Last updated 05:42, Friday, 03 October 2008

CARLISLE

Monday September 29

TOTAL FORWARD 202 prime cattle, bulls and cows, 4128 prime sheep

Messrs Brown of Midown Farm sold four well finished Limousin bullocks and heifers which topped at 169.5p for a bullock and 165.5p for a heifer purchased by Woodhead Bros and Mr Bill Howard.

A good show of bulls were forward with quality bulls in demand. Mr Ronnie Walker of Elm Tree bulls topped at 180.5p, 177.5p both purchased by Mr Mike Atkinson. Mr Livingstone of Kirtlevale sold a Limousin bull for 177.5p purchased by Mr Mike Atkinson. Mr Horn of Lower Griseburn sold a Limousin bull for 173.5p purchased by Bowland Foods.

A real show of lambs saw a slightly easier trade with ordinary Suffolks and Texels twelve to fourteen pounds over the weight. An overall average of 130.18p was achieved. Top price per head was £84.50 for cracking lambs from Alan and Mike Thornborrow of Newbiggin Hall Farm purchased by RJ Harrison. Top price per kilo was 190.50p per kilo for outstanding lambs consigned by Alf Thompson of Woodhead, Scaleby also purchased by Mr RJ Harrison.

Cast ewes were dearer with seven active buyers present at the sale.

LEADING PRICES

BULLOCKS – Limousin, 169.5p, 163.5p Midtown Farm.

HEIFERS – Limousin, 165.5p, 164.5p Midtown Farm.

BULLS – Limousin, 180.5p Elm Tree. British Blue, 167.5p Hallburn.

Overall, Limousin, £1201 Elm Tree.

LAMBS – per head, Dutch Texel, £84.50 Newbiggin Hall. Beltex, £83.50 Waterside Farm. Texel, £80 Wood Head. Suffolk, £68.50 Cardew Hall. Charollais, £66.80 Kilnclose Farm. Greyface, £50 Chapel House.

Per kilo, Texel, 190.50p Woodhead. Beltex, 180.20p Newbiggin Hall. Dutch Texel, 177.70p Home Farm (Parkin). Charollais, 136.30p Kilnclose Farm. Suffolk, 130.40p The Garth.

CAST EWES & RAMS – per head, Texel, £55.50 Home Farm. Greyface, £41.50 Clappers Farm. Suffolk, £39.50 Heggle Lane.

COCKERMOUTH

Wednesday October 1

A small entry of Cattle topped at 165.5p/kg for a Limousin from Brian Whitfield, Stowbank Farm purchased by Fell Top Meats Ltd, Shap. A quality show of Bulls were an excellent trade selling to 162.5p/kg for a Limousin from Phil Jarman, Brow Top, purchased at £1,002.63 by Tom Bradley, Egremont. Dairy bred bulls sold to 157.5p/kg for a Montbeliarde from Messrs Langcake, Isel Old Park and again purchased by Tom Bradley.

Prime Lambs saw standard weights averaging 124p/kg. Ronnie Stamper, Towncroft sold the pick of the market with Texel X lambs at 175p/kg (£77) to Mark Lindsay, Cockermouth. George Gate, Hollins was close behind at £75 per head, again with Texel lambs purchased by Tony Harrison, Cockermouth. Once again there were plenty of bidders for Mule lambs which were a better trade than expected, however heavier lambs were slightly cheaper on the week.

Prime Ewes found heavy ewes in strong demand. As expected plain hill ewes were cheaper on the week.

LEADING PRICES

HEIFERS – Limousin 165.5 Stowbank Farm.

BULLS – Limousin 162.5 Brow Top; Montbeliarde 157.5 Isel Old Park; Friesian 142.5 Hollins Farm.

AVERAGES: Premium Grade Cattle sold to 165.5p/kg averaged 165.5p/kg; Prime Grade Cattle sold to 119.5p/kg averaged 119.5p/kg. Premium Grade Bulls sold to 162.5p/kg averaged 150.3p/kg Prime Grade Bulls sold to 134.5p/kg averaged 133.0p/kg.

PRIME LAMBS – Texel X 77, 68 Towncroft; Bleu Du Maine 55 Row Farm; Charollais 59 High House; Suffolk 68.50 High House; Rouge 50.50 Birks Farm; Mule 52.50 Grange Farm; Texel X Herdwick 47.20 Beck Farm; Half Bred 58 Windhall.

CAST EWES – Texel 48.50 G W & P A Scott, Crooklands; Charollais 48.50 A Stamper, Newlands Park; Bluefaced Leicester 42.50 S W Mawson & Son, High Side; Suffolk 39.50 T H Craig, High Farm; Rouge 38.50 J Charlton & Sons, Birks Farm; Mule 31.50 B G & D E Marrs, Elva Plain; Lleyn 30.50 J Hope, Orthwaite Hall.

RAMS – Texel 48.50 Gass & Bates, Row Farm.

DUMFRIES

Wednesday October 1

TOTAL FORWARD 75 Prime Cattle, 20 Prime Bulls, 2032 Prime Lambs, 1303 Cast Ewes & Rams.

Butchers quality in short supply trade eased for plainer types.

Lightweight Heifer Limousin peaked at 193.5p R Neill, Upper Tinwald to R Johnstone & Sons of Annan. Heavyweight Limousin Heifers peaked at 185.5p Maulscastle Annan to J Kerr & Sons of Gretna.

Heavyweight Limousin Bullocks topped at 193.5p D & R Cornthwaite, Balgrayhill to Haining Bros Butchers Kirkcudbright.

Prime Bulls – Trade remained firm.

Prime Lambs better trade than expected selling a top of 155.4p for outstanding Texel Crosses from Gelston Castle Farms, Boreland of Kelton, Castle Douglas, they also made the days top price of £71.50 per head. Premium Quality Lambs sold to a top of 155.4p and averaged 133.2p

Prime Lambs topped at 130p averaged 126.2p. Lightweight lambs sold to 122p average 111.6p.

Cast Ewes & Rams – Another huge show forward trade remained firm for all classes

LEADING PRICES

HEIFERS – Lightweight, Limousin 193.5p R Neill, Upper Tinwald. British Blue 164.5p Gatehouse Laurieston.

Heavyweight, Limousin 185.5p Maulscastle Annan. Charolais 167.5 Tinwald Shaws Dumfries. Top Gross Heifer £1031.88.

BULLOCKS – Heavyweight, Limousin 193.5p D & R Cornthwaite, Balgrayhill.

Lightweight, Limousin 191.5 Balgrayhill Lockerbie. Top Gross Bullock £1161 Balgrayhill.

BULLS – Limousin 173.5p Sarkshields. Simmental 169.5p Yett. Charolais 168.5, 166.5 Carwood. Holstein 151.5p Dinwoodie Green. Top Gross Bull £1240.43 Carwood.

LAMBS – Standard Lambs (32.1-39Kg), Beltex £53, £52.50 Dalhanna. Texel £52.50, £51.50 Dalhanna. Lleyn £50 Bennan. Suffolk £47 Hartwood. Cross £46 Mosside. NCC £43.20 Archwood. Blackface £42.80 Craireknowe.

Medium Lambs (39.1-45.5Kg), Texel £64.50, £57 Drumcruiton. Cross £55 (x2), £55.20 Midlock. Suffolk £54.80 Shangan.

Heavy Lambs (45.6-52Kg), Texel £71.50, £62 Gelston Castle. Charollais £64.50 Midlock. Suffolk £60 Auchengray. Cross £55.50 Midlock.

Super Heavy Lambs (52.1 + over), Suffolk £69.50 Hardlawbank. Charollais £69 Maryholm. Texel £65.80 Bridgemuir.

CAST EWES – Heavy, Texel £64.50 Gelston castle. Charollais £54 Bridgemuir. Leicester £45.50 Abune the Brae. Suffolk £43.50 Crairieknowe. Blue du Maine £42.50 Shangan. NCC £42 Raehills. Cross £43 Eastside.

Light, Blackface £37 Crairieknowe. Cheviot £26 Dalhanna. Swale £18.20 Wynholm.

KIRKBY STEPHEN

Tuesday September 23

TOTAL FORWARD 1,799 lambs and 233 cast ewes on offer.

The poor weather conditions of the day had a detrimental effect on the trade, but competition was fierce for the better shaped Beltex cross.

LEADING PRICES – Beltex Cross £60 Messrs D & C E Marston.

Overall, Beltex cross 134.5p Messrs D & C E Marston. Texel cross 111p Messrs M J & C Cockburn, 111p Messrs W Hughes & Sons. Suffolk cross 105p Messrs G & E A Ewin. Mule 104.1p Messrs Buckle. Swaledale 104.8p Messrs G & S Holdings.

AVERAGES – Beltex sold to 134.5p per kilo, average 110.4p per kilo. Texel sold to 111p per kilo, average 101.6p per kilo. Mule sold to 104.1p per kilo, average 94.5p per kilo. Swaledale sold to 104.8p per kilo, average 90.1p per kilo.

CAST EWES– Texel cross £46 Messrs R I & W E C Paul. Mule £34 Mr K W Philipson. Swaledale £18. Tups £40 for Texel.

LONGTOWN

Thursday September 25

TOTAL FORWARD 55 prime cattle, 6,628 prime lambs and 9,509 cast ewes & rams

A small show of cattle with quality sorts in short supply selling to 191.5p for a Limousin bullocks from Messrs Ritson, Swaites purchased by Messrs Nattrass, Carlisle.

A new centre record of 9,509 cast ewes and rams were forward, together with a further 6,628 prime lambs - the largest entry of sheep since pre foot and mouth in 2001. A level trade was held for all classes of stock throughout the day and a total clearance was achieved.

Lambs sold to a full ring of buyers and averaged 126.5p. The over 36 kilos sold to £68 and averaged 129.6p and the lambs under 36 kilo sold to £52.20 and averaged 118.9p. Top price per head was £68.80 for Suffolks from Stackbraes and Texels from TV & M Storey, Tinnis Hall.

The record show of cast ewes and rams ensured that heavy ewes were dearer on the week and short of requirements, with well fleshed hill ewes maintaining recent rates although plainer, less fleshed types harder to cash.

LEADING PRICES

BULLOCKS – Limousin 191.5p Messrs Ritson. Galloways 157.5p Skitby.

HEIFERS – Limousin 185.5p Hallburn. Charolais 170.5p Hallburn.

LAMBS – Suffolk £68.80 Stackbraes. Texels £68.80 TV & M Storey. Charollais £57.80 Leona Villa. Halfbreds £61.80 High Moat. Greyface £60.80 Harelawhill. Cheviot Mules £56.80 Hackford. Leicesters £50.80 Parcelstown. Blackface £52.80 Barnglieshead. North Country Cheviot £57 Humbleheugh. Swaledale £42.80 Bullshill. Jacob £52.20 Craigdhu. Beltex £54.20 Blacksmiths Cottage. Zwartbles £47.20 High Crindledyke.

LIGHTWEIGHT LAMBS – Texels £52.20 Clerkhill. Suffolks £48 Hallburn. Cheviots £42.20 Catslackburn. Charollais £47.50 Hallburn. Greyface £43.80 Commonside. Blackface £43.80 Penpeugh. North Country Cheviot £43.80 Commonside. Swaledale £36 Glenbeg. Beltex £45.80 Blacksmiths Cottage.

CAST EWES – Texels £78.50 Messrs Angus, Oldfield. Suffolks £58.50 Greengatehouse. Halfbreds £54.50 Glencroft. Greyface £54.50 Shawhill. Cheviot Mule £53.50 Crowhall Farms. Leicesters £61.50 Tappaitlane. North Country Cheviot £59.50 Uppertofts.

LIGHT EWES – Cheviots £38.50 Hackford & Falnash. Blackface £34.50 Albierigg. Swaledale £28.50 Wolfhills. Herdwicks £17.50 Laalsteins. Shetland £15 Redbanks.

PRIME RAMS – Suffolks £62.50 Queenshaugh. Cheviots £50 Queenshaugh. Texels £58.50 Stackbraes. Charollais £60.50 Stackbraes. Leicesters £50 Arnicle. Blackfaces £40.50 Queenshaugh. North Country Cheviots £51.50 Waterloo. Beltex £52.50 Hobbiesburn. Zwartbles £53.50 Falside Hill Farms.

AVERAGES: Steers - Light 139.5p (112.5p); Medium 191.5p (159.8p); Heavy 183.5p (161.5p). Heifers - Medium 178.5p (144.4p); Heavy 185.5p (150.2p). Lambs - Light 134.0p (114.8p); Standard 145.0p (129.2p); Medium 150.0p (129.8p); Heavy 140.0p (128.3p). Ewes - Light £38.50 (£19.49); Heavy £78.50 (£36.04). Cast Rams £62.50 (£36.31).

Penrith

Monday September 29

All sections of Prime Stock sold very well, with Bulls exceptional.

LEADING PRICES

CLEAN CATTLE: p/kg. – Limousin – 183.5 & 180.5 Cannerheugh; 158.5, 153.5 & 143.5 Old Parks. Charolais – 182.5 Old Parks. British Blue – 139.5 Town End (Mounsey)

CLEAN CATTLE :£/head – Charolais – £1069.45 Old Parks. Limousin – £1058.78, £823.69 & £815.09 Old Parks; £869.79 & £866.40 Cannerheugh. British Blue – £899.78 Town End (Mounsey)

PRIME BULLS :p/kg – British Blue – 174.5 & 172.5 High Drybarrows; 142.5 & 140.5 (2) Askrigg Hall. Limousin – 170.5, 167.5, 165.5 & 162.5 Townfoot (Thompson); 160.5 & 152.5 Fog Close. Red & White Hereford – 136.5 & 127 Skirwith Abbey. Black & White – 122.5 Skirwith Abbey.

PRIME BULLS: £/head – Limousin – £1257.93, £1134.25, £1127.06 & £1123.60 Townfoot (Thompson); £1102.64 & £878.40 Fog Close. British Blue – £1171.28 & £1165.66 High Drybarrows; £931.52, £876.38 & £840.19 Askrigg Hall. Red & White Hereford – £778.51 & £746.66 Skirwith Abbey. Black & White – £704.38 Skirwith Abbey.

Wednesday October 1

TOTAL FORWARD 4,260 Prime Sheep, comprising 3,326 Prime Lambs and 934 Cast Ewes & Rams.

With extra buyers in attendance all weights met a much better trade than anticipated, with prices peaking at 155p/kg for quality Texel Lambs from Mr R Ridley, Ranbeck, bought by Cranstons.

Top price per head was £76 for Suffolk Lambs presented by Mr WH Brass, Low Row, purchased by North Country Primestock, Ponteland.

LEADING PRICES

PRIME LAMBS – Suffolk - £76, £68, £65 & £64 Low Row; £64 Pringle House; £63.20 Pennine View; £63 Green Farm (Hodgson).

Texel – £75, £74, £68.50,Sycamore Rise; £70, £66, Low Row. Charolais – £57.50 Park Head (Hird). Mule – £55 Ranbeck; £53.80 & £48 Well House; £52 & £45.80 Cannerheugh. Cheviot – £51.50 The Cottage (Bell). Kendal Rough– £47 Flakebridge. Swaledale – £43.50 Town Head (Wharton)

CAST EWES & RAMS – Continental – £71 & £46.50 Town Head (Mounsey); £51.50 & £47.50 Rosgillhead; £50 & £48.50 High House (Dickinson). Texel – £64 & £58 Rosgillhead; £64 Brougham Castle; £46 Glasslyn House. Suffolk – £51 & £48 Hole Farm (Mark); £50 (2) Ellonby Hall Bungalow; £48 Brougham Castle; £48 Grange Farm (Hayton). Cheviot – £43.50 Melbourne House; £43 Ranbeck; £35.50 Green Farm (Hodgson). Bluefaced Leicester – £41 Gateghyll; £35 (2) Burns Farm (Cartmel). Mule – £37 Green Farm (Hodgson); £37 Lodge Farm (Mallinson); £36 & £35 Baggra Yeat; £35 Brackenburgh; £34 Rosgillhead. Swaledale – £28 Ravenwood Cottage; £24.50 Baggra Yeat; £24.50 Grange Farm (Hayton); £24 & £22 Cannerheugh; £20.50 Manesty. Kendal Rough – £26.50. Herdwick – £16.50 (2) The Lea. Scotch Blackfaced – £14 Barkbeth.

WIGTON

Tuesday September 30

TOTAL FORWARD 166 prime cattle, 55 bulls, 852 lambs and 73 ewes.

SALE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRIZE SHOW OF CATTLE, ON BEHALF OF THE NORTH OF ENGLAND BLONDE CLUB, SIRED BY A BLONDE BULL

Judge Mr Norman Bowe

Combined with the Annual Autumn Blonde Show trade was strong although a bigger gap between the best and more commercial types beginning to appear.

The Championship was awarded to Messrs Barnett, Brinns Farm with a Heifer which realised 222p and grossed £1256. The prizewinners were won as follows:

PRIZE AWARDS

Bull: 1, J Stott, Hilltop, Hesket New Market which made 172.5p pr kg; 2, J & M Gibb, Jubilee Buildings, Broomley which made 160.5p pr kg.

Steer: 1, M/s Barnett, Brinns Farm, Shap which made 196p pr kg.

Heifer: 1, & Champion – M/s Barnett, Brinns Farm which made 222p pr kg; 2, & Reserve Champion – M/s Barnett, Brinns Fm which made 214p pr kg.

PRIMESTOCK

The top price of the day was 222p per kg which was paid for a Blonde Heifer shown by M/s Barnett, Brinns Farm, Shap. The top price per head was £1347.35 paid for a Limousin Heifer shown by D A Harrison, The Old Vicarage, Westnewton.

Steers sold to a top price of 196p per kg for a Blonde shown by M/s Barnett, Brinns Farm, Shap. The top price of £1384.50 was paid for a Limousin Steer shown by D A Harrison, The Old Vicarage, Westnewton.

The top price for Bulls was 185.5p per kg for a Limousin shown by W R Lawson, Stubbsgill Farm, Distington. A Limousin Bull shown by G & AE Marrs, Cathow Farm, Kinniside made the top price of £1306.50 per head.

A marvellous show of lambs and with consignors looking at the weather forecast plenty of dry lambs on offer. Trade was always going to be back on last week but better than expected to level at 132p per kg.

The top price per head of £94 was paid for Texel lambs shown by Messrs J

Dixon & Son, Lessonhall, Wigton and were purchased by Little’s Butchers,

Devonshire Arcade, Penrith. A pen of Beltex lambs shown by Messrs Jefferson,

Abbey Cowper, Abbeytown made top price of 186.80p pr kg.

LEADING PRICES

HEIFERS – Blonde 222 & 214 Brinns Farm. Limousin 200 Shatton Lodge. British Blue 172.5 Mechi. Simmental 154.50 Gerrard House. Charolais 149.5 East Park. Holstein Friesian 103.5 Nerewater.

STEERS – Blonde 196 Brinns Farm. Limousin 190.5 Mechi 190.5 (x2) 188.5 Crosby House 188.5 High House (Ashburner). British Blue 189.5 Crosby House. Gelbvieh 155.5 Bustabeck; Shorthorn 152.5 Aldenstone; Charolais 149.5 Aldenstone; Simmental 137.5 The Flatt; Friesian 133.5 Croft Head.

BULLS – Limousin 185.5 Stubbsgill. British Blue 182.5 179.5 West Farm (Miller). Hereford 172.5 The Old Vicarage. Blonde 172.5 Hilltop. Charolais 168.5 The Old Vicarage. Holstein Friesian 129.5 Dundraw Farm.

AVERAGES – STEERS: LW 124.50 (105.97) MW 170.50 (145.04) HW 196.00 (159.04). HEIFERS LW 100.5 (100.5) MW 168.50 (155.26) HW 222 (167.60). BULLS MW 184.50 (174.09) HW 185.50 (166.14).

LAMBS – Per Head, Texel £94 & £92 Lessonhall (Dixon). Beltex £74 & £71 Abbey Cowper. Suffolk £58.50 High Parson Bridge. Mule £51 Low House Farm (Gate).

Herdwick £35 Grange Farm.

Per Kg, Beltex 186.80 Abbey Cowper. Texel 176.5 Bothel Parks 176.0 Lesson Hall. Suffolk 123.60 High Parson Bridge. Mule 113.10 Low House Farm. Herdwick 106.70 Grange Farm (Hayton).

EWES – Suffolk £58 Beck Farm. Texel £58 Beck Farm. Half Bred £38 Midtown (Gray). Mule £30 Lessonhall (Dixon). Lleyn £28 Norman Farm. Swaledale £24.50 Paddigill.

RAMS – Texel £41 Lonning Foot.

AVERAGES – SW 186.80 (120.75) MW 176.50 (131.29) HW 176.00 (133.83) OW 167.90 (137.37)