Lodge & Thomas report an entry of 25 UTM & OTM prime cattle, 23 cull cows, 176 store cattle including 29 dairy cattle and 4 suckler cows and calves, 43 rearing calves and 280 finished and store sheep.

UTM PRIME CATTLE

Auctioneer – Andrew Body

A stronger trade for all types especially for best butchers’ quality, and plenty more required for a large contingent of buyers.

Outstanding top price per kilo at 217p and overall top value heifer at £1,408 was a smashing 649kg Limousin x heifer from George Richards Farms of Summercourt purchased by Chris Dale of Dales Family Butchers, Helston.

Premium steer at 215p/kg was a British Blue x from Mr. J.M. Nicholas of Sennen, this one bought by David Wilton of Peter Morris Butchers, St. Columb.

Top value this week was a grand 778kg South Devon x steer from Messrs. W.S. Gay & Son of St. Allen selling at £1,455 to J.V. Richards Ltd of Perranwell Station.

16 Steers & 7 Heifers – leading prices

Limousin x heifer to 217p (649kg) for George Richards Farms of Summercourt, Newquay

British Blue x steer to 215p (621kg) for Mr. J.M. Nicholas of Sennen, Penzance

Limousin x heifer to 211p (593kg) for George Richards Farms of Summercourt, Newquay

British Blue x heifer to 210p (589kg) for Mr. J.M. Nicholas of Sennen, Penzance

Limousin x steer to 209p (611kg) for George Richards Farms of Summercourt, Newquay

South Devon x steer to 200p (690kg) for Mr. I.C. Lobb of St. Ewe, St. Austell

Limousin x steer to 197p (631kg) for Messrs. W.S. Gay & Son of St. Allen, Truro

Limousin x steer to 193p (638kg) for Messrs. W.S. Gay & Son of St. Allen, Truro

South Devon x steer to 187p (778kg) for Messrs. W.S. Gay & Son of St. Allen, Truro

Wednesday’s south-west regional market averages

Steers – 167.2p/kg Heifers – 166.3p/kg

Truro Steers - Truro Heifers

Premium to 215p av. 209p - Premium to 217p av. 208p

Prime to 193p av. 168p - Prime to 174p av. 174p

Others to 160p av. 156p - Others to 163p av. 148p

All Steers av. 178p - All Heifers av. 178.5p

OTM PRIME CATTLE

Just a pair of OTMs being Limousin x heifers for Messrs. M.D. Curtis & Son of Gunwalloe, Helston with best selling at 149p/kg and £1,030 to David King of Exeter.

Average 145p/kg.

CULL COWS

Auctioneer – Andrew Body

A smaller entry this week although quality was improved with mainly well-fleshed cows forward but many non-Farm Assured still selling well.

A bumper contingent of Charolais cows saw three over 140p/kg to a top of 147p/kg for Diddy Farms of St. Stephen selling to Messrs. Rapson of Tavistock.

Outstanding top value at £1,076 was a big 854kg South Devon cow from Laity Farms of Kea purchased by Dawn West Devon of Hatherleigh; who also bought the dearest Friesian at 109p/kg from Messrs. A.D. & J.A. Bray of St. Martin.

17 Beef Cows – leading prices

Charolais x to 147p (642kg) for Diddy Farms of St. Stephen, St. Austell

Charolais x to 142p (570kg) for Messrs. R.H. & R.D. Richards of Sparnon Gate, Redruth

Charolais x to 141p (562kg) for Messrs. R.H. & R.D. Richards of Sparnon Gate, Redruth

Charolais x to 131p (696kg) for Diddy Farms of St. Stephen, St. Austell

Charolais x to 130p (748kg) for Diddy Farms of St. Stephen, St. Austell

Limousin x to 128p (639kg) for Messrs. A.R. & B. & A. Hosking of St. Martin, Helston

South Devon x to 126p (854kg) for Laity Farms of Kea, Truro

Limousin x to 122p (683kg) for Mr. R.E. Richards of St. Keverne, Helston

Aberdeen Angus x to 118p (546kg) for Messrs. A.R. & B. & A. Hosking of St. Martin, Helston

South Devon x to 112p (664kg) for Messrs. R.G.T. & G.E. Gilbert of Ruan Minor, Helston

6 Dairy Cows – leading prices

Friesian to 109p (762kg) for Messrs. A.D. & J.A. Bray of St. Martin, Helston

Friesian to 108p (684kg) for Messrs. P.J. Grylls & Sons of Kenwyn, Truro

Friesian to 88p (605kg) for Messrs. P.J. Grylls & Sons of Kenwyn, Truro

Breed Averages:

Charolais x to 147p/kg av. 133.31p/kg

Limousin x to 128p/kg av. 118.51p/kg

South Devon x to 126p/kg av. 119.88p/kg

Aberdeen Angus x to 118p/kg av. 104.00p/kg

Friesian to 109p/kg av. 91.00p/kg

Overall Averages:

Beef Cows to 147p/kg av. 118.22p/kg

Dairy Cows to 109p/kg av. 94.7p/kg

STORE CATTLE

Auctioneers – Andrew Body & Patrick Dennis

A larger entry this week with plenty of quality stores on offer selling to a very firm trade and a packed ring of buyers.

Top price of the day at £1,010 was a 22 month old South Devon x steer from Messrs. P. & P.A. Williams of Ruan Minor whose Charolais x steer made £950; and best British Blue x the same age to £990 for Messrs. R.G. Keast & Son of Allet.

A smart pair of 19 month old Aberdeen Angus x steers for Messrs. R.H. & L.G. Benney of Breage sold well to £905.

A good run of stores from Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval saw steers to £835 for a 14 month old Hereford x pair with their same age British Blue x steers to £790 and their young British Blue x heifers were a highlight with a 12 month old trio selling at £645.

A super trio of 11 month old Charolais steers from Messrs. L.J. Richards & Son of United Downs sold away to £775.

Overall top price heifer came from an entry of Limousin crosses from Messrs. R.H. & R.D. Richards of Sparnon Gate at £890.

90 Steers – leading prices

2yo

South Devon x to £1,010 for Messrs. P. & P.A. Williams of Ruan Minor, Helston

British Blue x to £990 for Messrs. R.G. Keast & Son of Allet, Truro

Charolais x to £950 for Messrs. P. & P.A. Williams of Ruan Minor, Helston

Aberdeen Angus x to £915 for Messrs. P. & P.A. Williams of Ruan Minor, Helston

1½yo

Limousin x to £925 for Messrs. J.M, S.K. & J.K. Sawle of Gunwalloe, Helston

Aberdeen Angus x to £905 for Messrs. R.H. & L.G. Benney of Breage, Helston

1yo

Hereford x to £885 for Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval, Penzance

Charolais x to £775 for Messrs. L.J. Richards & Son of United Downs, Redruth

Devon x to £670 for Mr. M. Hancock of Four Lanes, Redruth

British Blue x to £645 for Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval, Penzance

53 Heifers – leading prices

2yo

Limousin x to £890 for Messrs. R.H. & R.D. Richards of Sparnon Gate, Redruth

1yo

Aberdeen Angus x to £680 for Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval, Penzance

British Blue x to £645 for Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval, Penzance

Hereford x to £630 for Messrs. J.S. Rodda & Son of Gulval, Penzance

4 Suckler Cows & Calves

Some nice cows and calves this week including for Mr. B. Cowell of Wendron, Helston which saw a top price of £1,120 for a British Blue x cow with Aberdeen Angus x steer calf at foot; and a straight Charolais outfit making £1,050.

DAIRY DISPERSAL SALE (29)

This week Lodge & Thomas sold out the Holstein Friesian herd on behalf of Messrs. C. Lane & Sons of Carminowe Farm, Gunwalloe, Helston.

Run commercially, on a mainly grass-based system, the cows had good potential to go on to greater profit.

Top price of the day was £1,008 for a freshly calved 5th calver with the next cow in the ring, a 2nd calver, making £987 with plenty of buyers after fresh milk cows and a healthy overall average.

REARING CALVES

Auctioneer – Patrick Dennis

A modest entry sold to a far stronger trade than in recent weeks.

Forward Limousin x calves from Messrs. J.M, S.K. & J.K. Sawle of Gunwalloe saw the two bulls realise £385 apiece with their run of seven heifers topping at £305 and averaging £283!

A nice run of strong British Blue x and Aberdeen Angus x calves from J.O. Nightingale Ltd of Whitecross sold well with bulls to £345 and heifers £275.

Of the younger calves forward, month-old Limousin and British Blue x bulls reached £260.

22 Bulls

Limousin x to £385 twice for Messrs. J.M, S.K. & J.K. Sawle of Gunwalloe, Helston, av. £319

British Blue x to £345 for J.O. Nightingale Ltd of Whitecross, Wadebridge, av. £219

Aberdeen Angus x to £285 twice for J.O. Nightingale Ltd of Whitecross, Wadebridge, av. £221

Friesian to £108 for Messrs. J.M, S.K. & J.K. Sawle of Gunwalloe, Helston, av. £67

23 Heifers

Limousin x to £305 for Messrs. J.M, S.K. & J.K. Sawle of Gunwalloe, Helston, av. £269

British Blue x to £275 for J.O. Nightingale Ltd of Whitecross, Wadebridge, av. £199

Aberdeen Angus x to £270 twice for J.O. Nightingale Ltd of Whitecross, Wadebridge, av. £165

FINISHED & STORE SHEEP

HOGS (132)

Auctioneer – Ed Harris

Look at the reported prices below, “no brag, just fact”; the finished trade is tremendous.

Producers with remaining hogs which are fit, sell now says Lodge & Thomas.

All hogs exceeded the £90 mark with a top price of £128 for a single 62kg Texel hog from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock bought by J.V. Richards Ltd of Perranwell Station with a fine pen of butchers’ type Charollais hogs from Mr. K.A. Vincent of Grampound realising £125 to the same buyer.

The overall average price per head was a staggering £111.50!

Averages jumped another 10p/kg for the second consecutive week with an SQQ of 240p/kg.

All weights keenly sought after. Prices peaked at an exceptional 256p/kg for a smart-looking pen of 45.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs. T.B. & M.B. Osborne of St. Eval purchased by R.J. Trevarthen Ltd of Roskrow.

Industry reports indicate that the rocketing prices are fuelled by the fact that the quantity retailers are able to import is sharply down on last year, amid a global shortage.

Putting things into perspective, the SQQ average is 50p/kg dearer than this time last year!

Leading Averages:

256p/kg for 45.3kg hogs from Messrs. T.B. & M.B. Osborne of St. Eval, Wadebridge

252p/kg for 47.7kg hogs from Mr. D.J. Lobb of Little Polgooth, St. Austell

251p/kg for 49.1kg hogs from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

250p/kg for 47.0kg hogs from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

247p/kg for 40.5kg hogs from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

244p/kg for 47.5kg hogs from Mr. G.M. Henwood of Praze, Camborne

243p/kg for 45.5kg hogs from Messrs. K. Langmaid & Son of St. Veep, Lostwithiel

243p/kg for 38.0kg hogs from Mr. E. Whiteman of Mevagissey, St. Austell

242p/kg for 44.6kg hogs from Mr. R.A. Coad of Cubert, Newquay

242p/kg for 42.5kg hogs from Mr. E. Whiteman of Mevagissey, St. Austell

Top Price Hogs:

£128.00 (62.0kg) from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

£125.00 (54.2kg) from Mr. K.A. Vincent of Grampound, Truro

£123.00 (49.1kg) from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

£122.00 (57.0kg) from Mr. J.T. Rowe of Lower Penponds, Camborne

£121.50 (52.7kg) from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

£121.00 (57.0kg) from Messrs. T.B. & M.B. Osborne of St. Eval, Wadebridge

£120.00 (47.4kg) from Mr. D.J. Lobb of Little Polgooth, St. Austell

£117.50 (47.0kg) from Messrs. P.T.R. & P.E. Jones & Son of Crantock, Newquay

£116.50 (53.0kg) from Mr. K.A. Vincent of Grampound, Truro

£116.00 (45.3kg) from Messrs. T.B. & M.B. Osborne of St. Eval, Wadebridge

£116.00 (47.5kg) from Mr. G.M. Henwood of Praze, Camborne

Averages:

Standard (32.1-39kg) to 243p/kg

Medium (39.1-45.5kg) to 256p/kg av. 240.35p

Heavy (45.6-52kg) to 252p/kg av. 241.20p

Overweight (52.1kg+) to 231p/kg av. 222.60p

SQQ Hog Average 240.4p

CULL EWES (128)

Auctioneer – Ross Collins

Full throttle demand prevails.

Large numbers continue to come forward and top prices just keep getting better!

A swathe of 17 lots realised over £100, peaking at £133 for a single bigbodied ewe from Mr. N. Mason of Fowey.

Several rams forward this week saw a top call of £121 for Mr. J. Hicks of St. Erme.

Leading Prices:

£133.00 for ewes from Mr. N. Mason of Fowey

£127.00 for ewes from Messrs. T.B. & S.J. Mitchell of Idless, Truro

£115.50 for ewes from Mr. S. Jones of Breage, Helston

£115.50 for ewes from Messrs. J. Lutey & Sons of Grampound Road, Truro

£112.50 for ewes from Mr. E. Whiteman of Mevagissey, St. Austell

£112.00 for ewes from Messrs. K. Langmaid & Son of St. Veep, Lostwithiel

£108.50 for ewes from Mr. D.J. Lobb of Little Polgooth, St. Austell

£107.00 for ewes from Mr. B. Lugg of Cury Cross Lanes, Helston

£121.00 for a ram from Mr. J. Hicks of St. Erme, Truro

£109.00 for a ram from Messrs. G.M. & J.A. Olver of Lanivet, Bodmin

£107.00 for a ram from Messrs. F.J, C.H. & D.J. Williams of Caerhays, St. Austell

£104.00 for a ram from Mr. H.A. Ross of Portholland, Truro

Averages:

First quality ewes to £133.00 av. £107.00

Second quality ewes to £90.00 av. £76.00

Cull rams to £121.00 av. £104.50