On Tuesday Hexham and Northern Mart held their sale of cast cows and cast bulls with 24 forward that met a flying trade with a large presence of heavy pure Charolais cows and bulls.

The highest grossing animal was a Charolais stock bull from M/s Lewis Forster & Son, West Nubbock selling for £1412.18 (142.5ppk).

Highest grossing cow came from M/s Curry, Low Burradon with a cracking pedigree Charolais cow realising £1316.08

Topping the p/kg in the cast cows was a Limousin x cow from M.s JG Clarkson & Ptns, Elrington Hall selling for 153.5ppk.

Charolais heifers: £1305.94 & £1201.43 Flotterton. 207.5p & 195.5p Flotterton.

OTM. Limousin: £1204.34 Allendale Farm, £1079.11 & £887.94 Elrington Hall, £819.38 Bankfoot. 153.5p Elrington Hall, 148.5p Allendale Farm, 142.5p Bankfoot, 128.5p Elrington Hall. Limousin (Bull): £1073.61 & 118.5p Burnbank. British Blue: £1050.20 Allenshields, £990.28 Hedley Park, £928.70 Comb Hills. 147.5p Allenshields, 138.5p Hedley Park, 125.5p Comb Hills. Charolais: £1316.08, £1313.13, £1278.59 & £1249.73 Low Burradon, £1225.50 Loadman, £1162.80 Low Burradon, £1135.38, £1130.25 & £1116.44 Loadman. 152.5p & 148.5p Low Burradon, 146.5p Loadman, 142.5p Loadman & Low Burradon (x2), 141.5p Loadman, 137.5p Loadman & Low Burradon. Charolais (Bull): £1412.18 & 142.5p West Nubbock. Simmental: £1089.68 & 130.5p Hartley West. Hereford: £1058.40 New Rift, £888.75 Chattlehope. 123.5p New Rift, 118.5p Chattlehope.

Young bull. Charolais: £1274.45 & 177.5p Low Burradon.

Prime sheep and lambs. More lambs forward on the week (184) with the overall average easier although not as good a show. Top price from M/s Reed & Hill £123 and 294.9p.

Texel x: £123 & £109 Lingey Field, £108 Aydonshields, £105 Grange House, £104 Linacres, £103 China Hall, £100 Woodhall, China Hall & Beaumont House, £99 & £98.50 Beaumont House, £98 Aydonshields & Beaumont House, £97 Grange House, £94.50 Aydonshields & Beaumont House, £94 Grange House, Hedchester Law & Beaumont House, £93.50 Hedchester Law, £93 Little Swinburne, £90 Hedchester Law, £89 China Hall. 286.1p & 265.9p Lingey Field, 253.7p Linacres, 250p Woodhall, 243.9p China Hall, 233.3p Aydonshields, 232.5p Little Swinburne, 230.5p Aydonshields, 229.3p Grange House, 229.1p, 227.9p & 225p Beaumont House, 223.9p China Hall, 223.8p Beaumont House, 222.5p China Hall, 220.5p Grange House, 217.4p & 214.3p Hedchester Law, 205.9p Grange House, 204.1p Beaumont House, 200p Aydonshields, 195.2p Low Staples. Suffolk x: £102 Grange House, £100 & £95 Woodhall. 248.8p Grange House, 227.3p & 226.2p Woodhall. Charollais x: £97, £94, £91 (x2) & £90.50 Low Barns. 218p, 211.6p, 210.5p, 208.9p & 206.8p Low Barns. Beltex x: £115 & £110 Little Swinburne, £104 China Hall. 294.9p & 282.1p Little Swinburne, 260p China Hall.

Prime hoggs. Texel x: £95 High Salmonswell, £59 Low Staples. 131.1p Low Staples, 117.3p High Salmonswell, 113.5p Low Staples. Jacob: £60 (x2) Low Barns. 96.8p Low Barns.

Cast ewes and rams.

Texel x: £100 & £78 Lingey Field.

Zwartbles: £54 High Salmonswell. Jacob: £57 Low Barns. Crossbred: £79 High Salmonswell.

On Friday 24 May, Hexham and Northern Marts held their penultimate sale of store cattle in the traditional grazing cattle sale and saw numbers ease on the week to 569 head.

With pastures and buyer requirements now largely filled trade for all classes was markedly easier than the good rates seen last week with most types looking good value to those at the ringside.

The best end of cattle were sought after as always and although these too were easier the sale peaked at £1300 for a hefty Angus cross bullock by a registered sire from Dennis Burn, Aydonshields.

A quartet of older continental steers reached £1250 with Limmy crosses from both Geoff Ogle, Blackburn (2) and George Herdman, Lunns House and a Blue cross also from Messrs Ogle. The dearest heifer on the day was a pure bred Charolais, typical of the quality sorts often shown at this centre by Snowdon Oates, Ouston Farms, Trench Hall which sold well for the County Durham producer.

Cattle in the middle-aged bracket of 11-17 months peaked at £1190 for an outstanding bullock from within the second portion of the annual consignment from Messrs Graham, West Foreshield, Alston who followed with another at £1170. With a number more selling in excess of £1100 from Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria the leading heifer in this age bracket also cashed for £1100 for Messrs Armin, Tanfield Lane; a smart Limousin cross lass with shape and style at only 11 months of age.

The youngest class of cattle peaked at £1060 for a ten month old Limousin cross steer also from West Foreshield whilst heifers from Messrs Browell, Quarry House, Hexham sold to £980 and £950 to a regular buyer at just 9 months of age.

Cattle 23 – 30 months. Charolais x steers: £1175 Great Chesters, £1000 Rare Dean. Charolais x heifers: £1250 Trench Hall, £1165 Broomfield, £1090 Rare Dean, £1080 Newlands Haugh. Limousin x steers: £1250 Luns House & Blackburn, £1200 Ingoe Low Hall & Blackburn, £1180 High House, £1165 Luns House, £1120 High House, £1100 Ingoe Low Hall (x2), £1085 Bankfoot, £1050 Bingfield Combe, £1030 & £1020 Bankfoot. Limousin x heifers: £1140 Stone Stile, £1120 Trench Hall, £1110 White House Matfen, £1090 Ingoe Low Hall, £1075 White House Birtley, £1030 High House, £1025 Bingfield Combe, £1000 West Haydon & Shitlington Hall. British Blue x steers: £1250 Blackburn, £1010 Aydonshields. Simmental x steers: £1000 Broomfield. Simmental x heifers: £1100 & £1035 Broomfield. Angus x steers: £1300 Aydonshields. Beef Shorthorn steers: £1030 Aydonshields. Beef Shorthorn heifers: £1120 Yatesfield. Hereford x steers: £1120 & £1050 Broomfield.

Cattle 17 – 22 months. Charolais x steers: £1230 West Deanraw, £1225 Trench Hall, £1190 Great Chesters & White House Birtley, £1140 Humber Hill, £1110 Great Chesters, £1100 Tosson Glebe, £1090 White House Birtley. Charolais x heifers: £1195 White House Birtley, £1155 Great Chesters, £1125 West Deanraw, £1055 Tosson Glebe, £1050 Rare Dean, £1025 West Deanraw. Limousin x steers: £1260 Blackburn, £1230 Great Chesters, £1220 Cowburn Rigg & Old Ravensworth, £1185, £1165 & £1135 Great Chesters, £1130 Ingoe Low Hall & West Foreshield, £1100 High House, £1075 Low Staples, £1070 Ingoe Low Hall, £1040 Low Staples & Settlingstones, £1000 Woodhead. Limousin x heifers: £1170 Great Chesters, £1160 West Foreshield, £1150 & £1120 Great Chesters, £1100 Ingoe Low Hall. Simmental x heifers: £1100 Cowburn Rigg, £1050 White House Matfen. Angus x steers: £1115 (x2) West Deanraw.

Cattle 11 – 16 months. Charolais x steers: £975 East Plenmeller. Charolais x heifers: £935 Trench Hall. Limousin x steers: £1190 & £1170 West Foreshield, £1165 Comb Hills, £1150 Old Ravensworth, £1140 Woodhead, £1130 & £1110 West Foreshield, £1100 Trench Hall (x2) & Greyside (x2), £1090 West Foreshield, £1085 Woodhead, £1080 Greyside & Low Stokoe, £1075 Greyside (x2), £1060 Piatroon, Greyside, Woodhead & East Plenmeller (x3), £1050 Cowburn Rigg, Quarry House & Allenshields, £1045 Quarry House, £1040 Tanfield Lane (x2) & Old Ravensworth, £1035 Hollin Close & East Plenmeller, £1020 East Plenmeller (x2), £1000 Greyside & East Plenmeller. Limousin x heifers: £1100 Tanfield Lane, £1060 & £1050 West Foreshield, £1000 Shitlington Hall, West Foreshield, Greyside (x2) & Old Ravensworth, £995 Old Ravensworth, £990 Little Swinburne, £985 Round Meadows. Blonde x steers: £1120, £1020 & £1010 Brownsleazes. Blonde x heifers: £1095, £1090, £1030 & £980 Brownsleazes. British Blue x steers: £1090 Errington. Angus x steers: £1050 Redesmouth.

Cattle 10 months and under. Charolais x steers: £930 Tedcastle. Limousin x steers: £1060 West Foreshield, £965 Round Meadows. Limousin x heifers: £980 & £950 Quarry House.

Breeding and store sheep.

Hexham Auction Mart held its weekly catalogued sale of 419 Ewes and Hoggs with lambs at foot. Yet again trade at Hexham for breeding sheep was buoyant with vendors happy with their returns.

Suffolk x hoggs with Texel x lambs were the highlight this week from Mrs.

P Harrison, Woodland Place, Esh Winning selling for £198.

Older ewes yet again met a flying trade with 4crop Texel x ewes from M/s J Spours & Son, Yetlington Lane, Whittingham selling to £195

Mule hoggs with single Texel x lambs sold to a high of £192 from Mr P Kidd, Briggle Farm, Penrith.

Hoggs with lambs at foot. Texel x: £184, £182 & £168 East Farm, £162 Jolly Body. Suffolk x: £198 Woodlands. Mule: £192 Briggle Farm & Shitlington Hall, £188 Briggle Farm, £178 Allotment & Homilton, £176 White House Eastgate, £172 Homilton & Moss Kennels (x3), £170 Homilton, £165 Moss Kennels.

Gimmers with lambs at foot. Texel x: £165 Low Bleakhope. Mule: £160 Allotment.

Ewes with lambs at foot. Texel x: £195 Yetlington Lane, £190 Yetlington Lane & Sherburn Tower£180 Sherburn Tower & East Farm, £178 East Farm, £170 Bridgeford, £146 East Fourstones. Beltex x (singles): £136 Jolly Body. Lleyn: £140 New Hall. Cheviot x: £116 Craigshield. Mule: £182 East Fourstones, £168 Bridgeford, £166 Sherburn Tower. Blackface: £130 Craigshield. Herdwick: £90 & £76 Craigshield. Crossbred: £180 East Farm, £150 Yetlington Lane.

Cast ewes. Cast sheep trade very similar to last week and would be stronger in places with plenty of continental ewes trading between £90-£105.

Leaner ewes still very easily cashed along with Swaledale & Blackface ewes with the main selling for £44-£52.

Texel: £109 Rusheylaw, £106 Palm Strothers, £96 Rusheylaw, £88 Kirkley Hall, £84 Kingswood. Texel x: £105 Greenchesters, £95 Middle Horsleyhope, £93 Nunwick, £92 Rusheylaw, £91 Middle Horsleyhope, £90 Palm Strothers & Lords Lot, £89 Nunwick, £88 Loadman, £87 New Hall, £81 West Kirkheaton, £80 New Houses, Palm Strothers (x2) & Colwell Hill, £79 New Hall & Whittonstone. Suffolk x: £97 Middle Horsleyhope, £95 Sherburn Tower, £94 Lords Lot, £90 West Kirkheaton, £89 Settlingstones, £87 Little Harle, £85 Middle Horsleyhope & Lords Lot, £84 New Houses, £82 Settlingstones. Beltex x - £91 Middle Horsleyhope, £90 Hetherington, £82 Palm Strothers. Leicester: £94 & £90 Stone Hall, £80 Kingswood. Ryeland: £75 Woodstone. Cheviot: £78 South Colwell & Greenchesters, £70 South Colwell, £69 Greenchesters, £61 Craigshield, £60 South Colwell. Mule: £74 Settlingstones, £73 Kingswood, £72 Stone Hall & Sherburn Tower, £71 South Colwell, £70 Hetherington, £69 Nunwick, West Deanraw, Rusheylaw & Colwell Hill, £68 Lords Lot, £67 The Riding, £66 New Houses, £65 West Kirkheaton. Blackface: £61Rusheylaw, £54 & £53 The Riding, £51 South Colwell. Swaledale: £56 Lords Lot, £50 Ottercops, £48 White House Eastgate, £45 Lords Lot, £44 Kingswood & Ottercops, £42 Stone Hall & Colwell Hill, £40 Moorlaws. Herdwick: £56 Cote House, £51 Comb Hills, £35 Craigshield.

Store hoggs.

Another good entry of store hoggs for the time of year this week at Hexham with Texel x hoggs from Mr. JW Metcalf, Palm Strothers selling to £90

Mule hoggs sold to £88 from Northumberland College.

Texel x: £90 & £82 Palm Strothers, £78 Settlingstones, £75 South Side, £74 Thornbrough, £72 & £70.50 Kirkley Hall, £70 South Side, £69 Settlingstones, £65 Moorlaws. Suffolk x: £74 Cote House & Lords Lot, £69 Settlingstones, £65 Cote House & Moorlaws. Beltex x: £86 Hetherington. Mule: £88 Kirkley Hall, £75 Palm Strothers, £70 Kirkley Hall & Lords Lot, £67 & £64 Kirkley Hall. Blackface: £56 Kirkley Hall. Herdwick: £50 Comb Hills. Crossbred: £65 Cote House.