6 The Chronicle, Thursday, 8th December, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk

Markets

Chelford

FRESH CALVES (136): 36 heifer calves to £324 (£231.58); 42 black and white bulls to £112 (£52.14). Monday, 28th ovember was the day when demand outstripped supply. The uyers battled it out to the advantage of the vendors. Prices were “off the clock”. Last week, all heifers averaged £180, this week £231. The regular vendors all received an early Christmas resent, but don’t expect these rices every week. Bulls: Holstein x (28): (£61.50) to £112; Friesian (14): (£33.43) to £58 (Elworth); Hereford (3): (£279) to £290; Charolais x (1): to £335 (Barthomley); Simmental x (9): (£321.33) to £365 (Barthomley).

Heifers: Holstein x (1): to £36 (Siddington); Hereford (1): to £205; Simmental x (15): (£281.07) to £342; Limousin x (40: (£225) to £275; British Blue (7): (£268.57) to £325.

Top price bulls: Simmental x to £365; British Blue to £365; Simmental x to £365 (Barthomley); Simmental x to £360; British Blue x £360.

Top price heifers: Simmental x to £342; British Blue to £325; Simmental x to £322; Simmental x to £312 (Barthomley); Simmental x to £310 Sandbach).

HEADS POULTRY (612): a more varied selection of poultry this week including some very retty bantams, pullets and pairs, Saddlepoots, Barbus D’Uccles, Barbu D’Anvers, Pekins etc and over 30 pairs of Old English game antams. Warrens sold well with point of lay pullets achieving £8, while older hens ranged from £1-£2. Turkeys achieved £21-£26.

Other best prices included Splash Orpington trio £36, Welsummers £9, Indian runner ducks £10.

STORE AND BREEDING CATTLE (140): the largest entry of breeding stock seen for quite a few weeks, 55 heads in total and a brisk trade from start to finish.

A super, fresh calved heifer from Messrs Hilliary, seven days calved and by Moet Melody giving five gallons made £2,080.

In the sucklers, Messrs Brighouse continued their dispersal of cows and calves, topping the sale with a fleshy Friesian cow and her Hereford x calf at £1,550. A reduction of edigree Angus from Geb White saw his trade top at £1,280 for cows and calves and in-calf cows to £1,000.

Ian Phillips made the long ourney from Mucklestone, near Market Drayton, and sold sound, in-calf sucklers to £1,060.

Pedigree “Youngstock” from Bill and Clare Kirk returned a perfect average of 1,000gns (£1,050) for January born Limousin and Blue heifers.

The first week below 100 stores for as long as the auctioneer could remember and as trade continues to record almost off the scale levels in the cattle sector, it merely illustrates that there is a shortage of quality replacement store cattle.

Decent forward steers and heifers in very short supply, nothing troubling a four-figure rice, but coming close on several occasions. Simmental x to £930 with Bazadaise x to £905. A high roportion of native bred cattle about, Shorthorns to £770 and Holsteins to £740.

A similar story with the heifers, forward meaty sorts desperately scarce and topping at £935. Some decent types to £770 and Angus x to £615.

Bulls sold well for what was on offer, helped by the buoyant trade on a Thursday. Holstein Friesians to £640 and £630 and Angus x to £550.

Steers: Simmental x 20 months old at £930 (Haslington x 2); Bazadaise x 17 months old at £905; Bazadaise x 17 months old £890; Limousin x 23 months old at £880 (Medhurst Green); Charolais x 19 months old at £800.

Heifers: Limousin x 19 months old at £935 (Oakhanger); Limousin x 17 months old at £770; British Blue x 22 months old at £640; Holstein 25 months old at £640 (Medhurst Green); Simmental x 19 months old at £630.

Bulls: Holstein x 26 months old at £640; Holstein x 20 months old at £630 Eaton); Aberdeen Angus x 23 months old at £550; Aberdeen Angus x eight months old at £510.

PIGS (325): 22 cull sows and boars: cull sow £305.60 sows average £140.47.

A similar entry met another good trade with best meated sows to 80p. Coloured sow from 65p to 73p.

Boars (2) to 49p (51.32p); sows (20): to 80p (71.83p).

Sows: £305.60; £242.58 (Allostock); £226.73.

BUTCHERS’ PIGS (124): a similar entry and something for everybody with poor shaped coloured pigs at 50p to best gilts at 135p.

Porker (30): to 135p (91.68p); cutter (12): to 127p (116.53p); baconer (61): to 129p (110.76p); overweight (21): to 117p (84.87p); overall (124): 101.85p.

Prices: 135p porker; 129p baconer x 2.

STORE AND BREEDING PIGS (179): a few more on offer met a firm demand. Top quality looked best value for money.

£/head: £60 (Duroc) at 69kg; £50 at 53kg; £48 (Pietrain x) at 34kg; £41 at 52kg; £37 (coloured) at 58kg.

STORE AND BREEDING SHEEP (341): a decent entry for the end of November met another very fast trade. Prices were obviously helped by the jump in butchers’ lamb prices. Even long keep selling at over £70.

LOADS OF FARM PRODUCE (35): a similar entry this week met a similar trade with buyers and sellers seemingly happy in most cases. Small bale hay made up to a top price of £165 per tonne with other loads at £160, £155 and £150 per tonne. There was some better quality big bale hay in, to a top price of £115 in square bales and £112 in round bales. Best horse quality haylage made up to £85 per tonne in small loads, but some vendors with bigger loads expecting the same money were disappointed.

Reports circulating of a likely shortage of straw after Christmas did not have a particularly positive effect on trade with prices similar to those achieved in recent weeks. A small load of big bale barley straw made £95 per tonne, but other loads of clean barley straw £72 to £88 per tonne. A single load of small bale barley straw made to £110.

Surprisingly, only seven loads of wheat straw on offer making £65 in round bales up to £75 in heston bales. Two loads of oat straw made £70 and £72 per tone.

The 10.69 tonnes of first quality small bale hay to £165 (£150); 50.18 tonnes of first quality big bale hay to £120 (£95); 1.7 tonnes of small bale barley straw to £110 (£110); 44.26 tonnes of big bale barley straw to £95 (£84); 49.73 tonnes big bale wheat straw to £75 (£70); 15.84 tonnes of big bale oat straw to £72 (£71); 5.4 tonnes of first quality wrapped haylage to

£85 (£80); 19.84 tonnes of other silage/haylage to £35 (£32).

EGGS (816): less eggs about met a flying trade.

Barn: extra large £1.15; medium £1.20; small 75p. Free range: extra large £1.50; free range £1.20; 22½ dozen duck eggs £4.50 (£4.27); 34 rabbits £2.25 - £3.25; 35 brace of pheasants £2-£3; 25 braces of partridge £2.50.

DRESSED TURKEYS (20): 12½ to 19lb (1.85 per lb), small birds all over £2 per lb.

Dressed pheasants to £3 each; dressed ducks to £5 each.

CHRISTMAS TREES (9,820): the expected small entry for the early sale of Christmas trees met a very promising trade with all trees making in excess of vendors’ expectations.

Prices: pine 12ft plus to £40 (£35); Norway to £60 (£40); Noble to £75 (£55); cut Norway 5-6ft to £20 (£14); cut pine 5-6ft to £18 (£15); cut Nordman to £21 (£20); potted Nordman 4-5ft to £17 (£14); potted Norway 4-5ft to £14 (£10); Noble foliage x 6kg to £9 (£8.50).

POTATOES (1,753): prices: Wilja £2-£2.50; piper £2-£2.75; Fambo £1.50; Estima £2.25; Nadine £1.75-£2.50; Mozart £1.75; Cara £2.25; Sectine £2.50; Celine £2.25; Harmony £2.50; 521 stock feed carrots 90p to £1.10; SF potatoes £1-£2; barley £3.25; box bakers £5.50; salad potatoes £5.50; washed Nadine £2.25.

PACKAGES VEGETABLES (2,281): carrot: washed x 28lb £2; dirty x 28lb £2.50; bunch 45p-55p; cabbage: hard x 6 £2; Savoy x 12 £1.75; red x 6 £1.50; spring x 10 £1.50; Tundra x 12 £1.75; January King x 6 ££1.75; Primo x 6 £1; broccoli x 10lb £4; cauliflower: large x 6 £4.25, medium x 9 £4.25, small x 20 £2.25; leek x 10lb £3; parsnip x 5kg £4; sprout x 101lb £2; sprout x 20lb £3-£4; sprout stems x 8 £4; Gatwick lettuce x 12 £3; onions x 20kg £6; onions x 12.5kg £3.50; kale £3.50; swede x 28lb £2.25; beetroot x 28lb £3; beetroot bunch 40p; Celeriac x 5lb £2.

CULL COWS AND BULLS (138): what a trade, one in every six sold for over £1,000. But what is going to happen next week at the show? This week, 90 black and white cows £222.36 to £1,234.80 (£706.36).

Cows: Holstein x at 908kg 136p or £1,234.88 (Sandbach); Aberdeen Angus at 776kg 151p or £1,171.76; Charolais x at 766kg 151p or £1,156.66; Holstein x 854kg 133p or £1,135.82; Simmental x at 784kg 144p or £1,128.96.

Bulls: Hereford at 1,182kg 119p or £1,406.58 (Gawsworth); Holstein x at 648kg 10p or £648 (Byley); Jersey at 426kg 88p or £374 (Byley).

Steers: Red at 804kg 169p or £1,358.76; British Blue x at 732kg 178p or £1,302.96; British Blue x at 802kg 162p or £1,299.24; Simmental x at 758kg 171p or £1,296.18; Longhorn at 778kg 159p or £1,237.02.

Cull cow: Holstein x (70): (109.28) to 144p; Friesian (20): (108.84p) to 156p; black (1) to £143; Ayrshire (5) to £111 (£103.91); Hereford (1) to £132.

BUTCHERS’ SHEEP (1,009): 795 butchers’ lambs, top spot 234p (43.5kg) Texel crosses, overall average 195.8kg.

Trade rocketed upwards this week. All buyers on fine form from the start, with several pens of premium quality in excess of 220p, all well finished, export weight lambs over 200p and several vendors seeing pens of lambs making well over £100 per head. A very large proportion of heavier lambs once again, however, which although selling to a limited number of customers, again met strong demand, showed excellent returns.

Quality averages: premium to 234p (214p); prime to 202p (197p); others to 189p (181p).

CULL EWES AND RAMS (214): overall average 74.05; Texel crosses to £122, £118, £110 etc; Suffolk crosses to £106, £102; Charollais crosses to £104, £100 etc; mules to £106, £100, £95 etc.

Terrific trade yet again, which, it seems, is being driven by shortage, they could get even shorter and possibly dearer in the new year.

BUTCHERS’ CATTLE (96): without doubt a tale of two halves where quality is concerned. On one hand some fantastic butchers’ steers and heifers on offer and on the other, quite a proportion of cattle out of spec. Luckily the benefits of a thriving auction based method of selling were plainly apparent as all classes of cattle enjoyed a decent level of trade throughout.

At the top of the tree were a handy weight butchers’ steer and heifer respectively at 231p.

A good number of prime cattle with power and flesh, but nonFABBL sold to 187p with prime steers averaging 108p.

One or two heifers would have benefited from a little more finish.

Bulls were a similar trade, buyers for everything, luckily as a Friesian made it into the top 10 at 188p (£1,071). Best bulls to 225p.

Quality price report: steers (26) to 231p (174.10p); heifers (27): to 231p (175.55p); bulls (43) to 225p (170.25p); overall average (97): 172.82.

Steers: premium (3): to 231p (216.6p); prime (14): to 188p (180.71p); other (9): to 162p (151p).

Heifers: premium (6): to 231p (218.33p); prime (16): to 182p (169.56p); other (5): to 157p (149.8p).

Bulls: premium (2): to 225p (222.5p); prime (14): to 194p (182.42p); other (27): to 176p (158.25p).

Top five bulls: Limousin x 616kg (225p); British Blue x

662kg (220p); Aberdeen Angus x 624kg (194p); Friesian 570kg (188p); Hereford x 44kg (188p) (Arclid).

Top five cattle: Limousin x s at 500kg (231p); Limousin x h at 452kg (231p); Limousin x h at 466kg (220p); Limousin x h at 482kg (218p) (Balterley); Limousin x h at 482kg (217p).

Turkeys in demand Turkeys were in demand at Chelford’s first live sale with white broad breasted to 1.59p and bronze to 1.32p.

The large number of buyers bid freely for the smaller number forward compared to last year’s first sale entry.

Averages: 10 small white to 1.30p (1.18p); 33 medium white (15lb to 19lb) to 1.59p (1.39p); 10 heavy white (20lb to 30lb) to 1.18p (1.14p); 16 medium bronze (15lb to 19lb) to 1.32p (1.26p). Market average 1.39p.

Sixty-four geese sold to £17, 46 ducks to £3.50.

Leek

The intended strike of meat inspectors at abattoirs had little effect on trade with clean cattle to a top price of 219p, barren cows to 158p for Continentals and lambs to an encouraging whisker under £2. An auction of baled silage for removal by the purchaser produced an average a whisker under £19 per bale for large lots.

CLEAN CATTLE (32): a sharp trade for indoor sorts, although grass fed cattle were more difficult to place. Light steers topped 162p for prime Charolais with Herefords at 139p. Medium steers topped 206p for a premium with another at 197p. with prime Limousins to 162.5p. Commercial steers to 145p. Heifers saw mediumweights to 176p for Angus with commercial stock to 149p. Heavy heifers saw a premium Limousin at 219p with prime Blondes to 168p and Limousins 159p. Commercial cattle to 139.5p. Quality prices, steers: premium 206p (203p); prime 162p (159p); commercial 145p (136p); heifers:

premium 219p; prime max 176p (158p); commercial 149p (136p); top price steer £1,128.23; top price heifer £1,500.15.

OVER 30-MONTH STOC (91): Continental sorts to 150p fo Simmentals with Friesians to 146p and Montbeliarde to 142p. Grade one cows, which were in short supply, sold to average 129.5p; grade two cows to 124p, (115p); grade three cows to 98p. Overage clean topped 159p for Herefords with Limousins to 158p (147p). Market average 111p reflecting a high proportion of grade three cows with an average price o £726.

DAIRIES (56): a tremendous entry of 53 dairies and three calves for a normal week met a superb trade which saw a top price o £2,370 and the top seven average £2,069. Top call went to a 28kg heifer with two others at £2,210, £2,200 and £2,160.

Cows peaked at £1,770 fo a second calver. Calves were a good trade with the best to £300. Averages: Q1 heifers to £2,370 (£2,069); Q2 heifers to £1,770 (£1,561); Q2 cows to £1,770 (£1,530).

BUTCHERS’ SHEEP (651): standardweights to 218p (202p). Mediumweights topped 228p (205p) with heavy lambs to 230p and others at 228p (194p). Overweight lambs to 190p. Top price for heavy lambs £107 apiece. Quality price reporting: lambs: premium 230p (226p); prime 218p (201p); commercial 170p (164p).

EWES AND STORE SHEEP (135): best quality topping £138 for Texels with others to £126 and £120 (£84.23) including rams to £82.

CALVES (150): bull calves were topped by Blues at £348 with 23 to (£255). Simmentals to £345 (£326). Limousins to £340 (18, £242). Herefords to £292 (£268). Angus to £202. Friesians’ top price £172 with 54 selling to average £78. Heifers saw Blues dominating at £290 (£235). Limousins to £235 (£190).

Devons to £230. Simmentals to £200 (£179). Herefords to £185 (£175).

PRODUCE: spring barley round bales £19 a bale. Silage, wrapped, £19 a bale (£18.50).

Sophie praises Cheshire show

HRH The Countess of Wessex has backed the work done by Cheshire Show and other agricultural events to educate the public about the countryside.

Speaking to over 100 delegates at the National Conference of the Association of Shows and

The Countess of Wessex addresses delegates.

Agricultural Organisations, the countess said agricultural shows played “a crucial role” in bringing people from urban areas and the countryside closer together.

She said: “Agricultural shows provide a great shop window for the countryside and there is an increasing need for greate education, forward thinking, development and working together to promote their crucial work.”

The Sainsbury’s Agri-Centre is an example of how the Cheshire County Show has engaged with the public in recent years.

One of the key aims of the centre is to educate the public on where their food comes from and the journey it takes from “plough to plate”.

“Educating the public and making them more aware about farming and countryside issues is at the very heart of what we do as a county show,” said Nigel Evans, executive director Cheshire Show, who has been a council member o the ASAO for the last five years. ASAO has a membership of 130 shows from across the UK from as far and wide as Cornwall to Edinburgh.

(Submitted photograph). Wind turbine plans did not generate enough ‘yes’ votes

The Chronicle, Thursday, 8th December, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk 7

Swan Brides would like to invite you to our

“Kathy Ireland by 2be Designer Weekend” Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th

December, 2011

By Katie Ollier Five wind turbines proosed for Congleton and Staffordshire Moorlands have been refused planning ermission. Separate applications were made to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council for turbines at Higher Overton Farm, Overton Road, Congleton; Red Earth Farm, Macclesfield Road, Rudyard; The Sands, Marshes Hill, Brown Edge; Lane End Farm, Ladymoor Gate, Lask Edge; Triangle Farm, Thorncliffe, Leek.

They were thrown out by the council’s Planning Committee on Thursday.

All had been recommended for refusal by planning officers, apart from the Brown Edge lan. Biddulph Town Council wanted the 46-metre high turbine plan at Overton Farm refused because of its height, it would be visually intrusive and it would set a precedent for the area, which has greenbelt status.

Biddulph Park resident David Moore spoke against the application at Thursday’s meeting. He said: “We called an emergency meeting for residents as soon as we found out about the proposal. Biddulph Park is fairly rural and there are normally eight or 10 people at our meetings, but we had 47 at this meeting objecting.

“They want me to say that they are all for wind power and would be for a much smaller wind turbine in this area, but we would class this as enormous.”

Coun Jim Davies said: “It is very obviously in greenbelt and it is a special landscape and area of great beauty. I would support a smaller turbine but not one of this size.

“We have a nice shoulder of hill here that catches the wind and I am very concerned that if we pass this another will follow.”

There were 60 letters of objection to the council stating that the area contained listed buildings and a turbine would distract from conserving the area’s historical nature.

Coun Davies said: “As I understand it, there are two listed buildings and one is above looking down on to the site, which concerns me greatly.”

Ten of the 12 committee members agreed and the application was refused.

Although four of the applications had been recommended for refusal, the Brown Edge proposal was recommended for approval by planning officers because they said the visual impact would be limited and not overly intrusive to the surrounding countryside.

But councillors argued that special circumstances for building the wind turbine on greenbelt land had not been presented and it would be located too close to a public footpath.

The application divided councillors, with six voting in favour of it and six against, but chairman of the committee Coun Paul Roberts used his casting vote to oppose the plan and permission was refused.

THE DOGFATHER

Adopting a dog?

Are you thinking of adopting a dog?

Here’s a Christmas quiz for you. Q How long will a six-month-old dog stay in a rescue centre before he finds a new home?

A: Two weeks. Q: How long will an eight-year-old dog stay in a rescue centre before he finds a new home?

A: A long time. Youth is as important to people who adopt dogs as it is to those who have plastic surgery.

Yes, I know all the reasons: a young dog will bond with us better; we don’t know his history; he doesn’t have long to live etc.

Don’t be fooled, it’s all bunkum. I’ve bonded with 12 year-old-dogs as easy as puppies. In some cases easier ecause they have so much life experience.

Dogs don’t have a sell-by date when it comes to bonding.

You don’t need to know a dog’s history he’ll tell you everything you need to know and I’d trust his story efore any human. As for how long he may live, you don’t know that about any animal. Some dogs (and people) die young and some don’t.

The key to adopting a rescue dog is energy. How much energy do you have and how much energy do you want in a dog? If you’re into serious hiking, camping and backpacking, a young husky or boxer would be great ut if all you want is a stroll to the pub forget it. For those owners an elderly dog would be perfect.

If you have a young family, an older dog may be a better option than a oisterous puppy. If you are an active couple with no children you may want the gratification that comes from reha-

ilitating a “difficult” dog.

The greatest friend I ever had was a Labrador I met when she was seven, so don’t dismiss those older dogs.

They have real wisdom. If in doubt call or text me on 075 905 60012.

RSPCA

RSPCA appeals for storage space

The RSPCA Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton branch needs a local business or an individual to donate some storage space in the Congleton area.

The desperate branch receives no Government funding and only a small contribution from HQ RSPCA each year. It is an all-volunteer branch with no salaried staff, no offices, no RSPCA-badged animal boarding facilities, veterinary support or storage space.

It is looking for a secure area to store a gazebo, a table and posters, bric-a-brac and some second hand merchandise that is sold on its stalls at fund-raising events. In return it can offer a thank you message on its website.

To offer help, call the branch on 01625 669620 or email en uiries rs ca-macclesfield.or .uk

When presenting reasons for refusing the Lask Edge application, Coun Michael Bowen said: “I am trying to protect countryside I love dearly. I don’t want it splattered with things it doesn’t need to be. This isn’t a matter of life or death, it is for financial benefit.

“I am fighting the corner for the whole district. These are the people I care about.”

The committee voted against all five turbine plans because councillors believed they would ruin the visual landscape.

Speaking of the committee’s decision to refuse all five applications Coun John Fisher said: “The planning authority is in danger this afternoon of portraying itself as being a dinosaur.”

Don’t miss this great event, with exclusive previews of the 2012 collection 10% OFF KATHY IRELAND

BRIDAL GOWNS plus a FREE pair of Wedding Shoes if gown purchased on the week-end ** Limited Appointments available **

Swan Brides Boutique, 12B, West Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1JR. Telephone: 01260 272250

www.swanbrides.co.uk visit us @ facebook

Late Night Christmas Shopping ‘til 8pm

Mon 19th - Thurs 22nd December

Mon – Sat 10am – 6pm Thurs ‘til 8pm, Sun 11am – 5pm Late Night Christmas Shopping – 19th – 22nd Dec ‘til 8pm Talke Retail Park J16 M6, off the A500/A34 follow brown signs Tel: 01782 774 113 www.freeport-talke.com Follow us on