This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
89


Clive Norbury Wright Marshall


The dairy industry is in absolute turmoil; in more than 40 years in the cattle sales business I have never known our great industry to be in such a serious state. I have witnessed the dramatic effects of the introduction of milk quotas, BSE, foot-and-mouth and plenty of other challenging times, but I have never known it to be as bad as it is now. The continued downward spiral of lower and lower milk prices is having a devastating effect on the numbers of milk producers in this country and maybe, we are currently just at the start of a major exodus. At this moment, I, and nobody I talk to, can see even a chink of light that will indicate when an improvement in the price of milk will be forthcoming for all our dedicated and hard working dairy farmers. It will come as no surprise to anyone, just like all our colleagues in the auction business, our phones have been really busy from clients who are considering stopping milking immediately or in the


near future and all driven by the low price of milk. The number of phone calls received really gathered pace in early February and as many will have noticed the numbers of cows on the market now has increased dramatically.


Again, no surprise; dairy cattle prices have dropped significantly and are about 40% less than what they were a year ago. One benefit from this has been the resurgence of buyers onto the UK market from those, who in recent history, have sourced their replacements from abroad just because they can buy them so much cheaper over here. This is definitely helping to put a stronger base in the market and if we all encourage our clients to slaughter as many ‘passenger’ cows as possible, while the cull market is strong, that will also be a benefit to all in the long run. Trade for fresh milkers is still fairly buoyant, albeit at lower levels, as milk producers still need to buy their replacements.


At Beeston Castle Auction, we are used to selling large numbers of fresh milkers at our twice monthly sales and attract buyers from all over as they all need to have a good choice to fill their wagons. The best heifers are still making £1800 to £2000, but anything small, frail and lacking condition is far more difficult to clear and consistently trades from £700 to £1000. Already this year we have sold more than 1500 head with another 2500 due to be sold before the end of April. Many of these will be animals in whole or part herd dispersals; the experience so far is there is plenty of bidding for fresh and summer calvers, but mid lactation cows, particularly if they are not back in calf are much harder to clear. How will trade be from now onwards? Who knows. But the omens are not looking good and as they say….


anything can happen!


Michael Taaffe Taaffe Auctions


Northern Ireland has surprisingly not seen any on farm auctions or dispersal sales so far from January through to early March in 2016. In late 2015 there were a number of dispersal sales including the Killane Dispersal Sale for Austin and David Perry. This was a good sale and in hindsight it appears more and more impressive with every passing day. The long established Holstein Northern Ireland Show and Sales at The Pedigree Sales


Arena, Moira, have attracted small entries, but so far have resulted in a sound trade month after month. The latest sale in this series held on 17th February saw a top price of 2100gns for the champion heifer, Relough Planet Girl from Ronald McLean and Sons. This heifer was widely regarded as one of the most impressive heifers sold at the monthly sales in some time and sold giving 40 litres/day. The overall average was £1310.


Private farm to farm sales have


been extremely quiet for the early months of 2016 and the outlook is for this to remain the same going forward. Farms have been active in trying to reduce their numbers and are many have turned to use beef breed AI for the first time in years.


While there have been a number of enquiries for dispersal sales in April 2016, so far none have resulted in sales being booked to go ahead.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116