AT COLCHESTER MARKET
FANTASTIC
GRAHAM ELLIS FRICS FAAV FLAA For and on behalf of Stanfords T: 01206 842156 E: info@stanfords-colchester.co.uk
RETURNS FOR
www.stanfords-colchester.co.uk
As a result of the cold late spring, grass growth in the eastern counties has been severely restricted and there are serious concerns about forage later in the year, but still we see live markets producing fantastic returns for producers of both cattle and sheep. With numbers still inadequate in all sections and with strong companies of buyers, more stock is wanted. Prime cattle are trading some 40p/kg above 12 months ago, equating to over £200 per head in many cases; as always quality pays, with good meat cover being essential for maximising returns. As always, though, livestock markets produce an outlet for all stock of whatever quality. The strong beef trade was reflected throughout all sections of the livestock market, with over-age cattle, including cull cows, also exceptionally well sold at prices that probably had not been seen before. Despite the shortage of grass there are many buyers looking for cattle to graze. Let us hope by the time this report is printed that we will have seen some warm rain and some positive grass growth. In the prime cattle ring, prices are regularly between 240p/kg and 250p/kg for the best, and prices well over £1,600 per head have been seen in Colchester
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JUNE 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET
on a regular basis, climbing to £1,880 for strong steers. As always heifers are keenly sought by retail and wholesale buyers to ensure supply is there to the public who wish to buy quality British meat. The sheep market continues to push ahead at levels unseen in the past. The cold weather is holding back new season lambs, but any hoggets being sold at the beginning of May look exceptionally well sold with many trading over £150 per head and the heavier continentals over £170 per head. The demand seems to be unstoppable, with numbers inadequate. Trade on average is well over 100p/kg more than the same time last year, equating to between £30 and £50 per head. As stated, new season lambs were short at the beginning of May but hopefully numbers will increase as warmer weather spreads in. Remarkable trade has been seen for the best forward. Many farmers have been drawing lambs earlier than they would normally in terms of finish, but who can blame them when the trade is at the level it is? Let us hope the trade can continue through the summer months so that sheep producers can see a realistic return and invest for the future. This trade has been wanted for many years to keep livestock producers in business and it is good to see. Cull ewe trade is following lamb trade with all numbers inadequate. The pig market is also seeing a welcome lift on the dead weight; with so few markets now selling live weight it is difficult to gauge a true demand, but a much larger increase in price is required to offset the very high feed costs that pig producers have, with wheat, barley and soya all at high levels. The cull sow trade also increased but still remains at very low levels. With the extreme dry and cold weather throughout April and early May, arable crops are under severe pressure in places, with spring crops particularly hard hit on the lighter land in Essex and Suffolk. As stated above, let us hope that by the time this report is read we have had some sensible rain levels and a realistic harvest ensues.
