Wow - who would have thought that since my last update in November, the beef trade would have jumped to the dizzying heights of where they are today!! For those not in the industry, fat cattle have jumped up around £300 - £500 per head in less than two months, with prices rising every week.
With the finished beef prices at an all-time high, the cattle trade at Frome has been blistering, with records being smashed on a weekly basis. Best fat cattle have been soaring to £2,438, cracking store cattle flying to £2480, reared calves to £895, with many rearing calves soaring well over £500. We are certainly in unprecedented times in the beef sector; it is so pleasing that the beef producers are finally experiencing some good fortune – long may this continue.
The sheep section was busy in December and January; whilst the sheep prices are not at quite the high levels as the beef, they are still very respectable, with hoggs regularly achieving over £150 and cull ewes over £100, creating a strong confidence in the sector. In January, we sold over five hundred lamb ewes, which attracted buyers from all over the south-west, resulting in top prices being achieved - best flock aged Suffolks were £218 with two tooth North Country Mules fetching £235.
The future is looking promising for livestock farming in 2025.
You can contact Ross via email or calling 01458 834288.