Challenging finished beef trade impacting on store cattle prices

The challenging market for finished beef is beginning to impact on store cattle prices, although the best quality animals continue to hold their own, report auctioneers Halls after a sale at Bishops Castle Auction on May 15.

An entry of 240 cattle went under the hammer, including a breeding Limousin bull from Messrs K. J. & D. M. Burton, Red House, which sold for £1,600. A cow and calf from Mr J. L. Parry, Cil-Gwrgan sold for £1,280.

A small entry of three bulls from M/s Aston Hall Farms, Aston Hall sold to 224p and 204p per kilo. A total of 134 steers sold to an overall average of 210.5p per kilo and £904 per head, with a top price per head of £1,240 for a 650 kilo Charolais cross steer from Messrs E. S. Williams, Mears Barn, who also recorded £1,155.

Top price per kilo in the steers was 257p for a bunch of three 385-kilo Limousins from Messrs K. J. & D. M. Burton, Red House Farm, which made £990 per head.

Prices for the 101 heifers on offer, which averaged 187.35 p per kilo and £765.15 per head, peaked at £1,070 for a super heifer presented by Messrs C. J. Davies & Sons, Amblecote Farm. This was followed by £1,010 for a Limousin cross heifer from Messrs B. Jones & Son, Cwmtrefarlo. Top price per kilo was 241p for a Limousin cross presented by Mr S. Lane, New Hall Farm.


“On the whole, a very good sale considering the current state of the beef trade and it is encouraging to see that fatteners are still keen to buy,” said David Bryan-Jones, manager of Halls’ Bishops Castle office.

The next store cattle sale is on June 19. Leading steer prices were: Charolais: £1,240 for a 650 kilo steer from Messrs E. S. Williams & Son, Mears Barn and 252p per kilo for a 405 kilo steer from Messrs R. P. Williams & Sons, The Down. Simmental: 239p per kilo for two 370 kilo steers from Messrs P. C. M. & N. M. Pugh, Bank Farm. Limousin: £1,115 for a 450 kilo steer from Messrs C. J. Davies & Sons, Amblecote and 257p per kilo for four 385 kilo steers from Messrs K. J. & D. M. Burton, Red House Farm. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £1,155 for a 615 kilo steer from Messrs E. S. Williams & Son, Mears Barn and 257p per kilo for a 350 kilo steer from Mr G. Lloyd, Brynhyfryd.

Heifers: Charolais: £990 for a 545 kilo heifer from Messrs D. Edwards & T. H. Cooke, Lodge Farm and 224p per kilo for a 435 kilo heifer from Messrs R. P. Williams & Sons, The Down. Limousin: £1,070 for a 500 kilo heifer from Messrs C. J. Davies & Sons, Amblecote and 241p per kilo for a 345 kilo heifer from Mr S. Lane, New Hall Farm. Blonde D’Aquitaine: £995 for a 430 kilo heifer from Mr A. Rowson, Upper Mill and 233p per kilo for a 300 kilo heifer from Messrs R. S. Adams & Co, Foxholes. British Blue: £950 for a 480 kilo heifer from Mr M. P. Jones & Son, Trelerney and 233p per kilo for two 365 kilo heifers from Mr E. Edwards, Bryncelyn. Aberdeen Angus: £575 for four 390 kilo heifers from Messrs Beamond Partners, The Cottage Farm. Piedmontese: £905 for a 450 kilo heifer from Mr M. P. Jones & Son, Trelerney.

Halls’ next store cattle sales at Bishops Castle are on June 19, with entries closing on June 12 and on July 24, with entries closing on July 17. Contact Halls on Tel: 01588 638639 for more information.