AT Hexham Auction Mart on Tuesday there was an excellent quality show of prime cattle to sell, topping at 211.5p (x2) for an excellent Limousin bred heifer consigned by Eddie Robson, High Baulk and a British Blue x heifer consigned by M/s Maw & Son, Beaumont House which topped the sale at £1260.

Limousin Heifers: 211.5p & 208.5p High Baulk. British Blue: 211.5p Beaumont House. Charolais Heifers: 208.5p Flotterton, 206.5p Tone Hall, 201.5p Flotterton. British Blue: £1260.54 Beaumont House. Charolais Heifers: £1251.32 & £1240.58 Flotterton, £1201.83 Tone Hall. Limousin Heifers: £1188.63 High Baulk.

Over 30-months. More cast cows were forward with all classes being dearer on the week as a competitive ringside of buyers bid freely to leave vendors well satisfied. Limousin: 138.5p, 136.5p, 130.5p & 127.5p Great Chesters, 121.5p Lowes Fell, 115.5p Flotterton & Bulls Hill, 114.5p Chesterhope, 113.5p Flotterton, 112.5p Colwell Demesne. Beef Shorthorn: 133.5p (x2) Fairnley. British Blue: 116.5p East Haydon. Angus: 113.5p Flotterton. Limousin: £1053.78, £978.75, £944.57 & £901.43 Great Chesters, £833.91 Bulls Hill, £833.49 Lowes Fell. Angus: £920.20 & £844.44 Flotterton. Montbeliarde: £865.38 Broomfield. Beef Shorthorn: £861.08 Fairnley.

Prime Sheep. An increased and mixed show of hoggs forward but short of buyers’ requirements. Trade was again dearer on the week by 5p. Top price per head £106 and 240.9p/kg for Texel x from G & JH Tomlinson, Sunniside; 239p/kg for Texel x from E Kellett & Son, East Matfen.

Prime Hoggs. Texel x: £106 Sunniside, £100 High Eshells & Sunniside, £99 Sunniside, £98 East Matfen (x3) & Blackburn, £94 Horton Low House, £92.50 Blackburn & Palm Strothers, £91 Baal Hill, £90 High Eshells, Comb Hills, Sunniside & Holywell 240.9p Sunniside, 239p East Matfen, 230.8p Sunniside, 223.7p West Shields, 222.5p East Matfen, 220p Sunniside, 217.1p Palm Strothers & Sunniside, 212.8p Palm Strothers, 210.7p West Shields, 209.3p Comb Hills, 208.3p Middle Farm, 205p High Warden, 204.8p Hedley Park, 204.1p Sunniside, 200p High Eshells, Comb Hills & Palm Strothers. Suffolk x: £97 Rare Dean, £94, £93 & £91.50 (x2) Sunniside, £91 Rare Dean & Baal Hill, £90 New Dotland & Bingfield Combe, £88 Comb Hills, £86 Sunniside, £85 Horton Low House, £84.50 Aydonshields, £84 West Shields 203.3p (x2), 193.8p & 191.1p Sunniside, 190.7p & 188.9p Horton Low House, 185.7p Baal Hill, 184.3p Sunniside, 183.7p Aydonshields, 182.6p West Shields, 182p Rare Dean, 181.1p West Shields & New Dotland, 180p West Shields. Charollais x: £91 Rare Dean, £90 Sunniside, £84.50 West Shields, £83 Newlands Hall, £80 Sunniside 225p Sunniside, 206.1p West Shields, 205.1p Sunniside, 198.7p & 197.6p Newlands Hall. Beltex x: £90 & 225p Aydonshields.

Bleu D’Maine: £75 & 182.9p Sillywrea. Mule: £91.50 New Dotland, £87 Baal Hill, £86 New Dotland, £85.50 Holywell, £79 Baal Hill, £78.50 Holywell, £77.50 Hudspeth, £75.50 Bingfield Combe, £75 Comb Hills, £74.20 New Dotland, 183.7p Baal Hill, 182.6p & 181.9p Holywell, 181.3p Baal Hill, 179.2p, 176p & 172.6p New Dotland, 172.2p Hudspeth. Cheviot x: £73 & 165.9p Sillywrea. Blackface: £80 & £75 New Dotland, 173.9p & 163p New Dotland. Herdwick: £54 Comb Hills. Crossbred: £74.80 & 187p Middle Heads.

Cast Ewes and Rams. Texel x: £78 Horton Low House, £70 Hedley Park. Suffolk x: £84 Horton Low House & Aydonshields, £74 Horton Low House. Mule: £67 East Haydon, £65 Horton Low House, £60 Hedley Park & Aydonshields.

ON Friday, Hexham & Northern Marts offered for sale a catalogued entry of 428 head of store cattle and suckled calves at their weekly sale and all classes sold well to a full ringside of buyers for the duration of the sale. With a more even spread of cattle across the age spectrum than seen previously the older cattle at the start of the sale, which contained a number of noted and sought after consignments, attracted an increased crowd to Tyne Green. With the effects of weight ceilings and now electronic carcass grading coming to the fore for deadweight finishers these purchasers were keen for cattle whilst being mindful of potential returns.

It was a super Limousin cross steer from Geoff Ogle, Blackburn, Hexham, at 18 months of age which took top honours on the day at £1410 selling to Messrs Nicholson, Barnsley. This one was one of six sold by Mr Ogle, all well-bred, three quarter types which sold into Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Northumberland to average £1301 per head.

Walker Bros, Satley Farm, County Durham, brought forward another great run of cattle also and their six steers sold to a top of £1405 which went to John Otterburn, Helmsley and led the batch which averaged £1300 exactly.

A smart offering of heifers were presented on the day and these peaked at £1250 for a big Limousin cross lady from John Carpenter, Rare Dene, Cornsay, Co. Durham which also went home with Mr Nicholson to Barnsley.

One of the highlights in the ladies section was an outstanding run of well-bred, well-presented Charolais cross heifers at 13-15 months from James Herdman, Edlingham Newtown which attracted a deal of attention at ringside and topped at £1240 for a pair that were added to the Barnsley bound lorry. The run of 22 which were presented in fine fettle and at an age whereby finishing options were multiple sold very well on the day to return an average of £1076.

With increased numbers of younger cattle on offer a good contingent of purchasers looking for these types gathered in late morning and following on from a nice trade last week these cattle in the 8-12 month bracket once again sold to vendors’ satisfaction. Leading the trade in this class was without doubt a tremendous red Limousin cross steer at just over a year old from brothers Colin & William Athey, High Lovelady Shield, Alston, Cumbria which travelled fast to reach £1265 selling to Steven Dale, York.

With plenty of quality on offer the younger types, aged ten months and under realised good rates with 46 steers peaking at £1020 jointly from Whiteside, Roman Wall and Farnbury, Alston and averaging £916 throughout. Thirty three Heifers in the same bracket peaked at £995 for a Charolais cross from Messrs Vickers, Thornley Hall, Tow Law with the class averaging £832 per head.

No fewer than 185 individual lots, equating to 43 per cent of the entire sale sold at or in excess of £1,000 per head and we urge Northumbrian, Cumbrian, Durham and Borders cattle breeders that are contemplating selling stores at present to contact our auctioneers who can advise on the best route to market for your animals.

Leading prices. Cattle 30+ Months. Blonde x heifers: £1180 Lingey Field. Cattle 23-30 Months. Charolais x steers: £1200 Fairley. Limousin x steers: £1260 & £1225 Sunniside, £1220 West Deanraw, £1150 Fairley. Limousin x heifers: £1250 Rare Dean, £1070 Lunns House. Simmental x steers: £1080 Great Tosson. Angus x steers: £1270 Fairley. Angus x heifers: £1070 Fairley.

Cattle 17-22 Months. Charolais x steers: £1300 Satley & Sunniside, £1275 Blackburn, £1240 Rare Dean, £1210 Little Harle, £1200 West Deanraw, £1180 White House Birtley, £1155 Little Harle, £1060 West Deanraw. Charolais x heifers: £12450 & £1120 Edlingham Newtown, £1105 Rare Dean, £1100, £1080 & £1060 Edlingham Newtown, £1030 White House Birtley, £995 Edlingham Newtown, £990 White House Birtley. Limousin x steers: £1410 Blackburn, £1330 Halton Red House, £1320 Blackburn, £1310 Halton Red House, £1290 Blackburn, £1285 Lunns House & Halton Red House, £1280 Ingoe Low Hall & Lunns House (x2), £1275 Lunns House & Aydonshields, £1270 Sunniside, Lunns House & Blackburn, £1265 Halton Red House, £1245 Blackburn, £1240 Kirkley March, £1235 Ingoe Low Hall. Limousin x heifers: £1200 Lunns House, £1160 Cowburn Rigg, £1110 Rare Dean, £1100 Lunns House (x2), £1090 Lunns House & Grange House, £1085 (x2) & £1070 East Matfen, £1050 Cowburn Rigg, £1030 East Matfen & Cowburn Rigg. British Blue x steers: £1150 Kirkley March. Simmental x steers: £1405 Satley, £1355 High Fotherley, £1310 (x2) Satley, £1270 Thornham Hill, £1250 High Fotherley, £1245 Thornham, Hill, £1240 (x2) Satley, £1140 Thornham Hill. Angus x steers: £1270 Great Tosson, £1110 Fairley.

Cattle 11-16 Months. Charolais x steers: £1275, £1240 & £1160 Rusheylaw, £1150 Rusheylaw & White House Birtley, £1140 Rusheylaw & Woodhead, £1125 Woodhead, £1090 Rusheylaw, £1080 White House Birtley, £1050 Rusheylaw & Little Harle, £1040 West Shields, £1020 Little Harle & Woodhead. Charolais x heifers: £1130, £1110, £1070 & £1055 Edlingham Newtown, £1045 Little Harle & Woodhead, £1040 & £1035 Edlingham Newtown, £1005 Edlingham Newtown & West Shields, £1000 West Shields, £950 Little Harle. Limousin x steers: 1270 Grange House, £1265 High Lovelady Shield, £1195 Bulls Hill, £1175, £1165 & £1160 Low Ardley, £1150 Woodhead, £1145 Lee Hall & Low Ardley, £1125 Dukesfield Hall, £1105 Low Ardley, £1100 Grange House, £1090 & £1085 Low Ardley, £1080 Lee Hall, £1070 & £1055 Farnbury, £1010 Brackenthwaite. Limousin x heifers: £1090 Woodhead, £1085 Grange House, £1060, £1050 & £1000 Edlingham Newtown, £960 High Lovelady Shield, £930 White House Eastgate (x2) & Dukesfield Hall, £925 White House Eastgate, £1205, £1150 & £970 Great Tosson, £910 Pinfold House. Angus x steers: £1125 & £1060 Great Tosson, £905 Prendwick. Angus x heifers: £765 Prendwick.

Cattle 10 months and under. Charolais x steers: £1015 Thornley Hall, £1000 West Shields, £995, £970 & £930 Thornley Hall. Charolais x heifers: £995 Thornley Hall, £900 West Shields. Limousin x steers: £1020 Whiteside Haltwhistle & Farnbury, £980 High Lovelady Shield, £955 Whiteside Haltwhistle & Farnbury, £950 Merryknowe, £940 White House Eastgate (x2), £930 Dukesfield Hall & Whiteside Haltwhistle, £925 White House Eastgate (x2), £920 Whiteside Haltwhistle, £905 Willimoteswick. Limousin x heifers: £990 Whiteside Haltwhistle, £955 Woodhall, £930 Whiteside Haltwhistle, £920 & £905 Woodhall. British Blue x steers: £915 Willimoteswick. British Blue x heifers: £935 Woodhall. Simmental x steers: £940 Pinfold House.

Store Sheep. Hexham and Northern Mart held their weekly sale of 2311 Cast Ewes and Store Hoggs.

Feeding Ewes. An increased entry of cast ewes met an increased inquiry of purchasers ensuring all classes £5-£7 dearer on the week. Texel (Av £74): £110 Homilton, £98 Holly Hill West, £76 & £74 Homilton. Texel x: £100 Homilton, £94 Channel Well, £92 High Eshells, £90 High Eshells & Middle Horsleyhope, £88 East Uppertown & Parkside. Dutch Texel: £70 Newbiggin Hill. Suffolk x: £97 Homilton & South Clarewood, £88 Cheviot View, £76 Glebe Farm. Beltex x: £68 Chirdon. Zwartbles: £80 Craigiehall. Leicester: £85 Warksfield Head, £69 Kingswood, £60 Holly Hill West. Cheviot: £61 Cheviot View. Mule: £76 Homilton, £73 Hallington High & Homilton, £72 South Clarewood, £71 Shaftoe Moor, £70 Kingswood. Blackface: £64 Chirdon, £62 Gleedlee, £59 East Uppertown, £58 East Benridge. Swaledale: £49 Glebe Farm, £47 Linshiels & Whitelees, £46 Linshiels & Grindon Hill.

Store Hoggs. An outstanding show of hoggs for the time of year met the same enquiry of potential purchasers ensuring the dearest trade for some time. Topping at an outstanding £100 for a colossal Charollais tup hogg consigned by M/s PR Scott, West Rennington Farm, Alnwick, with a further 15 pens breaking the £90 barrier. More of all classes of hoggs could have been sold to vendor’s advantage.

Texel: £74 Thrunton. Texel x (Av £70.93): £96.50 Elrington Hall, £96 Bavington Hill Head, £94.50 Low Eshells, £92 West House, £91.50 Hallington High Farm, £90 Bavington Hill Head & East Cocklaw (x2), £88 Hedley Park, £87.50 West House, £86 Thrunton, £84 Thrunton, Blackburn, Low Eshells & Channel Well, £83 Low Eshells, £81 Elrington Hall, £80 Lough Green & Hedley Park. Suffolk: £76 Thrunton. Suffolk x (£70.19): £96 Black Hedley, £91 Ricknall Grange, £90 East Cocklaw & Low Eshells, £89 Blackburn, £86 Ricknall Grange, £78 Duddo Hill. Hampshire x: £64.50 Dunshiel, £61.50 Low Staples. Leicester (£68.30): £76 Chirdon, £75.50 West Rennington, £74.50 Low Struthers. Mule (Av £56.09): £71.50 Ambling Gate, £63 East Butsfield, £61.50 Ambling Gate. Cheviot: £92 Chirdon. Cheviot x (£72.46): £94 & £92.50 Bavington Hill Head. Blackface (Av £53.80): £70 Warksfield Head, £67 Whitchester Tarset, £62 Warksfield Head, £61 Chirdon, £60.50 West House, £60 Ellfoot, £59.50 Broomhope, £58 Whitchester & South Chareheads, £57.50 Chirdon, £57 Whitchester. Swaledale: £47.50 Low Bleakhope. Crossbred (Av £81): £100 West Rennington.

SCOTS Gap Mart sold prime hoggs to an improved trade in the week which saw the sale topped at £105 for heavy Texel cross and 214ppkg for smart Beltex crosses at 43kg both lots consigned by Jonta Walton, Grangemoor, Scots Gap. The entire sale averaged 185.9ppkg and £89.69 per head. A level show of cast ewes sold to £83 for Suffolk cross from Philip Dickinson, Rugley Walls, with hill types topping at £70 from Kirkley Hall Farm.

Leading Prices. Prime Hoggs. Texel x: £105 Grangemoor, £104 High Baulk, £95 High Baulk, £95 Grangemoor, £94 Grangemoor, £92 The Chesters, & Grangemoor, £91 Grangemoor, £90 High Baulk, £90 The Chesters & Grangemoor, 214.0ppkg Grangemoor, 209.3ppkg Grangemoor, 193.5ppkg Low Hall, 189.1ppkg High Baulk, 188.9ppkg High Baulk, 187.5ppkg The Chesters, 187.2ppkg, 184.3ppkg, 182.0ppkg & 181.0ppkg Grangemoor, 180.4ppkg Rugley Walls. Suffolk x: £104 Low Hall, £100 The Chesters, £92 Low Hall, £91 The Chesters, 178.4ppkg The Chesters, 176.9ppkg Low Hall. Beltex: £86 Grangemoor, £70 Grangemoor, 204.8ppkg Grangemoor, 200.0ppkg Grangemoor.

Cast Ewes and Rams. Texel: £79.50 The Chesters, £79 The Chesters, £77 Longwitton, £76.50 Longwitton, £76 Longwitton, £69.50 High Baulk, £66 The Chesters. Lleyn: £86 Longwitton. Suffolk: £83 Rugley Walls, £77 Rugley Walls, £75 Longwitton. Mule: £66 The Chesters, £65 East White House, £65 Rugley Walls, £63 Holystone Estate, £62.50 Longwitton, £62.50 Rugley Walls, £62 Longwitton, £62 Kirkley Hall. Blackface: £70 Kirkley Hall, £59, £56 & £53.50 Holystone Estate. Swaledale: £38 Rugley Walls. Cheviot: £75 Harwood, £61.50 Harwood.