Mart report from the week beginning August 7

Five Clean Butchers Heifers forward this week which sold to a high of 229.5ppkg for a very well finished Limousin x from Messrs GW Dodd & Sons, Saugh House, Belsay. Limousin Heifers: £1222.18 & 1220.94 Saugh House. 229.5p & 207.5p Saugh House. Charolais Heifers: £1016.37, £997.05 Tone Hall. 204.5p & 195.5p Tone Hall.

OTM. A small entry of cast cattle this week with plainer sorts on offer. Messrs RJ & J Raine, Townfoot sold BB x cows to 127.5ppkg AS Did Mr TA Jackson, Midgeholme with a Lim x Cow.

Limousin: £1074.83 Midgeholme, £999.74 Townfoot. 127.5p Midgeholme, 124.5p Townfoot, 110.5p East Butsfield. British Blue: £1119.53 Midgeholme, £1053.99 East Butsfield. 127.5p Townfoot, 126.5p Midgeholme & Little Swinburne, 119.5 East Butsfield. Simmental: £918.66 & 125.5p Parkside. Longhorn: £723.6 & 100.5p Shaftoe Moor.

Hexham and Northern Marts at their weekly sale for prime lambs had another good entry of 1193 forward. Trade easier for all classes in line with the national trend. Top Price was £99 for Highwood & 213.6ppkg from West Moorhouses.

Texel x: £99 Highwood, £94.50 High Eshells, £94& £88 West Moorhouses, £87.50 Halfway House, £87 East Uppertown, £86.50 Dukesfield Hall, £86 High Eshells, West Moorhouses & Halton Red House, £85.50 Town Farm, £85 West Moorhouses & Burntongues, £84.50 Burntongues & Halton Red House, £84 Low Eshells & Burntongues. 213.6p & 213.2p West Moorhouses, 205.4p High Eshells, 198.7p Agars Hill, 197.5p West Moorhouses, 196.4p & 195.5p High Eshells, 195.1p Halton Red House, 192.9p East Farm, 192.7p High Baulk, 192.1p & 191.7p Burntongues, 191.7p Agars Hill, 191.5p & 191.1p West Moorhouses, 190.9p Burntongues, 190.2p West Moorhouses, Halfway House & St Oswalds. Dutch Texel x: £97 & £89 (x2) Willimoteswick, £94.50 Agars Hill, £84 Willimoteswick, £83.50 Chesterwood, £80 Willimoteswick, £79.50 Agars Hill. 202.3p (x2) Willimoteswick, 201.3p & 198.8p Agars Hill, 190.5p Willimoteswick, 189.8p Chesterwood, 187.8p Agars Hill. Suffolk x: £93 Sillywrea, £85.50 Merryshields, £82.50 Halfway House, £82 Black Callerton, £80 Low Eshells, £79 Burntongues & Nilston Rigg, £78.50 St Oswalds, £78 Low Brunton, £76.50 Nilston Rigg, £76 Sillywrea, £74.50 Merryshields. 183.7p Burntongues, 174.5p Merryshields, 174.4p St Oswalds, 173.3p Low Brunton, 171.9p Halfway House, 171.4p Lunns House, 170.7p Merryshields. Beltex x: £76.50 & 196.2p St Oswalds. Mule: £79.50 Highwood, £69.50, £69 & £66.50 Hotbank. 169.2p Highwood, 166.3p, 162.2p & 161.6p Hotbank. Blackface: £63.50 & 141.1p Hotbank.

Cast ewes and rams. Suffolk x: £81 Sillywrea. Bleu du Maine – £80 & £68 Sillywrea. Cheviot: £61 Sillywrea.

Breeding cattle. Alongside the Anniversary sale, Hexham and Northern held their monthly sale of Beef Breeding Cattle which included two important suckler herd dispersals.

Both herds of cows sold well considering the uncertainty of the beef trade.

The first herd to be sold was the Autumn Calving portion and a number of Spring Calving cows from noted beef breeder Lewis Forster, West Nubbock.

Top price was from the Autumn Calving portion, a Limousin with Charolais x heifer calf which sold at £2800. Top price from the Spring Calving cows was £2900 for a British Blue, 6years old, with a Charolais x heifer calf.

Dispersal Messrs L Forster & Son, West Nubbock.

Autumn Calving Cows with Calves at Foot. Limousin: £2800, £2250, £1900, £1650, £1550 (x2) & £1450. Angus: £1900. British Blue: £2600, £2500, £2200, £1900 (x2), £1700 & £1650. Simmental: £1850, £1800 & £1500. Hereford: £2250.

Spring Calving cows with calves at foot. Limousin: £2900, £2300, £2200, £2150, £2100 (x2), £2000 (x4), £1950, £1900 (x3) & £1750. British Blue: £2150, £2050 & £2000.

Dispersal Messrs WC Drydon & Son, West Deanraw. Following was the dispersal of West Deanraw herd on behalf of M/s WC Drydon & Son.

Top price was £2000 for an Autumn Calving Angus x Cow with a Charolais x steer calf.

A Limousin Spring Calving cow with a Limousin x heifer calf sold at £1920.

Limousin: £1600 (x2), £1520, £1500 & £1300. Angus: £2000, £1300 (x2) & £1250 & £1220. Simmental: £1700. Charolais: £1720. Hereford: £1900.

Autumn Calving In Calf Cows. Limousin: £900.

Spring Calving Cows with Calves at Foot Limousin: £1920, £1720, £1580, £1400 (x2), £1300, £1250, £1080 & £1000. British Blue: £1500, £1450 (x2) & £1250, £1000. Angus: £1720, £1650. Limousin Bull: 1550gns.

Other Breeding Cattle. Heifers with Calves at Foot. Limousin: £1800 Tosson Glebe. Angus: £1150 Theakston Grange.

Cows with calves at foot. Angus: £1600 & £1500 (x2) West End Town.

Bulling Heifers. Simmental: £990 (x3), £960 & £940 Shotton.

On Friday 9 August Hexham and Northern Mart held their Anniversary prize show and sale of store cattle.

Store lambs to £107 Champion beast sold for £1150.

The prize show was kindly sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health, Hodgson Toyota Newcastle and Harbro Animal Nutrition and expertly judged by Borders cattle breeder Mr Ailstair McSporran, Innerleithen.

A small but quality entry was presented before the judge and from his class winners he selected a very correct pair from the same breeders to stand as Overall Champion and Reserve. Messrs Lee, Harwoodshield came forward with another smart show team and it was their First prize Limousin cross steer which took the Supreme Championship and the trio of trophies: The Limousin breeders cup for the Champion Limousin, The JW Smith Jackson Trophy for the best calf bred by the exhibitor and The Hexham Auction Mart trophy for the Supreme Champion Beast. After a little deliberation it was the heifer sister to the champion that took the Reserve Champion rosette and at 12 noon both animals came into the sale ring, packed to capacity with buyers and onlookers who saw both animals at just ten months of age sell for £1150 each which exceeded all expectations as did the majority of the trade on the day. The Champion animal went home with Mr Ian Bowe, Northallerton and the Reserve was taken back to Leicestershire by Mr Alan Redpath, Lowesby Farms.

Prize Show

Native or Continental Steer:

1st, 2nd and 3rd. Church Farm (AAx).

Native or Continental Heifer. 1st, 2nd and 3 rd: Church Farm (Aax).

Charolais x Steer. 1st: West Wharmley

Charolais x Heifer. 1st and 2nd: West Wharmley.

Champion Charolais: M/s Johnson, West Wharmley (Heifer).

British Blue x Steer. 1st: Harwood Shield.

Limousin x Steer. 1st and 3rd: Harwood Shield. 2nd: Swarland Old Hall.

Limousin x Heifer. 1st and 2nd: Harwood Shield, 3rd: Hoyles Bottom.

Best Calf Bred by Exhibitor. M/s Lee, Harwood Shield (Limousin x steer).

Overall Champion. M/s Lee, Harwood Shield (Limousin x steer).

Reserve Champion. M/s Lee, Harwood Shield (Limousin x heifer).

A useful catalogue outwith the show entry were presented and with no fewer than Fifty-Two buyers stood eager at the ringside for the start of the sale. A sound entry of over 150 older, forward types began the sale and, as expected were noticeably easier against the trade seen at the main sales back in May. Topping the sale was a mighty black Angus cross heifer from Philip Tomlinson, Sunniside, Consett which sold for £1340 to Andrew Whitwell for the Farm Shop operation at Bolster Moor Farm, Huddersfield. The male portion of the catalogue was topped at £1260 for a well-grown Charolais cross steer at 14 months from noted local breeders Messrs Longlands, Tone Hall, Birtley.

The main focus of the day however were the numerous consignments of quality suckler bred yearling types for which this region, and this centre in particular are renowned. In an increasingly uncertain climate the quality of the cattle on show was testament to the breeder-producers who had made the effort to present them to a very high standard.

With highlights too numerous to mention the greatest achievements in the 11-17 months age bracket were as follows; Messrs Thompson, Springwell Cottage, Tow Law, County Durham peaked at £1225 for an exceptional ¾ bred Limousin cross steer; Messrs Johnson, High Fotherley, Riding Mill peaked at £1175 for a big Angus cross bullock by a registered sire whilst Messrs Watson, Holywell Farms followed at £1170 for another very similar sort. Alan Ogle, Comb Hills, Hexham led the female trade with a shapely Limmy lady at £1170 and Edward Dean, Kirkhouse, Brampton, Carlisle followed with another at £1160.

Besides the show champions the youngest class of cattle were topped by two cracking Limmy cross bullocks from Andrew Proctor, Swarland Old Hall which sold for £1100 and £1080 at just 9 months of age for the noted pedigree bull breeder. Heifer trade peaked at a well-deserved £1010 for another Limousin cross lady at the same 9 months of age from regular consignors to the Hexham store ring and breeders at altitude Messrs Reed, Dyke Nook, Carr Shield.

Despite the obvious apprehension within the industry, not least due to the many and varied connotations of an impending Brexit cattle finishers remain keen at the Hexham ringside and vendors are urged to contact our auctioneers who will be delighted to advise on the best route to market for cattle soon to be sold. Cattle 23 – 30 months.

Charolais x steers: £1200 Satley, £1140 Hay A Park, £1120 Satle. Charolais x heifers: £1045 Fairley. Limousin x steers: £1215 & £1165 Lunns House, £1160 Hay A Park, £1125 Lunns House (x2), £1110 Hay A Park, £1080 White House Burnhope, £1070 Bankfoot, £1050 Cheviot, £950 Hay A Park. Limousin x heifers: £1310 Lunns House, £1160 & £1085 Bankfoot, £1060 Lunns House, £1015 & £965 Bankfoot. Simmental x steers: £1000 Fairley. Angus x steers: £1150 Fairley, £1110 High Fotherley, £1050 Aydonshields. Angus x heifers: £1095 & £1070 Fairley, £1060 Sunniside, £985 Fairley.

Cattle 17 – 22 months. Charolais x steers: £1215, £1175, £1155, £1130, £1120, £1100 & £1075 Satley, £1030 Hay A Park. Charolais x heifers: £1065 Hallington New Houses. Limousin x steers: £1180 Lunns House, £1165 Springwell Cottage, £1160 Lunns House, £1150 Gunnerton South & Cheviot, £1125 Lunns House, £1105 Springwell Cottage, £1100 Grange House, £1095, £1090, £1085 (x3) & £1070 (x2) Hay A Park, £1030 Lunns House, £1020 Hallington New Houses, £1015 Woodhead, £1005 Bankfoot, £960 Lunns House. Limousin x heifers: £1175 Cheviot, £1120 Lunns House, £1115 Hoyles Bottom, £1090 (x2) Lunns House, £1030 East Newham, £1000 Woodhead & Norwoods, £965 Bankfoot, £920 Armond Carr, £900 Bankfoot. Angus x steers: £1175 (x3) & £1155 High Fotherley, £1120 Hallington New Houses, £1110 Fairley, £1080 Hallington New Houses, £1075 Hallington New Houses & Aydonshields, £1020 Fairley, £960 Church Farm, £900 Aydonshields. Angus x heifers: £1340 & £1070 Sunniside, £980 Aydonshields.

Cattle 11 – 16 months. Charolais x steers: £1260 Tone Hall, £1160 West Wharmley, £1090 Tenter House, £1080 West Wharmley, £1060 Coldwell, £1035 Hay A Park, £1030 Tone Hall, £1020 Low Staples, £925 Hedley West£900 East Newham. Charolais x heifers: £1045 Tenter House, £980 West Wharmley, £955 Tenter House, £935 West Wharmley, Low Staples & Tenter House. Limousin x steers: £1225, £1180 & £1165 Springwell Cottage, £1145 Cheviot, £1140 Kirkhouse, Springwell Cottage & Woodhead, £1130 Harwood Shield, £1120 Coldwell, £1115 & £1110 Springwell Cottage, £1105 Hoyles Bottom, £1095 Springwell Cottage, £1090 Grange House & Springwell Cottage, £1085 Springwell Cottage (x2) & Woodhead, £1070 Woodhead, £1060 Wallend, £1050 Birtleyshields & Pitland Hills, £1040 Woodhead & Linacres, £1030 Springwell Cottage & Coldwell, £1025 Low Eshells, £1020 Kirkhouse, £1015 Low Eshells, £1000 Birtleyshields & Whiteside (x2), £990 Woodhead, Linacres & Beacon Rigg, £985 Low Eshells, £980 Springwell Cottage, Hollin Close & Whiteside, £960 Woodhead, £950 Low Eshells & Greyside, £945 Linacres, £935 Greyside & Linacres, £930 Whiteside, £920 White House Eastgate & Low Eshells. Limousin x heifers – £1170 Comb Hills, £1160 Kirkhouse, £1115 Little Swinburne & Comb Hills, £1110 Kirkhouse, £1105 Tenter House, £1100 Norwoods (x2) & Little Swinburne, £1090 & £1060 Little Swinburne, £1055 Hoyles Bottom, £1045 Greyside, £1035 Linacres, £1015 Comb Hills, £1010 Little Swinburne, £1000 East Newham, £970 West Wharmley & Hoyles Bottom, £965 Greyside, £960 Little Swinburne, £955 Low Eshells & Whiteside, £950 Greyside & Linacres, £945 Hoyles Bottom, £940 Greyside, £935 Tenter House & Pitland Hills, £925 East Newham, £920 Beacon Rigg, £915 East Newham & Low Eshells, £910 Woodhead, £900 Hoyles Bottom, Whiteside & Pitland Hills. Blonde x steers: £1050 Brownsleazes. Blonde x heifers: £1110 & £950 Brownsleazes. British Blue x steers: £1090 Cornhills, £1080 Wallend & Cornhills, £1000 (x3) Cornhills. Simmental x steers: £1080 Brownsleazes. Simmental x heifers: £1050 Brownsleazes. Angus x steers: £1175 High Fotherley (x2), £1170 Church Farm, £1155 High Fotherley (x3), £1120 Codlaw Hill, £1110 Church Farm, £1110 Codlaw Hill, £1090 (x3) & £1085 Church Farm, £1080 Codlaw Hill, £1050 Church Farm, £1045 Hedley West, £1030 Codlaw Hill, £1000 & £950 Church Farm, £940 Hedley West, £930 Church Farm. Angus x heifers: £1065, £1030, £990, £980, £960 & £930 Church Farm. Hereford x steers: £820 (x2) Nookton. Hereford x heifers: £800 Nookton.

Cattle 10 months and under. Charolais x steers: £1030 & £980 Tone Hall, £955 Wydon. Charolais x heifers: £950 & £900 Wydon. Limousin x steers: £1150 Harwood Shield, £1100 & £1080 Swarland Old Hall, £1050 Harwood Shield, £1010 Harwood Shield (x2) & Beacon Rigg, £990 Dyke Nook, £965 Penpeugh, £950 Swarland Old Hall, £945 Pitland Hills, £920 Harwood Shield, £915 Birtleyshields, £905 Penpeugh, £900 Harwood Shield & Pitland Hills. Limousin x heifers: £1150 Harwood Shield, £1010 Dyke Nook, £980 Paradise Farm, £950 Harwood Shield, £900 Whiteside & Paradise, £865 Hoyles Bottom.

British Blue x steers: £1070 Harwood Shield.

A very mixed and plainer show of cast sheep forward this week with 369 on offer. All classes slightly sharper on the week with the sale topping at £91 for Texel Tups.

Texel: £91 Stone Hall. Texel x: £79 Linacres, £76 Felton Demesne & Armonside, £75 Colepike, £74 Knott Hill, £64 South Hallington, £60 Felton Demesne & Armonside. Suffolk x: £78 Colepike, £74 East Lodge, £66 Felton Demesne. Leicester: £78 Sanders Close, £75 & £67 Hesleywell, £61 Blackhalls. Mule: £68 Rosehill, £67 South Hallington, £60 Colepike, £58 South Hallington, £56 East Lodge & Low Houselope, £55 South Hallington, £54 South Hallington, Blackhalls & Sherburn Tower. Swaledale: £44 Stobby Lea, £40 Sanders Close, £39 Hesleywell. Herdwick: £30 Rosehill.

Store lambs. Hexham and Northern Marts held its Annual Anniversary Sale of Store Lambs. It was judged by Mr M Robinson, East Alwent who chose his champions after much deliberation due to the great show forward and gave it to Messrs P&EB Robson, Middle Horsleyhope Farm, Durham. These went on to sell for a top price of £107 showing once again the trade on offer here at Hexham.

Messrs RR Reay & Sons, West Moorhouses sold a fantastic packet of lambs to £94.50. New vendors to the Hexham store ring, Messrs TR & EA Milburn, Wallend took advantage of the trade for these better bred lambs and sold to a high of £90

Mule lambs sold exceptionally well on the day, topping at £66 from Mr D Wearmouth, Knott Hill. Messrs W&PF Walton, Penpeugh sold third prize Mules to £64.50.

Prize Show

Texel

1 st: Rinnion Hills. 2nd: Whittonshields. 3rd: Stone Hall.

Other Continental. 1st : Middle Horsleyhope. 2nd: Henlaw. 3rd : Wallend.

Suffolk. 1st : Felton Demesne.

Mule. 1st: Allenshields. 2 nd: Crindledykes. 3rd: Penpeugh.

Hill. 1st: Barrasford Green.

Champion Pen. M/s Robson, Middle Horsleyhope.

Reserve Champion Pen. M/s Tailford, Rinnion Hills.

Texel x: £77 Thornton Tower (x2), £73 Whittonshields, £72.50 Henlaw, £72 Rinnion Hills & Thornton Tower, £70.50 Felton Demesne, £70 Felton Demesne & Knott Hill, £69.50 Greenchesters & Whittonshields, £68.50 Stone Hall & Highside, £68 Satley & Felton Demesne, £67.50 Henlaw (x2), £66.50 East Flass, £66 Chapel House & East Lodge, £65 Causey Burn, £64.50 Sherburn Tower & Chapel House, £64 Crindledykes, East Flass & Felton Demesne, £63 Rinnion Hills, Stobby Lea & Hepple Whitefield, £62.50 Birtley Old School, £62 Rinnion Hills, Henlaw & East Lodge, £61.50 Rinnion Hills, £61 Sherburn Tower. Dutch Texel x: £75.50 Willimoteswick, £71.50 & £71 Aimshaugh, £66 Woodlands. Suffolk x: £73 Thornton Tower, £69 Laburnum Cottage, £68.50 Felton Demesne, £68 Woodlands (x2), £64.50 & £64 Settlingstones, £60 Merryshields. Beltex x: £107 Middle Hors;leyhope, £94.50 West Moorhouses, £90 Wallend, £87 & £84 Henlaw, £80.50 & £80 West Moorhouses, £79 Chapel House, £78 West Moorhouses, £74 Henlaw, £73.50 Jolly Body & West Moorhouses, £72 Chapel House, £70.50 Henlaw (x2), Hownsgill & Satley, £70 Satley & Jolly Body, £69 (x2) & £68 Jolly Body, £67 Henlaw, £64 Garden House. Cheviot x: £55.50 Barrasford Green. Mule: £66 Knott Hill, £64.50 Penpeugh, £64 Stobby Lea, £63 Crindledykes & Allenshields, £59.50 Agars Hill, £59 Allenshields (x2), £58 Crindledykes, Softley & Allenshields. Blackface: £38 Knott Hill. Crossbred: £69 (x2), £68, £66 & £65 Rosehill.

On Wednesday 7 August Scots Gap Mart sold 746 Prime and Cast sheep at their weekly sale and enjoyed the lift in the trade seen earlier in the week to average £80.64 per head. The sale peaked at £100 for a super heavy Texel cross from Dave Brodie, The Chesters, and at 209.5ppkg for some smart ¾ cross Texel types from Colin Sparke who was ably assisted by grandson Michael, from Little Swinburne, Colwell.

Suffolk crosses peaked at £95 from Percy & Neil Robson, Dene House whilst Mules at 51kg realised £82 from FT Walton, Flotterton.

Cast sheep sold to £102 for a big Suffolk cross Ewe from Chris & Janet Watmore, Holystone Estate and was presented by shepherd Ben Carter on behalf of his employer.

Prime Lambs. Texel x: £100 The Chesters, £95 Town Farm, £95 (x2) The Chesters, £92 Tuthill, £92 Town Farm, £92 The Chesters, £90 The Fawns, £90 High Baulk, £90 Whittonshields, £90 Little Swinburne, £90 Rugley Walls, £90 (x2) Tosson Tower, £90 Dene House, £90 The Chesters. 209.5p Little Swinburne, 207.9p East House, 206.0p, 2.00p (x2) Little Swinburne, 200p East House, 195.7p High Baulk, 195.2p (x2) High Baulk, 195.1p East House, 194.2p (x2) The Chesters, 193.2p The Fawns, 191.7p & 190.5p East House, 190p Errington. Beltex x: £78 & £76 East White Hill. 185.7p & 181.0p East White Hill. Suffolk x: £95 Dene House, £93 Rugley Walls, £85 Dene House, £85 East House, £83.50 The Chesters, £82 New Houses, £80 East White Hill, £80 Dene House. 184.8p East House, 172.2p Rugley Walls, 170.9p East White Hill, 170.8p New Houses, 170.4p The Chesters, 170.2p Dene House, 170.2p East White Hill. Mule: £82 & £80 Flotterton. 173.9p & 160.8p Flotterton.

Cast ewes and rams. Texel x: £99 & £98 Netherwitton, £84 Rothley Crag, £84 (x2) The Fawns. Leicester: £88 The Bellion. Suffolk x: £102 Holystone Estate, £91 Little Harle, £90 Holystone. Mule: £68 Little Harle & £67 Holystone. Cheviot: £85 & £78 Holystone.