Drayton Market 'flying high'

Barbers Auctions have recently announced record levels of barren cows and OTM cattle sales.

First-quarter figures saw 3,625 cattle go under the gavel at Market Drayton Livestock Market.

The Monday evening sales seem to be proving extremely popular, with an average throughput of 280 cattle per sale, hitting a record high of 436 on Monday March 31. Market Drayton Market can now claim to be the largest barren cow market in the country.

The specialist OTM evening sale has proved to be a huge hit with buyers and sellers, with up to 20 different buyers representing 29 accounts, from graziers to wholesalers and exporters.

Charles Forrester, a regular vendor to the marketm said: "The evening sale is a fantastic idea; it allows me time to bring my cattle in through the day, taking away the burden of having to rush in the morning after milking. With a wide array of buyers, all weights and grades of cattle sell well."

Bernie Hutchinson, managing partner and barren auctioneer, reported that: "It is fantastic to see how well the sales are going, and with the increased demand trade has raced away from market averages of 80 p/kg in January to 114.5p on Monday, April 15.

"The highlights of the year to date for dairy bred cattle were 129.5p to realise £958.30 from Mr T. Busby, and dearest in the lump returning at a staggering £1,018 for a cow weighing 808 kg from Mr A Whittaker."

Suckler cows have been well sold week on week with prices through March regularly at the 130p mark, and April peaking at 152p for a Limousin to generate £924.15 from Grahams Agriculture.

Like the sucklers, cull bulls have found a new level of trade, regularly averaging 110 pence-plus and climbing to 136.5p for a Limousin weighing 704 kg to return £960.96 from Mr FR Perry. The highest price in the lump went to a Charolais weighing 1,242 kg to realise £1,546.29 from Mr T Hockenhull.

At the market we are always looking to try to add value, and with the introduction of an export market every third Monday of the month we have seen pedigree British Blue cows to 180p to return £1,364 from Mr P Hollingsworth. The export market aims to add value to pedigree cattle by drawing exporters to the market on this specialist niche market night.

Also, to try and assist our clients who are restricted with TB, we run a red market at the end of each month, which has been extremely popular, seeing our highest entry of 436 cattle selling on a buoyant trade throughout, returning a dairy average of 96p.