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Oswestry Rare & Pure Breed Poultry Auction
23rd April 2012
Marketing Report for Saturday 14th April 2012
Rarities Rally As Prices Rise
Oswestry Poultry Auction Team, ChickenStreet and Roger Parry & Partners LLP, once again “upped the ante” with their latest sale held at Park Hall Showground. Not only was the auction sponsored by two big names from the poultry world, namely Wynnstay Stores (a major feed and equipment supplier) and Fancy Fowl (the UK’s best selling magazine for the poultry exhibitor) but the sale also became ‘graded’.
Two Poultry Club of Great Britain panel Judges were secured for the day to judge the lots on offer prior to the auction commencing and cards were awarded to those lots that had either poultry show potential or would make quality breeding stock.
Andy Cawthray of ChickenStreet said “By grading the lots in this manner it not only helped prospective buyers in understanding the potential of the stock available but it also gave recognition to those breeders who were selling high quality stock. There were some excellent examples of poultry on display with almost 25 lots gaining the top grade of ‘Show Quality’ and around 50 obtaining the ‘Breeder Quality’ status”. Richard Corbett of Roger Parry & Partners LLP added “We decided to take this line with the auction so we can continue to build on the quality of birds available. We hope to continue with this approach and Andy is already talking about providing rosettes to the ‘Best of Breed’ and ‘Best in Auction’ entries. In fact he’s already been approached by a potential sponsor to provide the awards”.
The sale certainly took yet another step in the right direction reflected in the 94% clearance rate with the unsold lots in main made of those not reaching their reserve price.
The sale kicked off with a wonderfully tame and tremendous looking pair of Show Graded Bourbon Red Turkeys from local breeder R. Pointer which reached a fine £50 price on the hammer. There was a smaller turn out of waterfowl this time although prices were well up with Indian Runners averaging £20 a duck.
Within the large fowl prices for the more specialist birds such as Cochin, Brahma and Orpington were high with pullets fetching close to £30 each. Light Sussex pullets sold well with an average of £25 each and the dark egg laying Marans and Wellsumers remain a popular choice amongst the buyers achieving £20 a bird on average. Within the bantam fowl, Pekins were once again consistent in their prices with pullets on average reaching £20 per bird and a trio of Silver Laced Wyandottes reaching £78.
The Auction team though were particularly pleased to see an increase in the number of rare breeds being entered and some of the highlights being amongst the bantams with a Yokohama trio reaching £74, a pair of Silver Sebrights close behind at £72, a trio of Sabelpoots at £66, a pair of Blue German Langshan at £56 and a pair of Serama reaching £50.
Across the board the average price per pen increased by almost 30% and Andy said “This reflects not only the quality of stock on sale at the auction but the continued increased interest in taking on chickens as productive pets. Its little surprise to read recently that over 3 million chickens can now be found in the gardens and allotments of the UK!”
The next sale will be Poultry Only on Saturday 23rd June, followed by another combine Poultry, Farm Machinery & Antiques auction on Saturday 25th August. The team are also looking to organise a fifth and final auction for 2012 in October and hope to announce the schedule of 2013 auctions in the next few weeks.
