Hexham and Northern Marts sales reports for the week beginning 18 January

A larger show of prime cattle this week with a nice entry of steers and heifers. Topping the section this week was a well fed Limousin x heifer from M/s GR Scott & Son, Corneyside Farm, Stamfordham realising 228.5ppk (£1432.70)

Topping the steer trade was a Limousin x steer from M/s JS Hubbuck Ltd., Rising Sun realising 191.5ppk. The highest grossing steer came from the same vendor selling for £1343.10

Limousin Steers: £1315.85, £1285.57, £1263.26, £1210.28 & £1184.38 Rising Sun. 191.5p, 189.5p, 188.5p, 185.5p & 180.5p Rising Sun. Limousin Heifers: £1432.70, £1284.24 & £1281 Corneyside. 228.5p, 213.5p & 209.5p Corneyside. British Blue steers: £1343.10 & 181.5p Rising Sun. British Blue heifers – £1212.75 & £1162.59 Little Swinburne. 220.5p & 214.5p Little Swinburne.

A well bred Limousin x young bull forward this week from M/s T Common & Son, Low Ardley selling for 204.5ppk purchased by M/s JA Jewitt (Meat) Ltd.

Limousin: £1192.24 & 204.5p Low Ardley.

OTM. Less cows forward this week and a plainer show on offer. All classes of cows would maintain last week’s rates.

Sale was topped by an Angus x cow from ME Harrison, The Tofts, Haydon Bridge realising £1230.78. Top pence per kilo came from FT Walton, Flotterton with an Angus x selling to 173.5ppk.

Limousin: £874.83 Flotterton, £837.80 The Tofts. 123.5p High Yarridge, 120.5p Flotterton, 118.5p The Tofts. Limousin (Bulls): £871.25 Low Ardley. 102.5p Low Ardley. Angus: £1230.78 The Tofts, £1087.85 & £1014.60 Flotterton, £941.07 Hedley Park, £916.15 Flotterton, £866.40 The Tofts. 173.5p Flotterton, 140.5p The Tofts, 133.5p, 125.5p & 123.5p Flotterton, 123.5p Hedley Park, 120.5p The Tofts, 117.5p, 115.5p, 111.5p & 108.5p Flotterton. Charolais: £852.78 & 116.5p Flotterton. British Blue: £822.38 Low West House. 112.5p Holly Hill West, 107.5p Low West House.

Less sheep forward and generally not the quality show of last week. In line with other centres, all classes less money on the week.

Texel x: £95 High Eshells (x2) & Comb Hills, £94 Bingfield East Quarter, £93.50 Milbourne High House (x2), £93 High Eshells & Tenter House (x2), £92 Baal Hill & Aydonshields, £90 Comb Hills, £89 High Eshells (x2), £88 Aydonshields & Low Staples, £87 Tenter House & Low Eshells, £86 Bingfield East Quarter (x2), Laburnum Cottage & West Shields, £85 Low Eshells, West Shields & Old Town, £84.50 Aydonshields, £84 & £83.50 (x2) Low Eshells, £82.50 Tenter House, £81.50 Low Staples (x2), £80 Aydonshields (x2), Milbourne High House & Low Staples (x2), £77 Low Eshells & West Shields, £75 Elpha Green, Laburnum Cottage, Low Staples & West Shields. 226.2p Comb Hills, 223.7p Low Eshells, 222.6p Milbourne High House, 221.4p Tenter House (x2), 219.5p Comb Hills, 219.1p Baal Hill & Aydonshields, 218.6p & 215p Bingfield East Quarter, 212.2p Tenter House, 209.5p Low Staples, 204.8p Bingfield East Quarter & West Shields, 192.3p West Shields, 190.5p Aydonshields (x2), 187.8p Low Eshells, 187.5p Tenter House, 185.4p High Eshells (x2), 182.5p Great Bavington, 181.5p Low Eshells, 178.9p High Eshells, 178.6p Laburnum Cottage, 177.7p Low Eshells, 176.2p & 174.4p Low Staples, 174p Low Eshells, 173.9p & 173.4p Low Staples, 171.1p West Shields, 170p West Shields & Old Town, 169.8p Low Staples (x2), 169p Aydonshields. Suffolk x: £88 & £84.50 Baal Hill, £83 Low Eshells & Great Bavington, £82 Laburnum Cottage & Low Eshells, £80.50 Low Eshells, £80 Old Town, £79.50 Luns House, £79 Great Bavington, £75.50 Low Eshells & Luns House, £74 Luns House. 188.8p Low Eshells, 188.1p Great Bavington, 180.5p Luns House, 180.4p Great Bavington, 179.8p Baal Hill & Luns House, 179.6p Baal Hill, 175p Low Eshells, 169.2p Luns House, 160.8p Low Eshells, 157.7p Laburnum Cottage, 156.9p Old Town, 150.9p Low Eshells. Charollais x: £64 & 182.9p Low Staples. Bleu D’Maine x: £82 & £78 Low Staples. 215.8p & 190.2p Low Staples. Hampshire x: £67 & £62 Elpha Green. Cheviot x: £80.50 & £80 Flotterton. 195.1p & 187.2p Flotterton. Mule: £80.50 & £79.50 Baal Hill, £78 Tenter House, £73.50 Holly Hill West. 184.9p & 183p Baal Hill, 179.3p Holly Hill West, 177.3p Tenter House. Blackface: £77.50 & £65 Tenter House. 180.2p & 171.1p Tenter House.

Cast ewes and rams. Texel x: £79 & £70 Old Town. Mule: £57 Old Town.

On Friday 18 January, Hexham & Northern Marts held their third sale of 2019 and conducted their inaugural ‘New Year’ prize show of store cattle.

Presiding as joint judges on the day were respected local cattleman Mr Frank Robson, South Farm Ryal who was ably assisted by his grandson Mr Lewis Wood on his first venture into the realm of show cattle judging.

A quality entry of both older sorts and younger yearling types were presented before the judges in age determined classes and both gentlemen approached their task with due consideration and professionalism

The classes for steers and heifers over eighteen months of age were the first to be judged and these were dominated by a smart pen of cattle: the first ever to be bred at home by the fledgling commercial suckler herd of Messrs Watson, Holywell Farms Ltd, Newcastle, that took all three rosettes in the steer class as well as second and third in the heifer line-up, beaten only by a well-bred and shapely ginger Charolais cross heifer from William Hall, New Houses, Hallington.

Greater numbers of cattle under eighteen months were brought out and the offerings in these classes were very level throughout. Working swiftly and diligently the judges aligned their opinions and favoured red Limousin cross cattle in both the steer and heifer classes.

Best Steer over 18 months: 1st Church Farm. 2nd Church Farm. 3rd Church Farm.

Best Heifer over 18 months: 1st Hallington New Houses. 2nd Church Farm. 3rd Church Farm.

Best Steer under 18 months: 1st High Lovelady Shield. 2nd High Lovelady Shield. 3rd Bog Hall.

Best Heifer under 18 months: 1st Bog Hall. 2nd Glower Oer Him. 3rd East Unthank.

From the four class winners the judges selected the younger bullock as their Overall Champion: the superb thirteen month old, red, 7/8 bred Limousin cross steer by a homebred Limousin bull from Messrs Athey, High Lovelady Shield, Alston, Cumbria which stood with a sharp, sparky outlook at the front and a pronounced, shapely rear end to match.

Staying true to type it was the first prize heifer from Messrs Robinson, Bog Hall that the judges awarded Reserve Champion rosette and this one, also a red Limousin at a year old was typical of the stamp that the Capheaton based family present in the show and sale tings at Hexham on a regular basis.

The Champion and Reserve were brought forward to the sale ring at Mid-day and with very little to choose between them it was perhaps then fitting that both sold, after some competitive bidding for the same price of £1200 with both going home to Ryal with the judges on the day.

Outwith the show a sound entry of 536 catalogued head were presented with trade in general marginally easier on the week. The best end of stronger, older types however maintained the levels seen over the past two weeks with the sale peaking at £1425 for the first prize steer over 18 months of age from Shaun Watson & Family, Holywell Farms, Newcastle. This Limousin cross steer, along with the second dearest on the day at £1380 were amongst a pen full from Messrs Watson that were their first home-bred store cattle to be sold from their newly formed suckler cow herd; a great start to say the least.

Including the monthly special sale for native breed cattle this week saw an entry of over 120 of these types and fitting perhaps then that the top price native beast was an Angus steer from John Miller, Airy Holm which scaled to £1350 and sold just before the dearest heifer on the day, also an Angus with tremendous shape levelled at £1330 for Mr Miller to confirm the success of his shift from continental sires to The Black Angus within his Kiln Pit Hill based herd.

Dominating the entry of younger yearling cattle was the lorry load brought the short distance to Hexham from Newbrough by Messrs Walton, Greyside which peaked at 1230 for a strong Simmental cross steer with shape and many more selling into the high eleven hundreds to average £1164 for 12 steers and £1067 for 9 heifer sisters at thirteen months of age.

Cattle 23 – 30 months. Charolais x heifers: £1295 & £1160 Farnamullan. Limousin x steers: £1325 Dovecote, £1240 Luns House, £1205 East Uppertown & Farnamullan. Limousin x heifers: £1330 Airy Holm, £1105 & £1065 (x2) Farnamullan. Angus x steers: £1260 Springwell. Angus x heifers: £1180 Bunker Hill, £1045 Byreside, £980 Peddar Hill. Shorthorn steers: £1000 Peddar Hill.

Cattle 17 – 22 months. Charolais x steers: £1290 Lough Green, £1260 Rare Dean, £1180, £1170 & £1165 Hay A Park, £1160 Rare Dean & Farnamullan, £1145 & £1110 Springwell, £1090 Hay A Park & Farnamullan, £1060 & £1050 (x2) Hay A Park. Charolais x heifers: £1245 & £1150 Farnamullan, £1110 (x2) Hallington New Houses, £1105 Farnamullan, £1040 Hallington New Houses, £1000 Rare Dean. Limousin x steers: £1425 & £1380 Church Farm, £1355 Lough Green, £1265 West Kirkheaton, £1260 Luns House (x2), £1245 Nunwick, £1240 Church Farm & Highwood, £1230 Armond Carr & Luns House, £1215 Lough Green, £1210 Kirkley March, Highwood & Nunwick, £1200 Highwood & Nunwick (x2), £1190 Kirkley March & Camphill, £1185 Kirkley March, £1180 Farnamullan, £1170 Church Farm, Kirkley March & Highwood, £1150 East Uppertown & Nunwick, £1140 Church Farm & Armond Carr, £1135 Dovecote, £1130 Highwood, £1105 Greyside, £1100 Luns House, Hay A Park, Kirkley March & Linacres, £1095 Low Eshells, £1080 Highwood. Limousin x heifers: £1270 & £1265 Church Farm, £1205 Luns House, £1080 Church Farm & Camphill, £1075 Greyside, £1070 Church Farm, £1055 Armond Carr & Camphill, £1050 Lee Hall & High Lovelady Shield, £1045 Sweethope, £1040 Luns House, £1025 Farnamullan, £1020 Luns House, £1015 Lee Hall. British Blue x steers: £1265 £1255 Lough Green, £1200 & £1055 West Kirkheaton, £1000 Camphill. British Blue x heifers – £1055 & £985 Camphill. Simmental x steers: £1175 Springwell, £1130 Hay A Park, £1100 Springwell. Simmental x heifers: £950 Springwell. Angus x steers: £1350 Airy Holm, £1300 Newlands Haugh & Springwell, £1295 Aydonshields, £1280 Newlands Haugh, £1270 Aydonshields & Springwell, £1240 & £1230 Airy Holm, £1200 Aydonshields & Springwell, £1190 & £1180 Airy Holm, £1145 Hallington New Houses, £1060 Allendale Farm, £1020 Lee Hall. Angus x heifers: £1145 & £1070 Airy Holm, £1040 Bunker Hill, £980 Airy Holm. Beef Shorthorn steers: £1180 Hay A Park, £1055 Peddar Hill. Beef Shorthorn heifers: £1020 Peddar Hill. Shorthorn steers: £1185, £1105, £1070 & £1010 Hay A Park. Hereford x steers: £1200 Newlands Haugh, £1150 Church Farm, £1120 Peddar Hill, £950 Highwood. Luing steers: £850 & £840 The Lampert. Luing heifers: £850 (x2) & £830 Blueburn. Holstein Friesian steers: £880 Church Farm.

Cattle 11 – 16 months. Charolais x steers: £1085 Cooper House, £975 High Trewhitt. Charolais x heifers: £1000 Springwell, £990 Cooper House. Limousin x steers: £1200 High Lovelady Shield, £1195, £1190 & £1185 Greyside, £1180 Nunwick, £1170, £1160 & £1145 Greyside, £1140, £1120 (x2), £1110 & £1105 High Lovelady Shield, £1095 Old Ravensworth, £1085 High Lovelady Shield, £10710 Old Ravensworth, £1060 Nunwick, Brokenheugh, High Lovelady Shield & Allenshields, £1050 Hawksteel, £1040 & £1030 Old Ravensworth, £1000 Lee Hall (x2) & High Trewhitt, £990 Lee Hall, £980 High Lovelady Shield. Limousin x heifers – £1200 Bog Hall, £1170 High Lovelady Shield & Allenshields, £1115 Allenshields, £1090 Greyside & Glower Oer Him, £1080 Greyside & High Lovelady Shield, £1070 Greyside, £1035 Stotsfold, £1010 Brokenheugh, £995 Agars Hill & Hawksteel, £990 (x2) Brokenheugh, £980 Brokenheugh, Greyside & Stotsfold. British Blue x steers: £1060 & £975 Nunwick, £950 East Unthank. Simmental x steers: £1230 & £1170 Greyside. Angus x steers: £1020 Partridge Nest, £1015 Partridge Nest & Tursdale House (x2), £1005 Brackenthwaite, £1000 Partridge Nest, £990 & £975 Tursdale House.

Cattle 10 months and under. Limousin x steers: £960 Bog Hall, £950 Hawksteel, £910 Bog Hall & Hawksteel. Limousin x heifers: £905 Baal Hill. British Blue x steers: £955 & £930 East Unthank. British Blue x heifers: £965 East Unthank.

Store sheep and cast ewes.

Slightly more ewes forward this week that attracted more buyers ringside, making trade brisk. Heavy ewes in line with other centers this week and slightly easier but leaner ewes, and cast tups especially, easily cashed.

Two pens shared the top spot this week with Suffolk x ewes from Mr A Patterson, Wallhouses and Dutch Texel ewes from M/s J Lee & Sons, Agars Hill both selling for £104. Cast rams sold to £100 from M/s M&D Walton, Gleedlee.

Texel: £100 Gleedlee, £90 Nilston Rigg, £86 & £79 Haining Head, £75 & £69 Rowley. Texel x: £94 Longshaws & Agars Hill, £90 Brinkburn Newhouses, £89 South Hallington, £87 Longshaws, £86 Nilston Rigg & Whitshields, £85 Nilston Rigg & Longshaws, £81 Normans Riding, £80 South Hallington, Longshaws, Derecroft & Shaftoe Moor, £78 Salmonswell & Whitshields, £77 Lee Hall, £76 Brokenheugh & Merryshields, £75 Agars Hill. Dutch Texel x: £104, £98 & £93 Agars Hill. Suffolk: £83 Haining Head. Suffolk x: £104 Wallhouses, £93 Brinkburn Newhouses, £89 Moorlaws, £87 Longshaws, £82 Brinkburn Newhouses, £78 Nilston Rigg, £77 China Hall, £76 Wallhouses, £75 White House. Leicester: £64 Gleedlee. Hampshire x: £74 (x2) & £72 Derecroft. Cheviot x: £59 Thornbrough, £56 Laings Hill. Mule: £73 Wallhouses, £71 Agars Hill, £69 Whitshields, £67 Nilston Rigg & Agars Hill, £66 Brokenheugh & South Hallington, £64 Ridley Farm, £63 Brokenheugh, £60 Longshaws, £59 Whitshields & Normans Riding, £58 White House Matfen & Milbourne Town Farm, £57 Nilston Rigg, Brinkburn Newhouses, Salmonswell, East Cocklaw, Shaftoe Moor & Lee Hall, £56 Nilston Rigg, Haggwood, Stone Stile, Throstle Nest & China Hall, £55 Throstle Nest. Blackface: £59 Whitshields, £53 Nilston Rigg, £52 Pundershaw, £51 Black Heddon, £49 Nilston Rigg. Swaledale: £30 Gleedlee, £22 Nookton.

Store hoggs. A plainer show of 2974 catalogued store hoggs this week. Larger hoggs would be slightly easier on the week but good farming hoggs still met a good trade again and in demand at Hexham, with potential purchasers coming from all parts of the UK.

Sale was topped for a pen of Texel tup hoggs from Mrs BD Milburn, Butterknowes, Longframlington selling for £95

Good farming hoggs would be sold to rates of £72-£75 with longer keeping sorts £58-£62.

Texel x: £95 Butterknowes, £90 Shaw Wood & Willimoteswick, £89 Bensons Fell, £88.50 Comb Hills, £87.50 Edlingham Moor, £86 Thockrington & Cockhall, £84 Thockrington, Bensons Fell, Butterknowes & Slaterfield Fell, £83 Bensons Fell, £82 Throstle Nest, £81.50 Blackburn, £81 Bensons Fell & Wylam Sheep Farm, £80 Cockhall (x2), Hedley Park, Butterknowes (x2) & Highwood (x2), £79.50 High Warden, £79 Milbourne Town Farm, £78.50 High Warden, Hedley Park & Ochrelands, £78 Brixter Hill, Throstle Nest & Edlingham Moor, £77 Moorlaws, Butterknowes, Bellshiel & Normans Riding, £76 Cockhall, Waite Farm & Town Farm Milbourne. Dutch Texel x: £89.50, £85, £83.50 & £82.50 Willimoteswick. Suffolk: £87 Brinkburn Newhouses. Suffolk x: £85 Yetlington Lane, £84.50 Thockrington (x2), £82 Brixter Hill & Duddo Hill, £81 South Hallington, £80 Rowley & Haining Head, £78.50 Brinkburn Newhouses, £78 Yetlington Lane, £76.50 Fairley, £76 Brixter Hill, Rowley & Wallhouses, £75.50 Duddo Hill, Fairley & Piatroon, £75 Black Hedley, Allenheads Farm, Heugh Farm & Piatroon. Charollais x: £87 Holling Hill, £78 Middle Coldcotes, £75.50 & £74 Middle Heugh. Beltex x: £87, £84 & £83.50 Throstle Nest, £83 East House. Leicester: £66 Holling Hill. Shropshire: £77 East Cocklaw. Lleyn: £71 Middle Heugh, £67.50 & £63.50 (x2) Netherton Northside. Vendeen: £66 & £65 (x2) Coltpark. Cheviot x: £74 Low Greenley Cleugh & Bellshiel, £72.50, £63 & £61 South Colwell. Mule: £72 Causey Burn & Highwood, £69 Sunderland Cleugh, £68 Coltpark & Woodhouse, £67 Heugh Farm, £66 Highwood, £64 Bridgeford, £63 Holling Hill, £60 Edlingham Moor. Blackface: £81 Shitlington Hall, £62 & £51 Holling Hill, £49.50 Shitlington Hall, £47 Bridgeford, £46 Hareshaw, £42 Bellshiel. Swaledale: £42.50 & £37.50 Broadgates. Herdwick: £62 Comb Hills, £46 Hill Top. Crossbred: £85.50 Butterknowes, £78 Bellshiel, £75 Middle Coldcotes, £74.50 & £70 Yetlington Lane, £66.50 Waite Farm.