View from the Rostrum

 

Our weekly sales calendar Here at Borderway Market in Carlisle, remains busy, and as we begin to move through the year,  trade for  both prime and store cattle continues to show encouraging momentum.

 

On a Monday, I am responsible for selling prime cattle – bulls, steers and heifers – and trade has been particularly strong in recent months. Reflecting consistent demand and confidence within the sector, year to date, prices are generally running around 10–20p/kg ahead of where they were at the same point last year.  Despite experiencing a slight dip in trade as demand temporarily softened in late January, the market has since recovered well, and we are seeing prices strengthening week on week.

 

The best quality cattle are once again commanding excellent returns. Prime bullocks and heifers are regularly achieving £3,000 plus, while the heaviest and highest quality pure-bred bulls are comfortably reaching £3,800 to £4,000 per head and beyond. These figures highlight the continued strength at the top end of the market and demonstrate the rewards available for producers presenting high quality well-finished stock.

 

Store cattle, which I sell every Wednesday at Carlisle, are also meeting a very buoyant trade. Numbers remain tight, and strong buyer demand continues to underpin prices. Compared with prime stock, the store cattle trade has arguably been even more impressive, with values currently sitting around £120 to £150 per head higher than this time last year.

 

At a recent sale, here at Borderway our overall average per head was £2,045 across all types of cattle, from dairy-bred Holstein Friesians through to stronger Continental crosses including Limousin, Charolais and British Blue. This average reflects the strength of demand across the board, with buyers keen to secure cattle despite limited availability.

 

One of the standout recent highlights at Borderway was our Limousin bull sale, which proved an exceptional success. The sale produced two top prices of £60,000 and £55,000 for the overall champion and reserve champion, both consigned by the Goldie family of Dumfries. These headline figures were supported by a remarkable overall average of £13,132, representing an increase of £4,343 on the year and establishing a new UK all-breeds record average. This sale once again underlined both the strength of the pedigree sector and the continued demand for high-quality genetics and.

 

Looking ahead, attention now turns to one of the major highlights of our spring calendar, the March Show and Sale of Continental Store Cattle. The show will take place on March 6^th, beginning at 6pm, followed by the sale on March 7^th at 9am. This event consistently attracts some of the best cattle from across the UK, offering buyers an opportunity to secure top-quality animals suitable for summer shows and the Christmas market later in the year.

 

This March sale is always a real spectacle and an important date in the farming calendar, drawing strong support from both vendors and purchasers. With current market conditions remaining favourable and trade showing positive signs, we anticipate a strong entry of cattle and a competitive ringside atmosphere.

 

Alongside our spring sales programme, we are also looking forward to the UK Dairy Expo at Borderway on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March. The event continues to be a key date in the industry calendar, bringing together leading dairy genetics, trade exhibitors and producers from across the UK. It provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the very best of the dairy sector, share knowledge and innovation, and connect with customers and colleagues. We anticipate another strong show and look forward to welcoming visitors to Carlisle for what promises to be a fantastic event.

 

Across all sectors, the overall outlook remains encouraging. Demand for quality stock continues to drive the market, while limited numbers are helping to maintain firm prices. Producers are being rewarded for presenting well-bred, well-finished animals, and confidence among buyers remains strong despite wider industry challenges.

 

At Borderway Market, we are fortunate to benefit from the continued support of vendors and buyers who travel from across the region and further afield. Their commitment helps ensure a vibrant and competitive marketplace, and we look forward to welcoming them to our upcoming sales as the year progresses.

 

With trade holding firm and key sales approaching, the outlook for the months ahead remains positive, and we are excited to see what the spring season will bring.