a 315kg Limousin cross steer selling at 571.4p/kg.
- A. Wood & Sons achieved the top gross price for a 545kg British Blue cross steer which sold for £2,470. Other notable contributions included S. E. Goodall and E. W. Tuffin, Lodge Farm, Bishops Castle, which achieved 510.3p/kg for a 390kg Limousin cross steer and 466.7p/kg for a 450kg Limousin cross steer.
- H. & A. B. Jones & Sons, Barhedyn, Machynlleth returned 493p/kg for a 355kg Limousin cross steer and 459.8p/kg for a 435kg Limousin cross steer. E. Gethin & Co, Ty Coch, Llanwyddelan achieved 483.8p/kg for a 370kg Limousin cross steer and 472.5p/kg for a 400kg Limousin cross steer.
F T Bedell & Son, The Linch House, Bishops Castle sold to 468.2p/kg for a 425kg Limousin cross steer, while E. Edwards, Bryncelyn, Dinas Mawddwy realised 458.5p/kg for a 410kg Limousin cross steer.
A smaller entry of 14 store bulls sold to average 468.2p/kg (£1,596), topping at 569p/kg for a 290kg Limousin cross bull from M. & A. Powell, Drefor, Kerry. Top gross price was £1,960 for a 435kg Limousin cross bull from J. S. & B. M. Vance, Upper Grimmer, Minsterley.
“The sale was one of the most competitive seen at Bishops Castle for many years, particularly highlighting the exceptional strength of demand in the breeding heifer section, where competition remained relentless throughout,” said Mr Evans.
The next store cattle sale at Bishops Castle Auction Centre will be held on Thursday, May 21, with entries now invited across all classes.
Picture caption:
Bishops Castle & District Quality Cattle Association prize show champion owners Mike, Tom and Camille Wood with sponsor Jamie Woosnam from Bibby Agriculture, judge Mathew Roberts and Halls auctioneer James F. Evans.
