Last updated 05:30, Friday, 23 May 2008

CARLISLE

Monday May 12

TOTAL FORWARD 352 prime cattle, bulls and cows; 2682 prime sheep were forward.

Messrs Blake of Halfway Well sold a Limousin cross bullock for 173.5p purchased by Mr Charles Kirkpatrick. Messrs Dodd of West View bullocks topped at 171.5p for a Bazadaise bullock purchased by Pioneer Foods. Messrs Hetherington of Old Hall Farm bullocks topped at 882kg 152.5p £1345.03 purchased by Mr Charles Kirkpatrick. Bulls once again met a brisk trade. Messrs Wheatley & Son of Home Farm bulls topped at 188.5p & 181.5p for British Blue purchased by Mr Mike Atkinson and Mr Alan Jones. Mr Wilson of Reddings bulls topped at 178.5p for a Limousin cross purchased by Mr Mike Atkinson. Spring lambs were the best trade seen yet with a lot of lambs over £100 and the whole sale averaging £89.62 per head and 191.3p/kg. Top price per head was £120 for Texel lambs from Mr George Gate of Hollins Farm, Eaglesfield purchased by Mr John Blacklock on behalf of Mr RJ Harrison (Butcher) Wigton. Top price per kilo was 250p for Texel lambs from Messrs Watson of New House, Welton also purchased by Mr John Blacklock on behalf of RJ Harrison. Hoggs sold well with nice Cheviot and Texel types regular 170p to 185p.

LEADING PRICES

BULLOCKS – Limousin, 173.5p Halfway Well. Bazadaise, 171.5p West View. British Blue, 163.5p Glaslyn House.

HEIFERS – Limousin, 163.5p (x3) Low House Farm. Overall, Limousin, £1345 Old Hall Farm. Charolais, £1261 Fenton Farm.

BULLS – British Blue, 188.5p, 181.5p Home Farm. Limousin, 178.5p Reddings. Overall, Aberdeen Angus, £1436 Cumdivock House. Limousin, £1430 Breconside Tower, £1426 Cracrop.

SPRING LAMBS – per head, Texel, £120 Hollins Farm. Suffolk, £116 New Grange Farm. Charolais, £101 Kilnclose. Per kilo, Texel, 250p New House. Suffolk, 232p New Grange Farm. Charollais, 211p Kilnclose.

HOGGETS – Per head, Texel, £96 Kirkland Green. Charollais, £85.50 Mirkbooths. Suffolk, £84.50 Shield Green. Beltex, £79 Sunnygill. Cheviot, £77.20 Tempest Tower. Greyface, £71.50 Woodhouse, £71.30 Shatton Lodge. Lleyn, £70 Netherhirst. Herdwick, £68.50 Kilnclose. Blackface, £66 Fieldside, £60.30 Owlethurst. Swaledale, £54.50 Hiathwaite.

Per kilo, Beltex, 189.6p Sunngill Farm. Charollais, 187.30p Mirkbooths. Cheviot, 184.1p Green Farm. Texel, 181p, 177.9p Allerby Hall. Lleyn, 171.8p Netherhirst. Suffolk, 165.8p Home Farm. Blackfaced, 161.7p Fieldside. Greyface, 157.7p Shatton Lodge. Herdwick, 157p Kilnclose. Swaledale, 143.1p Haithwaite.

CAST EWES & RAMS – Suffolk, £71.50 Burgh Head. Texel, £68.50 Unity Farm. Rouge, £58.50 Skelcies Hall. Bluefaced Leicester, £56 Scarrowmanwick Farm. Greyfaced, £47.50 Shieldgreen. Swaledale, £32 Lynnshield.

COCKERMOUTH

Wednesday May 14

John Watson, Outgang returned to the prime ring with some style selling a top class Limousin heifer at 186.5p/kg to Geoff Riley, Skinburness. Heifers averaged 164.89p/kg. In the prime bullock section Messrs Craghill, Hemplands, topped out at 169.5p/kg (£939) again to Geoff Riley. Commercial prime cattle were also considerably dearer selling to a top of £963 for Holstein bullocks from Humphrey Thompson, Springfield Farm. A small entry of bulls were dearer again selling to 128.5p/kg (£870) for Friesian bulls from Mark Messenger, Adamgill, purchased by Tom Bradley, Egremont. Butchers lambs sold to £115.50 (210p/kg) for a pen of 55kg Suffolk X Lambs from M/s G Wilson, Aldoth Farm, purchased by M/s Wilson, Egremont. Top pence per kilo 236.7p/kg or £106.50 for a pen of 45kg Texel X lambs shown by R W Almond, Irton House also purchased by Messrs Wilson, Egremont. Meated hoggs sold well to a top of £74.50 shown by M/s G Wilson, Aldoth, purchased by Cleveland Meat Co. Ltd, Stockton on Tees. Lambs overall average 190.6p/kg.

HEIFERS – Limousin 186.5 Outgang; Friesian 131.5 Springfield.

BULLOCKS – Limousin 169.5 Hemplands; Belgian Blue 161.5 Mid Farm; Friesian 134.5 Springfield.

BULLS – Friesian 128.5, Adamgill; Limousin X 124.5 Adamgill.

AVERAGES – Premium Grade Cattle sold to 186.5p/kg averaged 155.7p/kg; Prime Grade Cattle sold to 129.5p/kg averaged 129.5p/kg; Premium Grade Bulls sold to 128.5p/kg averaged 126.3p/kg; Prime Grade Bulls sold to 113.5p/kg averaged 113.5p/kg.

LAMBS – Suffolk 115.50 G Wilson, Aldoth; Texel 106.5 R W Almond, Irton House; Bleu Du Maine 91.5 Gass & Bates, Row Farm; Rouge 88.5 J Charlton & Sons, Birks Farm; Charollais 86.5 W Skelton, Bayshore House.

HOGGS – Suffolk 74.50 G Wilson, Aldoth; Texel 74.20 T & A Teasdale Ltd, Sale Fell House; Texel X 73.50 J N & A M Lister, Cockley Gill; Mule 68.80 B W Hewitson, Shatton Lodge; Herdwick 59.80 T Hindmoor & Son, Thistelton; Lleyn X 57.20 B R Wilson, Dockray Nook; Swaledale 50.80 G & T Tyson, East House.

CAST EWES – Bleu du Maine 76.50 Gass & Bates, Row Farm; Rouge 75.50 J Charlton & Sons, Birks Farm; Texel 66.50 S F Herring, Row Farm; Suffolk 59.50 Crozier & Langcake, High Moss; Lleyn 57.50 B R Wilson, Dockray Nook; Mule 56.50 J J & A Brough, Clappers; Beltex 54.50 F & A J Stockdale, Cross How.

RAMS – Zwartble 73.50 W & M Nixon, Bridekirk Hall; Texel 72.50 B & I Scott, Seat House.

DUMFRIES

Wednesday May 14

TOTAL FORWARD 122 Prime Cattle, 104 Prime Lambs, 705 Prime Hoggs and 347 Cast Ewes and Rams

Trade was steadier – quality mixed.

LEADING PRICES

HEIFERS – Heavy – Limousin 171.5p D&R Cornthwaite, Balgrayhill; British Blue 170.5p Culhorn Mains, Stranraer.

Lightweight – Limousin 170.5p Dinnans, Whithorn.

Top Gross Heifer £997.43 Culhorn Mains

BULLOCKS – Limousin 165.5p Nether Ernambrie Crossmichael; Charolais 162.5p Townhead, Parkgate; British Blue 163.5p Culhorn Mains.

Top Gross bullock £1268.03 Culhorn Mains.

BULLS – Charolais 163.5p Meikle Larbrax; Simmental 159.5p Meikle larbrax; Angus 131.5p Parkneuk; Holstein 119.5p Whins.

Top Gross Bull £1026.30 Meikle Larbrax

LAMBS – Averaged 186.6p – Suffolk Lambs 196.6p North Cowshaw.

Per Head – Suffolk £92 Woodcroft; Beltex £92 Nether Dargavel.

HOGGS – Average 158.7p – Texel 184.8 Ryehill.

Per Head – Blue D Maine £81.50 Upper Portrack; Suffolk £80.50 Auchengray; Texel £79.50 Over cairn; Mule £78 Dollard; Blackface £75.50 Drumbreddan.

CAST EWES AND RAMS – Texel £75.50 Ryehill; Leicester £67.50 Cowcorse; Cheviot £58.50 Marwhirn; Mule £57.50 Auchengray; Blackface £48.50 Cowcorse.

Kirkby Stephen

Tuesday May 13

TOTAL FORWARD 701 sheep sold comprising 73 ewes & hoggs with lambs at foot, 37 spring lambs, 112 lightweight hoggs, 261 prime hoggs and 218 cast ewes & rams.

This week all classes rose in value, spring lambs by 13.17p/kg, hoggs by 3.46p/kg & cast ewes by £4.48 per head. Top price per kilo in the spring lamb section went to Messrs G & J Foster, Waitby Farm whose pen of Suffolk x sold to R Skelton for 195p. In the prime hogg section Mr K D Harryman achieved the leading price of 150p for a pen of Beltex x purchased by Mr A Slack

LEADING PRICES

Geld Mule Gimmer Hoggs £63.50 Rudd Hills; Mule Hoggs with Lambs £39 (x2) Bents; Broken Mouthed Swaledale Ewes with Doubles £26 Rudd Hills.

SPRING LAMBS – Suffolk x (av 182.87) £83.50 Waitby Farm; Texel x (av 180.69) £79.50 Blacksyke.

LIGHTWEIGHT HOGGS 17-34.9kg – Cheviot x (av 134.38) £43 Bowers Farm; Herdwick (av 131.82) £43.50 Town Head (Beck); Swaledale (av 110.61) £38 Wythes Hill; Texel x (av 125.43) £46 Mill House.

PRIME HOGGS over 35kg – Beltex x (av 140) £70 Trainriggs; Mule (av 121.51) £56.50 Bowers Farm; Cheviot x (av 145.53) £55.50 Redlands Bank; Rough Fell (av 125.96) £63.50 Beck House; Suffolk x (av 131.03) £76 Low Farm; Swaledale (av 120.56) £55 Bents Farm, Low Farm; Texel x (av 126.98) £80 Rose Cottage; Rouge x (av 133.96) £71 Skelcies Hall.

CAST EWES – Beltex x (av £40.50) £53.50 Trainriggs; Bluefaced Leicester (av £49) £50 The Birches; Cheviot (av £30.50) £40 Hebblethwaite; Mule (av £37.69) £55.50 Hebblethwaite; Jacob £18 Clockeld; Rough Fell (av £23.04) £46.50 Bowber Head; Suffolk (av £47.66) £55 Blacksyke; Swaledale (av £23.16) £37.50 Rake Head; Texel x (av £39.23) £48 Blacksyke.

CAST RAMS – Beltex (av £31.33) £43 Trainriggs; Bluefaced Leicester (av £40.50) £56 Low Farm; Suffolk £52.50 Clockeld; Texel (av £35.50) £40 Mid Town Farm.

LONGTOWN

Thursday May 8

TOTAL FORWARD 80 prime cattle, 5439 prime hoggs, 111 spring lambs and 4167 cast ewes & rams.

The clean cattle lacked the quality of late but still sold at very high rates. Bullocks sold to a top of 175.5p for a Limousin from J C & D Nicholson, The Gill, others to 174.5p, 172.5p, 169.5p Dashwellgreen, 169.5p Fenton Farm & Hallburn. A massive show of hoggs were forward for May and were dearer on the week selling to a full ring of buyers all keen for well fleshed hoggs of any weight. The sale was topped at 204p/kg for Beltex from Messrs Stoddart, Hillside and to £91.80 for Texels from Dunjop. The overall average was 156.2p/kg.Lightweight hoggs were another large show and were dearer on the week with well fleshed types keenly sought after. The top of 176.6p for Beltex from Messrs Gill, Newlands and to £59.20 for Cheviots from Sockbridge Hall.The 111 spring lambs averaged 180p and sold to a top of 200p/kg for Texels from Mrs J Marshall, Hermitage.A larger show of cast ewes and rams saw all classes again dearer to average £45.91 overall.

LEADING PRICES

BULLOCKS – Limousin 175.5p J C & D Nicholson, The Gill. Belgian Blue 173.5p Hallburn; Blondes 165.5p, 163.5p Hallburn. Charolais 163.5p Sceughdyke.

HEIFERS Belgian Blue 175.5p Maulscastle; Limousins 163.5p, 162.5p Hallburn; Charolais 160.5p Wickethorn.

HOGGS – Texels £91.80 Dunjop. Suffolk Cross £82.50 Smalmstown. Cheviots £84.80 Bloan. Charollais £74.50 Becton Hall, £74 Broomhills. Halfbreds £78.50 Sockbridge Hall. Greyfaces £75.80 Sykehead. Cheviot Mules £62.80 Murtholm. Leicesters £55 Snowden Close. Blackface £87.20 Smalmstown. North Country Cheviots £81.50 Dunjop. Swaledales £69.50 Sceughdyke. Herdwicks £62.20 Butterdales. Beltex £80 Waterside.

Lightweight, Beltex 176.6p Messrs Gill, Newlands. Cheviots £59.20 Sockbridge Hall.

Suffolk cross £44.80 Stackbraes. Texels £59.20 Sockbridge Hall. Charollais £48.80 Allfornaught. Greyfaces £55.50 Kilncroft, £50.50 Westernhopeburn. Blackfaces £58.20 Sykehead, £56.80 Heathery Hall. North Country Cheviots £52.80 Newington. Swaledale £45.50 Newlands. Herdwicks £36.80 Redhouse. Beltex £53 Newlands. Roussin £53.50 Debog. Hampshire £54.80 Jury Park.

SPRING LAMBS – Texels 200p/kg Mrs J Marshall, Hermitage. £82 Kilncroft. Suffolk cross £84 Land. £80 Sceughdyke, Mossband Hall & Yett. Charollais £62 Guards Mill. Oxford £75 Guards Farm.

CAST COWS & RAMS – Texel £82.50 Kingfisher Farm. Beltex £78.50 Redbanks. Suffolks £75.50 Copperthorns. Suffolk cross £71.50 Barrogill Mains. North Country Cheviots £72.50 Barrogill Mains. Charollais £66.50 Seavers. Leicesters £59.50 Mallsgate. Cheviot Mules £61.50 Graystale. Greyface £55.50 Hallburn. Lleyns £59.50 Whitcastle.

Hill ewes, Blackface £48.50 Kilncroft. Cheviots £47.50 Glendearg. Kerry £44.50 Whitcastle. Herdwicks £31.50 Mallsgate. Swaledales £43.50 Howe Green.

Rams, Charollais £75.50 Newry. Suffolks £70.50 Roadside & Newry. Texels £72.50 Seavers. Cheviots £64.50 Barrogill Mains. Beltex £60.50 Newry. Leicesters £68.50 Innermessan. Blackfaces £49.50 Hott. Swaledales £39.50 Sockbridge Hall.

AVERAGES – Medium to 135.5p (132.2p); Heavy to 175.5p (152.8p); Heifers Light to 129.5p (129.5p); Medium to 163.5p (147.9p); Heavy to 175.5p (148.6p); Hoggs Light to 147.2p (100.8p); Standard to 176.6p (136.7p); Medium to 204.0p (155.4p); Heavy to 189.5p (163.4p); O/Weight to 180.8p (155.1p); Shearlings to 135.2p ( 98.9p); Lambs Light to 157.1p (145.0p); Standard to 197.4p (169.9p); Medium to 200.0p (183.1p); Heavy to 178.0p (163.8p); Ewes Light to £48.50 (£30.22); Heavy to £82.50 (£51.88); Cast Rams £71.50 (£48.91).

PENRITH

Monday May 12

TOTAL FORWARD 39 Prime Bulls and Clean Cattle.

170p/kg was easily obtained with many more in the 140 to 160 bracket.

Prime Bulls sold exceptionally well, with most buyers for weeks. Top price was 179.5p/kg for an outstanding Limousin Cross Heifer from Mr RW Dickinson, High Knipe and purchased by Mr N Bellas, Shap.Top per Head was £1055.70 for another Limousin Cross Heifer, this time from Messrs Lowis, Waterside House, purchased by Messrs R Cranston, Penrith.

LEADING PRICES

CLEAN CATTLE – p/kg, Limousin 179.5 High Knipe; 174.5 & 173.5 Cannerheugh; 172.5 & 152.5 Waterside House; 156.5 & 141.5 Old Parks. British Blue 169.5 High Knipe. Blonde D’Aquitaine 147.5 Waterside House.

Per head, Limousin £1055.70 Waterside House; £962.12 High Knipe; £916.92 & £888.92 Old Parks; £872.71 & £862.03 Cannerheugh. British Blue £920.39 High Knipe. Blonde D’Aquitaine £727.18 Waterside House.

BULLS – p/kg, Limousin 151.5, 148.5 & 145.5 Fog Close; 147.5 & 137.5 Skirwith Abbey; 143.5 Blakehills. Black & White 123.5, 119.5, 118.5 & 115.5 Skirwith Abbey; 119.5 Low Brow; 117.5 (2) Town Head (Woof).

Per head, Limousin £1031.03 & £952.88 Skirwith Abbey; £920.70, £870.09 & £809.01 Fog Close; £848.09 Blakehills. Black & White £779.03 & £748.48 Town Head (Woof); £758.40, £706.25, £705.19 & £702.24 Skirwith Abbey.

Tuesday May 13

TOTAL FORWARD 3,515 Prime Sheep, comprising of 203 Spring Lambs, 2,439 Prime Hoggs & 873 Cast Ewes & Rams.

LEADING PRICES

SPRING LAMBS – Continental – £104 Eamont Bridge; £97 Hewgill House; £92 Ploveriggs; £87 Home Farm. Suffolk – £89 Terry’s Farm; £87 Hewgill House; £87 Kettleside; £86.50 Scales Hall (Hewetson).

PRIME HOGGS – Continental – £100 Terry’s Farm; £98 Dob Cross Hall; £97 Highrigg; £95.50 Edenhall Estates. Suffolk – £93 Hall Bank; £89, £88.50 Highrigg; £85.50 Waterside House. Cheviot – £84, £76.50 Luham; £75, £68.50 Sockbridge Hall. Half-Bred – £82 Highrigg. Mule – £79, £75 Sockbridge Hall; £77.50 Waterside House; £76.50 Crossfell House; £75 Maple Close. Scotch Blackfaced – £73.50, £72 Highrigg; £73, £72 Merryvale. Cross – £68 Hazelrigg. Bluefaced Leicester – £65 Manesty. Kendal Rough – £64, £60 & £51 Low Borrow Bridge. Masham – £62, £60 & £53 Low Borrow Bridge. Herdwick – £61.50, £47.50 Smaithwaite; £52.50 Howtown Hotel; £47.50 How Hall. Swaledale – £61 (2), £59.50 Waterside House; £60 Hole House (Sibson); £55.50 Bromley Green; £55.50 Howtown Hotel. Zwartble – £56 Sockbridge Hall. Jacob – £53 Mirkbooths.

CAST EWES & RAMS – Suffolk – £79 Moyadam Park; £75 Greenhow; £74 (2), £73 Staingills. Continental – £75, £74 (2) Drapstown; £74 Yew Tree; £72.50 Town Head (Potter). Bluefaced Leicester – £70 Sanders Close; £65 Villa Farm; £61 High Howe; £55.50 Hewgill House. Half-Bred – £69.50, £62 Highrigg. Cheviot – £64 Highrigg; £44 Low Abbey; £38 Southways; £38 Green Close. Mule – £57 Penny Hill; £55 Drapstown; £54 Tirril View; £54 Staingills. Swaledale – £46.50 Harbour Flatt; £45 Manesty; £43.50 Kirkland Green; £41 Sanders Close. Scotch Blackfaced – £41 Green Close; £38 Hall Close. Herdwick – £34 Fold Head; £33.50 Millbeck; £28 Haithwaite; £28 Merryvale; £28 Howtown Hotel.

WIGTON

Tuesday May 13

TOTAL FORWARD 208 prime cattle & 53 bulls, 125 prime hoggs, 221 Spring Lambs & 91 ewes.

Trade was similar to last weeks strong market. Bulls were the dearest seen for some time with Black and Whites rising around 10p per kilo.The top price of the day was 193.5p per kg paid to for a Limousin Heifer which was shown by T Pearson & Son, High Plasketlands, Mawbray and purchased by Gavin Little, Penrith which also realised the top price per head for heifers of £1135.85.Steers sold to per 184.5 kg which was paid to J Watson & Son, Outgang, Branthwaite, Cockermouth for a Limousin cross. The top price per head for Steers was £1319.04 which was paid for a British Blue shown by J Dixon & Son, Lesson Hall, Wigton. The top price for Bulls was 171.5 per kg for a Limousin cross Bull which was shown by JG & M Little, Greenhill Farm, Wigton. The top price per head was £1324.62 paid for a Charolais Bull shown by DA & SM Miller, Crookdake Mill, Wigton.An increased entry of lambs with a range of quality on offer a better trade than last week. Plenty of lambs 44kgs – 48 kgs in excess of £100 per head and several vendors averaging well over the three figure mark.More lambs required to satisfy the strong trade and buyers requirements. Double could easily have been sold this week. The top price per head of £117 was paid for Texel lambs shown by G Brough, The Old Rectory, Kirkbampton and these also made top price of 243.8 p pr kg and were purchased by David Paisley, Wigton.Hoggs – Top price of £78 per head was paid for Texel Hoggs shown by RJ & JM Tudhope, High Parson Bridge, Wigton Top price of 183.60p pr kg was paid for Texel Hoggs shown by Messrs Miller, Allerby Hall, Allerby, Aspatria

LEADING PRICES

HEIFERS – Limousin 193.5 High Plasketlands. Charolais 156.5 Rigghouse Farm. Blonde 167.5 Welton Farm. British Blue 174.5 Westward Parks. Simmental 145.5 Westward Parks.

STEERS – Limousin 184.5 Outgang Farm. British Blue 177.5 Westward Parks. Blonde 165.5 The Old Vicarage. Charolais 167.5 Crosby House Farm. Aberdeen Angus 149.5 Kiln Close. Welsh Black 144.5 Campfield. Devon 142.5 High Aketon. Simmental 154.5 Bridekirk Hall. Montbeliarde 139.5 Galemire House. Bazadaise 137.5 Campfield. Holstein Friesian 123.5 Parkgate Hall.

BULLS – Limousin 171.5 Greenhill Farm. British Blue 153.5 Brow Top Farm. Simmental 157.5 Ellen Bank. Blonde 157.5 The Laurels. Charolais 148.5 Crookdake Mill. Holstein Friesian 138.5 The Laurels. Bazadaise 144.5 Beck Farm.

AVERAGES STEERS: LW 109.5 (109.5) MW 184.50 (141.08) HW 183.50 (157.87). HEIFERS MW 163.50 (146.92 ) HW 193.50 (156.94). BULLS MW 169.50 (140.20) HW 171.50 (146.81).

LAMBS – Per Head, Texel £117 The Old Rectory. Suffolk £110 Cardew Hall Farm. Beltex £116 Loughrigg. Charollais £106 Loughrigg. Rouge £104 Loughrigg.

Per Kg, Texel 243.80 Old Rectory Farm. Beltex 241.6 Loughrigg. Suffolk 237 Tiffenthwaite. Charollais 207.8 Loughrigg. Rouge 216.6 Loughrigg.

AVERAGES – SW 231.60 (216.66) MW 236.40 (205.67) HW 243.80 (203.37) OW 160.70(140.13).

HOGGS –Per Head, Texel £ 78 High Parson Bridge. Cheviot £70.50 Richmond Plains. Suffolk £ 52 Allerby Hall.

Per Kg, Cheviot 180.80 Richmond Plains. Texel 183.60 Allerby Hall.

EWES – Texel £52 Chalkside. Suffolk £49 Mid Town. Half Bred £43 Mid Town. Swaledale £21 Carwath. Texel Rams £53 Beech Hill.

AVERAGES – SW 231.60 (216.66) MW 236.40 (205.67) HW 243.80 (203.37) OTHERS 160.70(140.13).