Last updated 13:32, Thursday, 14 August 2008

AT THEIR weekly on Tuesday, Hexham and Northern Marts had forward 108 cattle, which included 80 over thirty month animals. All classes met another firm demand from an increased ring of buyers.

Prime cattle prices. Steers per kilo: Limousin to 172.5p and 163.5p Wallhouses. Heifers per kilo: Charolais to 172.5p, 163.5p and 159.5p Flotterton. Limousin to 168.5p, 164.5p and 165.5p Black Heddon. Belgian Blue to 167.5p Black Heddon. Blonde to 165.5p and 162.5p Barker House. Steers per head: Limousin to £1,070.93 and £1,031.55 Wallhouses. Heifers per head: Charolais to £995.33 Flotterton. Limousin to £985.73 and £917.32 Black Heddon. Blonde to £963.21 Barker House. Belgian Blue to £936.33 Black Heddon.

A large show of over 30 month animals were keenly bid for and the eight buyers were short of requirements. The top sixteen cows averaged 125p and £938.87. Prices per kilo: Limousin to 145.5p Lough Green, 138.5p Little Swinburne, 137.5p Holling Hill, 133.5p(2) Greyside, 129.5p Burradon Mains, 127.5p Westerkirk, 126.5p Barker House, 126.5p(2) Burn House and 125.5p Aimshaugh. Simmental to 137.5p and 128.5p Holling Hill. Angus to 141.5p Aimshaugh, 135.5p Carrick and 126.5p Catreen. Prices per head: Charolais to £1,072.17 Barker House. Simmental to £1,053.25 and £925.20 Holling Hill. Angus to £1,007.48 Aimshaugh and £923.55 South Kirkheaton. Limousin to £974.85 Lough Green, £959.60 Burradon Mains, £922.19 Barker House and £919.82 Greyside. MRX to £937.83 West Minsteracres. Holstien to £878.62 West Minsteracres. Friesian to £869.63 Hedley West.

There was a total of 3,482 prime sheep forward on Tuesay which comprised of 3,078 lambs and 404 ewes. Atrocious weather conditions and the bluetongue protection zone now taking in County Durham and Tyne and Wear meant less lambs on offer and an extremely sharp trade exceeding all expectations, with numerous pens selling in excess of 140p. No deadweight price currently being quoted can come near today’s values. The sale was topped by a cracking pen of Beltex lambs weighing 37kg from Lingey Field which made 146.5p/kg £54.20 and were purchased by G D Vivers and Son, Dornocktown, Annan. Heavy lambs sold to £72 for Texel x from Barker House purchased by A. Wright and Son, Meat Wholesalers, Boston, Lincs.

Prime lamb prices. Suffolk x per head to £72 and £66 Barker House, £65(2) Dunns Houses, £64.80 Hard Riding, £64.50 and £61.90 Nunwick, £64 Tone Hall and Rusheylaw, £63 and £62.20 Halton Red House, £62.20 and £62 Low Eshells and £62 Piatroon and Settlingstones. Per kilo to 144p and 143.7p Nunwick, 141.7p Harewalls, 141.4p Halton Red House, 140p Hallington New Houses and Hard Riding, 139.1p and 138p Morrowfield, 139p Bingfield East Quarter, 137.8p Settlingstones, 137.2p Cronkley and 136.7p South Clarewood and Airy Holm. Texel x per head to £68.80 Dyke Nook, £65 West Fenwick, Newbiggen Hill and Haughton Mains(2), £64.50 and £64.20 Barker House, £64 and £63.50 Dunns Houses, £64 Tone Hall and Burntongues, £63.20 Heugh Farm and £62.80 High Baulk and West Wharmley. Per kilo to 145.9p Watch Currock, 145p, 144.4p and 143.9p West Fenwick, 143.6p Todburn, 143.4p Pine Dene, 142.7p High Baulk, 142.5p East Uppertown, 142.1p Frolar Meadows, 142p Breckon Hill and Newbiggen Hill, 141.9p Hallington New Houses, 141.8p Dyke Nook and 141p Fell Lane. Beltex x per head to £58 and £57 Haughton Mains, £58 and £55 Shillafield, £54.20 Lingey Field and £51.80 Breckon Hill. Per kilo to 146.5p Lingey Field, 145p and 139p Haughton Mains, 140p Breckon Hill and 138.1p and 134.2p Shillafield. Mule per head to £58, £54 and £53 Hole Farm, £57 Rusheylaw, £56.80 Broomhope, £56.50 Kellah, £56 Highside, Brownsleazes and Sewingshields(2), £54.80 Kellah and £53(2) Hawick. Per kilo to 132.5p Hawick, 131.3p and 126.2p Broomhope, 130.2p Sewingshields and Highside, 128.2p Pine Dene, 128.1p Highside, 127.4p and 125.6p Kellah, 126.7p Rusheylaw, 126.2p Hole Farm and 125.7p Bulls Hill. Cheviot Mule to £54, £50.80 and 127p Embley. Charollais x to £66.80 and £59.50 Rusheylaw and £54 Tone Hall. Per kilo to 135.2p and 131p Rusheylaw and 135p Tone Hall. Leicester per head to £52 Brownsleazes, £51 Highside, £50.80 West Cocklaw and £50.50 Low Struthers. Blackface per head to £58 Yatesfield, £51.50(2) Sewingshields and £50 Nilston Rigg Farms. Per kilo to 128.9p Yatesfield, 128.8p and 117.1p Sewingshields and 119.1p Nilston Rigg Farms.

More strong ewes forward and a sharper trade on the week selling to £60.80 for a superb pen of Suffolk x Mule ewes from Rusheylaw. Ewe prices per head: Suffolk x to £60.80 and £55 Rusheylaw, £57.50 White House, £56 The Tofts, £55.80 Salmonswell, £53.50 Dunns Houses and £53 Barker House. Texel x to £57 Round Meadows, £53.80 Halton Red House, £53 Burntongues, £51 White House, £50 Thornton Tower, £49 Partridge Nest, £48.50 Barker House, £48 Ravenside and Little Swinburne and £47 Grange House and Salmonfield. Mule to £48.20 and £42 Round Meadows, £44 Fairley and Lingey Field, £43.20 Barker House, £41.50 Salmonswell, £41 East Greenridge and £40.80 Partridge Nest. Leicester to £55 Highside. Cheviot x to £47.50 Flotterton. Vendeen to £37 Dilston Haugh. Blackface to £35.50 Thornton Tower and £26.20 Carrick. Swaledale to £20.80 Ottercops. Rams per head: Suffolk to £64 Low Struthers.

ON FRIDAY Hexham and Northern Marts had forward an entry of 806 store cattle and suckled calves at their 13th Anniversary Prize show and sale which was kindly sponsored by McCreath, Simpson and Prentice Ltd, Agriculture Feed Merchants and The Royal Bank of Scotland. A packed ringside with buyers forward from as far a field as Angus in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Norfolk witnessed one of the best shows of cattle seen at this centre for many years. Trade reflected the show of cattle with more sold for in excess of £1,000 than seen before with an overall sale average just pennies short of £700. Prior to the sale the judge Mr Chris Bustance, Wimberley Hall Farm, Stonegate, Weston, Spalding, Lincs placed what was a superb selection of show cattle in both the haltered and unhaltered classes. The overall champion was awarded to an outstanding Belgian Blue x heifer shown by Alan Hall, Preston Tilery, Brafferton, Darlington which went on to make £1,780 and was purchased by the judge. The reserve went to Roy Coe, The Bungalow, Tyne Green with a very well presented three-quarter limousin steer bred at Harwood Shield which realised £1,180 and was purchased by Messrs R.B. Ingamells and Son, Pear Tree Farm, Grantham, Lincs. The J.W. Smith Jackson Perpetual Challenge cup for the best beast bred by the exhibitor was awarded to Brian and Angus Tailford, Beacon Rigg, Catton with a tremendous Limousin cross Belgian Blue steer which went on to make £1,020 and was purchased by Steve Nundy, Abbey Lodge, Boston, Lincs. However, the sale was topped at £2,100 by a much fancied Limousin heifer out of a Limousin cross Belgian blue cow bred by John Smith Jackson, High Town, Melkridge which stood 2nd in the haltered Limousin cross heifer class and had been reserve champion at Carlisle show. This heifer was purchased by Alan Hall, Preston Tilery. The Smith Jackson’s also had the second top price at £2,000 with a Belgian Blue cross heifer bred by the Browell’s at Quarry House this was purchased by Mr Dickinson, Park Gate Farm, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

Prize list. Haltered cattle only. Sired by Limousin bull, steer: 1, R. Coe, Intake, £1,180; 2, B.W. and G.E. Tailford, Beacon Rigg, £1,020. Heifer: 1, W.M. Reed and Sons, West Biggens, £1,620; 2, J.W. Smith-Jackson, High Town, £2,100. Sired by Belgian Blue bull, steer: 1, J.W. Smith-Jackson, High Town, £1,000; 2, B.W. and G.E. Tailford, Beacon Rigg, £1,110; Heifer: 1, A. Hall, Preston Tilery, £1,780; 2, J.W. Smith-Jackson, High Town, £2,000. Breed classes. Best Limousin x, Steer: 1, J.W. Smith-Jackson, High Town, £800; 2, J.T. Gibson and Son, Fairview, £855. Heifer: 1, R. and M.J. Lee, Harwood Shield, £1,520; 2, R. and M.J. Lee, Harwood Shield, £700. Best Charolais x, steer: 1, W. and J.A. Longlands, Rusheylaw, £1,060; 2, J.R.G. Johnson, West Wharmley, £805. Heifer: 1, J.R.G. Johnson, West Wharmley, £790. Best Blonde x, steer: 1, R. English and Son, Brownsleazes, £850; 2, R. English and Son, Brownsleazes, £740. Heifer: 1, R. English and Son, Brownsleazes, £865; 2, R. English and Son, Brownsleazes, £720. Best Belgian Blue x steer: 1, R. Carr, Homilton, £900; 2, R. Carr, Homilton, £840. Heifer: 1, W.R. Sparke and Son, Little Swinburne, £820; 2, R. and M.J. Lee, Harwood Shield, £760. Other top prices. Cattle 23 month or over. Limousin x: Steers to £975, £955 and £840 Hallington High, £970, £950, £940 and £930 School House, £840 Dene House, £820 and £750 Parkside, £810 Watling and £765 Eastgate House. Heifers to £945 Burn House, £870, £840, £830 and £790 Hallington High, £840 Fairley, £745 £725 Fairley, £745 Eastgate House and £705 Buckshot. Charolais x steers to £990 and £950 Woodhead, £970 Hallington High and £940 Watling. Belgian Blue x: Steers to £780 Fairley. Heifers to £780 Hallington High. Blonde x heifers to £815 Cooper House. Simmental x: Steers to £1,050 Watling. Heifers to £695 Little Whittington. Angus x: Steers to £850 Watling. Heifers to £655 Fairley. Hereford x steers £685 Fairley. White Shorthorn x steers to £755 School House.

Cattle 17 – 22 months. Limousin x: Steers to £1,035 Watling, £950 Fairley, £930, £915 and £860 Springwell Cottage, £835 Comb Hills and £830 Hallington High. Heifers to £890, £810, £750 and £720 East Newham, £868 Dene House, £860, £780(2), £765, £755(2), £750 and £720 Springwell Cottage, £790 and £755 White House, £770 Langley West House, £760 Hallington High and £710 Fairley. Charolais x: Steers to £880 Watling. Heifers to £680, £660, £645 and £600 Woodhead. Belgian Blue x: Steers to £780 Parkside and £760 Homilton. Heifers to £665 Hareshaw. Blonde x heifers to £930 and £800 Brownsleazes. Pure Simmental steers to £795 and £745 Bolton Grange. Simmental x heifers to £710 Little Whittington. Angus x steers to £675 Bolton Grange.

Cattle 11 – 16 months. Limousin x: Steers to £1,000 and £820 Middle Horsleyhope, £970(2) High Town, £950 and £810 Little Swinburne, £885 Burn House, £880, £840, £815 and £810 Morley Hill, £870 Preston Mains, £860 Quarry House, £855 Fairview, £830 £805 Rusheylaw, £815 Houxty House, £810 and £810 White House and £810 Branton Middlesteads and West Wharmley. Heifers to £800 East Newham and Bolton Grange, £792 High Town, £780, £760 and £670 Quarry House, £765 Bolton Grange, £760(2) and £690 Rusheylaw, £690 and £655 Fairview, £680 Dale House, West Wharmley and Dale House, £665 Dyke Nook and £660 Langley West House. Charolais x: Steers to £890 Preston Mains, £875, £870 and £810(3) Colt Crag, £870, £815 and £805 Hindley, £845 and £800 Bolton Grange, £830 and £780 Rusheylaw, £830 Preston Mains and £810 West Wharmley. Heifers to £865 and £645 Fairview, £795 Woodhead, £780, £770 £730, £700 and £695 Rusheylaw, £735 West Wharmley, £655 Bolton Grange, £650 Comb Hills and £630 Cronkley. Pure Charolais heifers to £500 Cooper House. Belgian Blue x: Steers to £1,020, £750 and £740 Fairview, £1,000 and £765 Little Swinburne, £925 Glebe Farm, £900, £810 and £750 Homilton, £800 and £768 Quarry House, £795 Morley Hill and £760 Low Staples. Heifers to £930 High Town, £820 Little Swinburne and £770 Fairview. Pure Blonde: Steers to £1,010 Brownsleazes and £865 Townfoot. Heifers to £750 and £652 Townfoot. Blonde x: Steers to £980, £865 and £855 Brownsleazes, £890 Houxty House, £775 and £735 Townfoot and £730 Colt Crag. Heifers to £875, £810 and £790 Brownsleazes, £715 Lingey Field and £615 Cooper House. Simmental x: Steers to £885 Bolton Grange and £750 Hindley. Heifers to £735 Rusheylaw and £665 Langley West House. Angus x steers to £620 Bolton Grange. Bazadaise x steers to £930 Kiln Hill. Holstien Friesian steers to £460 Low Bishopton.

Cattle 10 month or under. Limousin x: Steers to £805 and £770 High Town, £795 and £790 £710 Binchester Hall, £785 West Wharmley, £750 Harwood Shield, £740 Embley, £710 Morley Hill, £705 Harwood Shield, £690 Lingey Field and Comb Hills, £670 China Hall and £660 and £652 Cornsay House. Heifers to £980 Smailsburn, £700, £685 and £625 Binchester Hall, £685 High Town, £660 and £605 Harwood Shield, £598 and £582 Cornsay House and £585 Haggate. Pure Charolais steers to £500 Cooper House. Charolais x: Steers yo to £590 Cooper House and £560 Cronkley. Heifers to £652 West Wharmley and £545 and £525 Cronkley. Belgian Blue x: Steers to £1,095 and £630 Lingey Field, £840, £785 and £720 Harwood Shield, £685 Wolf Hills, £682 High Town and £665 The Shield. Heifers to £760 and £575 Harwood Shield and £542 and £520 Hareshaw. Blonde x: Steers to £760 Townfoot. Heifers to £590 Lingey Field. Pure Blonde heifers to £715 Townfoot. Angus x heifers to £480 Wolf Hills. Bazadaise x steers to £545 Cornsay House.

LAST Wednesday the Hexham and Northern Marts at their Scots Gap centre had an entry of 1,011 prime lambs to average 43.5kg, 119.9ppkg and £52.11 per head with trade easier, although better than seen at other centres earlier in the week. With a large number of wet lambs presented for sale buyers bought accordingly and the few dry lambs forward received a premium. Prices were topped by £65 and 126p per kilo for Suffolk x lambs from Roly Carr, Homilton with Texel x lambs at £60 and 136.9p per kilo from Graham Williamson, Longshaws. Other prices. Suffolk x per head to £65, £59.40 and £56.70 Homilton, £60 Three Farms, £58 and £54.50 Dene House, £56.40 and £53 Gallowhill, £56 Three Farms(A.J. Dickinson), £54.20 Crook Dene, £54 High House Milbourne, £53.60 and £53 Hallington High, £53.50 Merryshields, £52.80 West Grange and £52.50 Buckshaw. Per kilo to 126p Homilton, 123p Lough House, 121.4p(2) 119.8p Low Farnham, 121.1p 118.4p Dene House, 120.2p 117.8p Crook Dene, 120p High House Milbourne, 119.3p Buckshaw, 119.2p Three Farms(A.J. Dickinson), 119.1p Hallington High, 118.9p Merryshields, 118.2p Capheaton New Houses and 117.3p West Grange. Texel x per head to £60 Longshaws, £58.90 Dene House, £58 Hallington High, £57.20 Grindstone Law, £57 and £54.20 Mount Huly, £57 Little Harle, £55.70 Belsay Barns, £55.50 and £55 Merryshields, £55.50 Coldwell, £55 Vicarage, Buckshaw, Keepwick and Black Callerton and £54.20 Rugley Walls. Per kilo to 136.9p, 132p and 122.5p Longshaws, 131.3p Keepwick, 130p Three Farms(A.J. Dickinson), 129.5p Fell Lane, 125.7p West Grange, 125.5p Three Farms, 125.2p Grindstone Law, 125p Keepwick and High House Milbourne, 123.9p Linden Hill Head, 123.8p Low Farnham, 123.2p Monkseaton, 123.1p West Farm and 122.5p Whittonstone. Beltex x to £50.80, £50.20, 130.3p and 122.4p Lough House. Mule per head to £55 and £48.20 Bavington Hill Head and £48 Coldwell. Per kilo to 112.1p Bavington Hill Head and 111.6p Coldwell. Half Bred to £50 and 119.1p The Lee.

AT THEIR weekly Longtown sale on Tuesday the Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 2,713 store lambs. A good show with more distant buyers present and all classes met a fast trade. Included in the sale was a grand consignment of 717 Texel lambs from John Jardine, Fairgirth, Dalbeattie, whose top was £48.50, others to £47, £46, £44 to average just under £38. Top price of the sale was £52.50 for North Country Cheviots from Hownam Grange. Texels £51 West Foreshield, £50.20 Hownam Grange, £48.80 Whitehope. Suffolks £41.50 Brookfield. Greyfaces £45.80 Allensgreen, £38.20 Bailey Mill, £37.20 Heathergate and Highparkfoot, £36.80 Row, Dyke and Bogg. Blackfaces £27.50 Row. Tup lambs to £48.50 Fairgirth.

ON SATURDAY at their rare breed poultry Longtown sale, the Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had forward 682 lots of poultry, cage birds and equipment. A very large crowd packed the ringside and resulted in a brisk selling trade for all classes of stock, The prices would be similar to the high rates of the Spring sale. Principal prices, Large birds. Pairs: Peacock and hen £100, Dark Throated Golden pheasants £100, African geese £85, Reeve pheasants £78, Silver Dutch cock and Gold hen £70, apricot call ducks £70, large light Sussex £68, Silver Dorking £65, large Appleyards £58, fawn and white Runner ducks £55, Crested Miniature ducks £52, Silver Appleyard ducks £52, Black East Indian ducks £48, RIR £48, magpie call ducks £48, white geese £48, white call ducks £42, Indian Runner ducks £42, Mandarins £42, white Indian Runner ducks £42. Trios: White Wyandottes £95, Welsummers £80, Patridge Pekins £68, White Crested Black Poland £65, Trout Runner £65, Marans £60, Lavender Pekins £60, Copper Blue Marans £58, RIR £55, Black Silkie £50, Silver Seabright £50,Quartet Wheaten Marans £52. Fours: Light Sussex pullets £92, Buff Sussex bantam pullets £58, female ducks £50. Threes: RIR pullets £68, Welsummer pullets £62, buff Sussex bantam pullets £58, Maran pullets £58, speckled Sussex pullets £52. French Lopper Black Maran £60(6), Muscovy duck and ducklings(10) £58, Aylesbury ducklings £40(6). Principal prices. Small cage birds. Pairs: Princess of Wales Parakeets £50, normal Fischers Lovebirds £28, Sky Blue budgies £28, Rose Bourkes £25, Cakarikis £34(2), Japanese quail £32(2), Trio Japanese quail £32, Gouldian Finch hen £32, Yellow Crested budgie hens £30(2), Red Bellied Conure £30. Principal prices. Equipment: Hen shed £75, £50, chicken run £50, pet carrier £42.

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward on Thursday, at their weekly Longtown prime stock sale, 103 prime cattle and three young beef bulls, along with 3,610 prime lambs and 5,907 cast ewes and rams. Cattle averages. Steers: Light, 149.5p (132.0p); medium, 177.5p (157.1p); heavy, 180.5p (161.8p). Heifers: Medium, 148.5p (138.2p); heavy, 173.5p (147.7p). Young beef bulls: 149.5p (134.1p). Sheep averages. Lambs: Light, 180.0p (132.4p); standard, 194.8p (134.1p); medium, 287.8p (133.8p); heavy, 187.5p (132.2p); o/weight, 166.6p (129.4p). Ewes Light: £45.50 (£21.99); heavy, £80.00 (£42.32). Cast Rams: £71.50 (£45.91).