Richard Haigh on the balance of trade.
Cattle trade at Selby for the first part of the year has held up well with good numbers and strong demand ringside.
When comparing this week with the corresponding week last year, averages for clean cattle are about 20p/kg higher, with bull averages 25p/kg higher.
Trade has been fairly consistent since late summer, although there have been fluctuations from week to week, giving some exceptionally dear weeks, but trade has generally been strong.
We sell a good of number of bulls which have seen some really high returns for top-end, well-shaped heavy bulls, with the best heavyweights making well over 2,000 most weeks and a top price per kilo of more than 300p.
Black and white and dairy bred sorts have also been very good to sell.
Best well fleshed black and white bulls are currently trading at 210-220p/kg, with odd ones more than that.
Lesser kinds at 180-190p/kg are also a good price.
These high returns for fat cattle are soon offset by the increase in costs of production, which have risen sharply over the past few months and are a hot topic among our farmer customers.
It is to be hoped that the price of finished cattle can be maintained but it would be surprising if a further increase was in the pipeline as upward pressure on the cost of living will no doubt put a ceiling on prices.
Store cattle prices have also been good this spring, with finishers keen to replace fat cattle which have been sold.
Short-keep stronger sorts have seen some really high prices, which is good for producers.
These high store cattle returns again emphasise the need for finished cattle to stay at current levels so the supply chain can be maintained with all being rewarded for their efforts and for the ever-increasing financial commitment involved.
Pigs
Our pig customers have certainly had a difficult 12 months. Comparing week-on-week with the same time last year shows this week’s average of 133.5p/kg about 3p dearer than the same week last year, so you could be forgiven for thinking trade sounds fairly consistent.
These figures only illustrate how dramatically fluctuating the pig trade can be, as if we look back to the start of the year there were some weeks in late January and February when averages were 65-75p/kg, almost half what they were this week.
When applying these numbers to pigs weighing 100-110kg, the difference in values is substantial.
The record high price of cereals has compounded the situation for our pig producers and it is a testament to their resilience that we are still attracting good numbers at our weekly fat sale.
Numbers are likely to tighten as a result of some producers choosing not to continue.
As with the cattle trade, there has to be profitability to ensure supplies are maintained.
As we look forward to the next 12 months the things we can be most sure of are that the crops will grow and be harvested, cows will be milked, pigs, sheep and cattle will be fattened and we will all try our best to get as much for them as possible.
As far as everything else is concerned, we will have to wait and see and hope our politicians and decision makers remember what a key link farmers and what they produce are in the well-being of the country.
Richard Haigh
Richard Haigh is an auctioneer at Selby Livestock mart.
Call 07768 594 535, or email [email protected]
