The Scottish Farmer

Bernard Simpson, Heathfield, Pateley Bridge, collected the cattle championship at Skipton’s opening New Year show and sale, with a 490kg home-bred British Blue heifer.

UK inflation 2% higher than EU

Harmonised Indicies of Consumer Prices (HICPs) established to provide international comparisons of inflation between European member states, printed by Eurostat, reveal that meat inflation figures in the UK for the year to October 2011, was well above the EU average of 3.7%, and a good 2% higher, at 5.8%.

Manage fixed costs for better returns

Effective management of fixed costs could be key to beef suckler herd producers achieving better returns.

Scotch Beef – the popular alternative

QMS which contacted butchers in the select Scotch Butchers Club, in Inverurie, Aberdeen, Auchterarder, Forfar, Alyth, Monifieth and Carnoustie, found that first indicators pointed to a Scotch beef rib roast being one of the top choices outwith turkey followed by Scotch beef sirloin, Scotch leg of lamb and specially selected ham.

Shows

Kilpatrick win for George’s filly

Foal show sees increase in entries

Cross Border raid on Ulster spoils

At last week’s Royal Ulster Winter Fair in Belfast the championship headed off south again – with a fair bit of wind behind it, it has to be said given the prevailing stormy weather conditions.

Scots triumph at Smithfield

A Charolais heifer made history by securing the supreme championship at the inaugural East of England Smithfield Festival, Peterborough, last weekend – the first time a pure Charolais has won the Smithfield title and the first time since 1979 that any pure bred has achieved such a feat.

Felina tops the senior horses at Lothian and Borders

A LAST minute change of judge saw Strathaven’s Allan Steel officiate at the Lothian and Borders Foal Show.

Collessie Pride takes top spot at Forfar

THE FORFAR Foal Show was once again well supported by the north and east Clydesdale contingent.

Trends

Need to safeguard future supplies

Trade for all types of livestock has improved significantly over the past year, but they’ve a long way to go yet if they are ever to reverse the continual decline in breeding numbers and the industry’s ability to feed a growing population. Instead, the only way forward to boost future supplies and safeguard food security, is to re-introduce “some sort of headage payment.”

Worrying decline in beef cow numbers

Cull cow prices have soared in the past year as consumers both in this country and on the continent seek out cheaper beef.

Pig producers likely to face a ‘difficult year ahead’

Pigs met a bit of a roller coaster trade in 2011, and the same could be true for this coming year as European producers get to grips with either complying with the new sow stall and tether ban to be implemented on January 1, 2013, or opting out of pig production altogether.

Beef prices take a hit

With average deadweight steer prices in Scotland having reached a peak of 349.1p kg at the beginning of December, the Scottish average has since dropped to 347.5p for the week ending December 17, while the average for heifers sold in such abattoirs has fallen from 346.2p at the end of November to 345.5p.

Business analysis could help increase returns

Continued strong lamb prices could be masking inefficiencies in lowland breeding flocks, meaning producers are not achieving the returns they could under current buoyant market conditions.

Sheep Sales

Record priced Blue

Breed records were smashed at Hawes, when a Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg from Messrs Lord’s noted Heygill flock from Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, sold for £11,000.

Breeding sheep sell well at Carlisle

In-lamb females and breeding sheep met a strong trade at Carlisle, with a Blue Texel ewe from Messrs Bailey, Wyvill Grange Farm, topping the sale at £450.

Texel gimmer tops Chelford at 2500gns

A Clougher President-sired gimmer shown by Charlie Boden, she sold to Hampshire breeder, David Bradley-Farmer.

100% clearance for Texel females

No fewer than 12 lots sold at four-figure prices complete with a lead call of 4000gns for the champion – a gimmer from Angus Kennedy and son Angus’ Mitchellhill flock from Broughton, Biggar, purchased by Graham Morrison, Banff.

Dingwall pedigree sheep to 1000gns

The recent show and sale of MV accredited Texel and Beltex females at Dingwall and Highland Marts, was judged by David Clark, North Garngour, Lesmahagow.

Cattle Sales

Limousin females in demand

Trade peaked at 4000gns at the British Limousin Cattle Society’s sale of haltered and unhaltered females at Ballymena Mart last weekend.

Denmire leads 25th B and W sale at 15,000gns

A first choice heifer calf from the Dennison’s famous Denmire Marie family from Cumbria, proved the star attraction at the 25th Anniversary Black and White Sale at Carlisle, last weekend, securing the lead price of 15,000gns.

Carlisle Charolais hit 11,000gns

Charolais sold to a top of 11,000gns at the breed society’s official autumn sale in Carlisle, smashing centre breed autumn records.

Holstein calf makes 36,000gns

A bumper catalogue containing some of the world’s most popular Holstein cow families, was equally matched by the quality of the stock on offer at the Autumn Showcase sale at the Bristol Sales Centre, last week, where the top priced females were animals boasting high genomic test figures.

Dungannon Charolais to 7600gns

Charolais met a strong demand, selling to 7600gns for a 15-month-old bull, at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s official autumn show and sale at Dungannon last week.

Business

Shows

Trends

Sheep Sales

Cattle Sales

Services

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