On Tuesday, Hexham and Northern mart held their weekly sale of prime cattle and sheep.

A mixed show of clean cattle this week with the better end slightly sharper but the plainer sorts slightly easier.

Highest priced heifer this week came from Mrs VS Allgood, Nunwick with an outstanding black Limousin x selling for 230.5ppk.

Limousin Heifers: £1348.43 Nunwick, £1263.68 Halton Red House, £1154.91 Nunwick, £1100.40 Halton Red House. 230.5p Nunwick, 207.5p Halton Red House, 205.5p Nunwick, 196.5p Halton Red House. Charolais Heifers: £1283.81 & £987.22 Flotterton. 211.5p & 173.5p Flotterton. Angus Heifers: £1051.73 & 189.5p Flotterton.

In its weekly cast cattle sale 49 cast cows and bulls were put forward. A nice entry this week with a good show of cows. The heavier, fleshier cows maintained last weeks rates but the leaner sort of cows were considerably dearer on the week.

Topping the pence per kilo this week was a Limousin x cow from M/s JR Thompson & Son, The Fawns realising 184.5ppk.

Highest grossing cow came from M/s JE Woodman & Son, Great Chesters who sold a tremendous Limousin x cow for £1338.86

Limousin cast bulls sold to 109.5ppk (£1270.20) from Mr FT Walton, Flotterton.

OMT.

Limousin: £1338.86 & £1096.55 Great Chesters, £1042.43 The Fawns, £1037.85 Great Chesters, ££1035.72 The Fawns, £1015.28 Great Chesters, £1004 West Grange, £938.05 Throstle Nest, £924 Flotterton, £880.38 Tarset Hall, £874.74 Glebe Farm, £868 Throstle Nest, £837.64 Kingswood, £817.53 West Grange, £791.30 Harwood Shield, £771.20 Great Chesters. 184.5p & 179.5p The Fawns, 155.5p Great Chesters, 141.5p Flotterton, 129.5p Great Chesters, 128.5p Throstle Nest, 127.5p Great Chesters, 125.5p West Grange, 120.5p (x2) Great Chesters, 119.5p Glebe Farm, 117.5p (x2) Tenter House, 116.5p Kingswood, 114.5p West Grange, 113.5p Gleedlee. Limousin (Bull): £1270.20 & 109.5p Flotterton. Angus: £1052 Flotterton, £883.19 North Acomb. 131.5p Flotterton, 108.5p North Acomb, 99.5p Nookton, 93.5p Flotterton. Charolais: £1196.67 Loadman, £1050.44 Harewalls. 169.5p Loadman, 139.5p Harewalls. British Blue: £1151.81 Great Chesters, £1138.70 Glebe Farm, £775.21 Little Bavington, £766.50 & £739.13 Hallington New Houses. 147.5p Glebe Farm, 141.5p Great Chesters, 113.5p Little Bavington, 112.5p & 109.5p Hallington New House.

Prime sheep and hoggs.

A few more hoggs forward and slightly easier on the week in line with the national trend and selling to £110 from East Matfen & Glebe Farm. To 243.6p from Nunwick.

Texel x: £110 & £102 East Matfen, £100 Baal Hill, £97 East Matfen, £95 Haas Side, New Dotland, Armond Carr, Nunwick & East Matfen, £94.50 Baal Hill, £94 Haas Side, £93 Armond Carr, £92 Haas Side, Great Bavington & East Matfen, £91 Nunwick & Grange Farm, £90 New Dotland, Tenter House, Baal Hill, Blackburn (x2), Low West House, Low Eshells, Nunwick & Grange Farm, £89 Matfen High House, £88.50 Matfen High House & Comb Hills, £88 Low West House & Grange Farm (x3), £87.50 Great Bavington, £87 Matfen High House, New Dotland & Low Eshells, £86.50 Middle Heads, £85.50 New Dotland & Grange Farm, £85 Blackburn (x2), Aydonshields (x2) & Middle Heads, £84.50 Low Eshells (x3), £83.50 Middle Heads, £83 Tenter House & Middle Heads. 243.6p Nunwick, 231.8p East Matfen, 231.7p Haas Side, 230.8p Nunwick, 230p Haas Side & East Matfen, 226.2p East Matfen, 225p Low West House, 223.1p Matfen High House, 220p & 219.1p East Matfen, 218.4p Tenter House, 216.7p Nunwick & Grange Farm, 214.3p & 212.5p Blackburn, 210.9p East Matfen, 209.3p New Dotland, 207.1p Low Eshells, 204.4p Haas Side, 202.4p Aydonshields, 201.1p Comb Hills, 195.2p Blackburn, 195.1p Tenter House, 193.6p Keepwick, 190.5p Tenter House, 189.5p Great Bavington, 189.4p Matfen High House, 188.9p Middle Heads, 188.4p New Dotland, 186.4p Matfen High House, 186.1p Aydonshields, 185p Keepwick, 184.4p Matfen High House, 183.7p Tenter House & Grange Farm, 180p Baal Hill. Suffolk x: £110 & £103 Glebe Farm, £98 Middle Heads, £90 Low Eshells, £87 Haas Side & Baal Hill, £86.50 Low Eshells, £84 New Dotland, £82 Great Bavington, £80 New Dotland & Middle Heads, £79 Great Bavington, £78 Low Eshells, £77 & £76 Great Bavington. 194.4p, 186.4p & 185.9p Great Bavington, 185p Haas Side, 183.7p & 183.3p Great Bavington, 181.8p New Dotland, 177.8p Middle Heads, 177.6p Haas Side, 176.7p Great Bavington, 174p Baal Hill, 173.3p & 170.7p Low Eshells. Beltex x: £95 Blackburn & Low West House, £90 (x2) & £88 Low West House. 231.6p, 230.8p, 226.2p & 225p Low West House, 182.7p Blackburn. Mule: £80.50 New Dotland, £79 (x2) Baal Hill. 179.6p (x2) Baal Hill, 175p New Dotland.

Cast ewes and rams. Texel x: £62 Matfen High House. Mule: £45 Matfen High House.

On Friday 12, Hexham and Northern Mart held their weekly sale of store cattle and sheep with a catalogued entry of 334 head of store cattle and with increased numbers of buyers at the ringside all classes were once again dearer on the week.

A smashing catalogue of quality was evident throughout and this quality was reflected in the trade; the sale peaking at £1370 for a huge, well-bred Charolais cross steer at 18 months of age from John & David Longlands, Tone Hall. This was closely followed by two superbly shapely 7/8 bred Limousin cross heifers at 14 months which led a fantastic offering from The Browell Brothers, Quarry House; these two selling for £1340 each and destined for further breeding within a well-known County Durham suckler herd. Quarry House steers peaked at £1275 for a great pen of 5 black bullocks all at 12-14 months and the entire run of ten steers and ten heifers averaged a well-deserved £1219 throughout.

Native breed cattle peaked at £1235 for a hefty Angus cross by a registered sire at 19 months of age from noted native breed producer Dennis Burn, Aydonshields.

The youngest class of cattle saw greater numbers entered and a sharper trade also as more interest was apparent at the ringside. The cattle at ten months of age and younger peaked at £1060 for a smart Blue cross bullock from Messrs Storrow, Willimoteswick with another by a Limmy sire at £1040. Tony Wigham, Todhillwood sold three of his well-bred steers at the same age; a single at £1030, followed by a pair at the same tariff whilst the largest run of cattle at this age came from Messrs Bell, Woodhall. The Bardon Mill based family farming operation sold a smart run of steers and heifers at 8-9 months of age with trademark shape and style that attracted great interest to see steers peak at £1000 for no fewer than 9 of their offering whilst heifers topped at £995.

With daylight hours beginning to lengthen prospective purchasers are keen for cattle at the Hexham ringside and demand has lifted from that seen throughout January.

Cattle 23 – 30 months.

Charolais x heifers: £1190 & £1130 Farnamullan. Limousin x steers: £1200 Luns House. Limousin x heifers: £1120 Pry Hill, £1030 Hard Riding, £1015 Luns House. Simmental x steers: £1140 Greencarts.

Cattle 17 – 22 months. Charolais x steers: £1370 & £1335 Tone Hall, £1325 Rare Dean, £1200, £1185 & £1135 White House Birtley, £1095 Kirkley March. Charolais x heifers: £1265, £1230, £1190, £1170 & £1165 Farnamullan, £1160 Rare Dean, £1150 Farnamullan, £1110 Tone Hall, £1100 Rare Dean, £1050 White House Birtley, £1010 Farnamullan, £990 Farnamullan & White House Birtley. Limousin x steers: £1280 & £1255 High House, £1250 High House & Luns House, £1205 Luns House, £1195 Kirkley March, £1190 Comb Hills & Luns House, £1185 Little Harle, £1165 Kirkley March, £1160 Kirkley March & New Acres, £1140 & £1125 Kirkley March, £1120 Pry Hill, £1100 Quarry House, £1080 Greencarts, £1075 Kirkley March, £1070 Rare Dean, £1055 & £1040 Kirkley March, £1015 Duddo Hill, £1000 Kirkley March & Quarry House. Limousin x heifers: £1340 Quarry House, £1235 Farnamullan, £1230 Quarry House, £1225 Pry Hill, £1200 Tarset Hall, £1190 Farnamullan, £1180 Luns House, £1175 Quarry House, £1165 Hard Riding, £1160 High House, Farnamullan & Little Harle, £1150 Farnamullan, £1145 Little Harle, £1105 Farnamullan & East Uppertown, £1100 Luns House, £1095 Luns House & East Uppertown, £1085 Farnamullan, £1075 East Uppertown, £1070 White House Birtley, £1060 Luns House, Farnamullan & East Uppertown, £1040 Thornton Tower, £1035 Settlingstones, £1020 Farnamullan, £1000 Luns House, £995 Comb Hills, £990 Allendale Farm & Tarset Hall. British Blue x heifers: £1210, £1160 & £1080 Hard Riding. Angus x steers: £1235 & £1160 Aydonshields, £1150 Duddo Hill, £1130 Allendale Farm. Angus x heifers: £1065 Aydonshields, £1030 Allendale Farm.

Hereford x steers: £1035 & £1030 Duddo Hill. Hereford x heifers: £900 Bunker Hill.

Cattle 11 – 16 months. Charolais x steers: £1150, £1140 (x2), £1100, £1070, £1060 & £1040 Little Harle. Charolais x heifers: £1280 & £1130 Tone Hall, £1070 Comb Hills & Tone Hall, £995 Little Harle. Limousin x steers: £1275 & £1270 Quarry House, £1115 Tarset Hall, £1110 & £1095 Low Middleton, £1080 Close House, £1070 Salmonswell, £1060 Willimoteswick, £1050 Thornton Tower, £1045 Edges Green & Low Middleton, £1040 & £1035 Salmonswell, £1030 Thornton Tower, £1020 The Knarr, £1000 Woodhall & Settlingstones, £990 The Knarr, Thornton Tower & Salmonswell. Limousin x heifers: £1240 & £1135 Quarry House, £1090 Low Ardley, £1080 Quarry House, £1060 Salmonswell, £1055 Low Ardley (x3), £1030 Low Ardley & Settlingstones, £1025 Low Ardley (x2) & Tarset Hall, £1015 Low Ardley, £1010 Todhillwood, £1005 Low Ardley, £995 The Knarr & Woodhall, £970 Tarset Hall. British Blue x steers: £1220 Quarry House, £1010 The Knarr. British Blue x heifers: £945 The Knarr.

Cattle 10 months and under. Limousin x steers: £1040 Willimoteswick, £1030 Todhillwood (x2), £1020 & £1015 Salmonswell, £1000 Todhillwood, £970 Woodhall (x2). Limousin x heifers: £925 Edges Green. British Blue x steers: £1060 Willimoteswick, £1000 (x3) Woodhall, £995 Willimoteswick, £990 (x2) & £980 Woodhall. British Blue x heifers: £935 Close House.

In their weekly sale of cast sheep Hexham Auction Mart offered 716 this week. There would be more leaner sorts in this week but well fleshed ewes and especially tups a good firm trade.

Trade topped at £106 twice for Texel x ewes from M/s Dalton, Glenhill Farm and M/s JK&F Charlton, Middle Farm Cottage.

Texel: £92 Woodlands, £90 Wall Fell & Stone Hall, £84 Billerley, £80 Thornton Tower. Texel x: £106 Glenhill, £ & Middle Farm, £94 West Moorhouses, £91 Hedley Park & Errington, £90 Glenhill, Errington, West Wharmley, South Clarewood & Thornbrough, £88 Errington, £86 Cheeseburn Grange & Rose Cottage, £85 Causey Burn & East Flass, £83 South Clarewood, £80 West Moorhouses & China Hall. Suffolk x: £100 West Wharmley, £96 Colepike, £92 South Clarewood, £88 High Knitsley, £81 Hownsgill, £79 Colepike, £78 Rugley Walls, £74 Hedley Park. Beltex x: £100 & £76 Blakelaw, £72 Wadley Farm, £70 Hownsgill & Blakelaw. Leicester: £72, Greencarts, £70 Baal Hill. Cheviot: £91 Hedley Park. Mule: £72 Greencarts, £69 West Wharmley, £68 Hedley Park, £66 Billerley & East Fourstones, £64 Bagraw, £63 Beaumont House, £62 South Clarewood, Wall Fell & Cheeseburn Grange, £61 Stobbilee, £60 Glenhill, £59 Nilston Rigg, £58 Hedley Park, Rugley Walls & China Hall, £57 West Moorhouses & Tarset Hall, £56 East Fourstones, Stone Hall, Tarset Hall & Baal Hill, £55 Colepike. Blackface: £73 & £61Cleughfoot, £58 Newton Farm, £54 Stoop Rigg, £53 Nilston Rigg, £51 Stoop Rigg, £50 Nilston Rigg, £49 Stoop Rigg, £44 Thornton Tower, £40 Blakelaw. Swaledale: £50 East Unthank, £44 East Unthank & Tarset Hall, £43 Greencarts, £40 East Unthank, £39 Bagraw, £38 Glenhill & Stone Hall. Herdwick: £32 Fairspring. Crossbred: £96 West Moorhouses, £90 Dryside, £68 Wadley Farm, £67 Dryside, £66 Mickley Moor.

2164 store hoggs were catalogued. The show of hoggs this week would be much more mixed than last week with more people’s sweepings up coming forward.

Larger hoggs would be very similar trade to previous weeks but smaller longer keep lambs still extremely good to cash.

Sale today was topped by tremendous Dutch Texel hoggs from M/s WR Sparke & Son, Little Swinburne realising £126 and then also £107.

Slightly leaner sorts of Mules and Hill lambs would be slightly easier on the week.

More hoggs again needed for next week with the same number of buyers expected next week.

Texel: £83.50 Lough Green. Texel x: £98 Butterknowes, £94 West Moorhouses & Edlingham Newtown (x2), £93 Halton Red House, High Baulk & Edlingham Newtown, £92 Lough Green, £91 Fern Dene, £90 West Moorhouses & Thockrington, £88.50 Blackburn, £87.50 Butterknowes, £87 Butterknowes & West Heddon, £86.50 Palm Strothers (x2), £86 East Butsfield & Blackburn, £85 Burmoor (x2), £84 Halton Red House, £83.50 Halton Red House & Burmoor, £83 Woodlands & West Heddon (x2), £82 Bolam West Houses & Palm Strothers, £81.50 South Clarewood, £81 Wall Fell, High Knitsley & Allenheads Farm, £80 Normans Riding (x2). Dutch Texel x: £126, £107, £93, £92 & £87 Little Swinburne. Suffolk x: £85 East Fourstones, £83.50 Thockrington, £82 Steel Hall, £81 & £80 Laburnum Cottage, £78 South Clarewood & Edlingham Moor, £77.50 Thockrington, £77 & £76.50 Fairley, £76 East Fourstones & Allendale Farm, £75.50 Fairley, £74.50 East Fourstones & Stamford, £74 Thockrington & Settlingstones, £73.50 Stone Stile, £71.50 Allenheads, £70 Steel Hall, £69.50 Heatherslaw, £68.50 Haggwood. Leicester: £79.50 Butterknowes, £72.50 Stone Stile, £71 Ambling Gate. Shropshire: £74 East Cocklaw. Cheviot x: £60 The Heugh. Mule: £83 East Butsfield, £78/ Redburn, £75 Ambling Gate, £70.50 Duddo Hill, £70 East Butsfield & Stewartshields Meadow, £69 Ambling Gate, £68 The Heugh, £67.50 Duddo Hill, £67 Stone Stile, £66 Nilston Rigg, £64 Winnows Hill & Redburn, £63.50 Rattenraw, £62.50 Stewartshields Meadow. Blackface: £71 Davyshiel, £66 Stoop Rigg, £56 Davyshiel, £55.50 Nilston Rigg, £53.50 Newbiggen, £51 Stoop Rigg, £50 Newton Farm, £49 The Hott, Stoop Rigg & Edlingham Newtown. Swaledale: £67 Ambling Gate, £63 Redburn, £58 Ambling Gate, £51 Ambling Gate & Rattenraw, £50 Broadgates & Sundaysight, £49 Broadgates, £42.50 Sundaysight. Crossbred: £83 Midgeholme, £74.50 Steel Hall.