Bradley Thompson on good opening sales.
As spring approaches, we have been blessed with a kind winter so far.Who knows what is to come, but fingers crossed for sympathetic weather in coming months.
In the livestock sector, we have seen uncertainty in the previous couple of years with Brexit and Covid-19.
However, the red meat industry has ridden the storm quite well, with producers now getting realistic prices for our finished product.
It does feels like the confidence of the previous autumn has reduced, though, as many are faced with spiralling feed, fertiliser, fuel and product costs, as well as the reformation of the support payments.
One thing which shines through is the importance of the livestock auction markets, mainly, in our opinion, for the economic and social side.
This is on the back of some fantastic individual pedigree female sheep sales and store cattle sales.
It has been wonderful to see many people gathering back together after the the pandemic, sharing stories of the tribulations of agricultural life.
Competition is one of the key factors of the live ring, ensuring vendors put their livestock in front of a busy ringside of bidders to ensure they reach their full potential.
Many other sectors have lost the power of the competition of the live auction and have suffered.
J36 Rural Auction Centre has seen some good sales opening the new year and is looking forward to the growth of sales in the upcoming months attracting cattle from throughout the Lake District, Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales.
The demand has outweighed the negatives of spiralling costs, with short keep cattle selling to a strong trade as the finishers keep feeding the nation with quality British beef.
Middle term grazing types of cattle have been met with firm demand from grazers and finishers alike.
Prices for this type of cattle are 50-100 up on the year.
The best quality butcher type cattle have seen a sharper increase in value this year as farming quality pays off.
Driving this trade is the growth in local butcher demand.
The pandemic has seen an increased interest from the general public in buying quality locally sourced produce and it is great to see smaller local retailers thriving.
Only really young rearing calves have seen a deduction in trade.
Many have struggled with the changes in weather affecting calf health and growth rates, but the main reason is the rise in the cost of milk powder and high protein feeds required to feed youngstock.
As grass day creeps ever nearer, though, the enquiries for stirks begin to increase.
It is great that at last livestock farmers are getting the rewards they richly deserve, but we must think about what we need to do to be portrayed in a positive way in the media.
We rear some of the best quality products to feed a fast-growing population, at the highest of welfare standards with many farmers trying to do it as environmentally friendly as possible, keeping this wonderful landscape we all enjoy spending time in.
Bradley
Bradley Thompson is a livestock auctioneer at North West Auctions. Call 07867 000 244, or email [email protected]
