Hexham & Northern Marts, at their weekly sale, offered an entry of 237 head of store cattle including a great quality offering of native breed types for the monthly special sale.

Following a great trade last week, levels, once again, rose and across the board, all classes were as dear as seen for some time at this centre, averaging £1,145 per head throughout.

The older offering especially were highly sought after and peaked at £1,550 for a super Limmy steer at 16 months from Agnes & James Sinton, White House, Birtley. A strong heifer at 20 months sold to £1,500 from John Kenyon, South Farm, Kirkheaton, who enjoyed a great trade for his run to average £1,317 for 12 sold.

On the special native breed day, a top quality entry were forward from noted producers and these were topped by an Angus steer from David Johnson, Blackhalls, at £1,500 whilst Dennis Burn, Aydonshields, sold a black heifer to £1,450.

Beef Shorthorns topped at £1,460 for a thumping bullock from noted breeder Neil Hunter, Woodlands Hall, Knitsley, County Durham, who averaged £1,313 for three hefty sorts sold on the day.

A super run of Angus cross steers were brought to Hexham from Redesdale by Michael Dixon, The Stobbs, Rochester, and the annual consignment, once again, sold well topping at £1,395 and averaging a whopping £1,320 for 15 steers sold at 16 months of age.

Another annual consignment in August is that of the well-bred Charolais cross heifers from James Herdman, Edlingham Newtown, and the producer of renown, once again, rang the bell. His best pair of square heifers at just 13 months scaled to £1,380 whilst his run of 16 by the Gallic sire, all at similar ages, averaged £1,175 representing a significant rise on the year.

Leading prices;

Cattle aged 23 to 30 months

Lim Strs – 1360 Church Farm.

Lim Hfrs – 1500, 1250, 1230 South Farm Kirkheaton.

AAX Strs – 1460 Colwell Demesne; 1390, 1380, 1300 Bankfoot.

AAX Hfrs – 1320, 1270, 1200 East Newham; 1210, 1190 Bankfoot.

Cattle aged 17 to 22 months

Lim Strs – 1550 White House (Sinton); 1230 South Farm Kirkheaton.

Lim Hfrs – 1430, 1380, 1370 South Farm Kirkheaton; 1405, 1150 White House (Sinton); 1320, 1260 Edlingham Newtown; 1300, 1290, 1160, 1140 East Newham.

Ch & Chx Hfrs – 1370 South Farm Kirkheaton; 970 Hedley West.

AAX Strs – 1500, 1460, 1390 Blackhalls, 1460, 1400 Church Farm; 1400 Partridge Nest; 1390 Watch Hill; 1340, 1180, 1150 Parkside (Forster)

AAX Hfrs – 1450, 1270 Aydonshields; 1290, 1280, 1190 Catreen; 1100 Hedley West.

BSH Strs – 1460, 1260, 1220 Woodlands Hall.

Smx Hfrs – 1290 South Farm Kirkheaton.

BRB Strs – 1000 Wheelbirks.

BRB Hfrs – 1050 Wheelbirks; 980 The Deans.

Cattle aged 11 to 16 months

Lim x Strs – 1480, 1470, 1280 High House Milbourne; 1460, 1305, 1280 White House (Sinton); 1300 South Farm, Kirkheaton; 1280, 1260, 1190 Holly Hill West; 1180, 1120 Intake; 1110, 1050 Low Staples; 1070 Armstrong Arms; 1060 High Alderheads; 1035 Stotsfold.

Lim x Hfrs – 1390 Holly Hill West; 1280 South Farm Kirkheaton; 1250 High House; 1120, 1010, 995 High Alderheads; 1070, 1060 Stotsfold.

CHx Hfrs – 1380, 1300, 1230, 1200, 1135, 1080 (x2) Edlingham Newtown.

AAx Strs – 1395, 1390, 1380, 1230, 1170 The Stobbs; 1280 Parkside; 1280, 1270, 1240, 1190, 1160 (x2), 1080 Redesmouth; 1180, 1160 Watch Hill; 1180 Intake; 1150, 1130, 1090, 1010 Acton; 1130, 1040 The Deans; 1120 Partridge Nest; 1050 Hedley West & Hollin Close.

AAx Hfrs – 1090, 1080, 1000 Redesmouth; 1060 Partridge Nest; 1030 The Deans; 990, 980 Hollin Close.

AA Strs – 1130, 1125 Bollihope Shiel.

AA Hfrs – 1160, 1060 Bollihope Shiel; 1030 Fell House.

SD Strs - 1150, 1100, 1080 The Deans.

BRB Hfrs – 1070 Edlingham Newtown.

HE Strs – 1070 Greenfield; 1030 Old Potato House.

HE Hfrs – 980, 960, 950 Greenfield.

Cattle aged 10 months and under

HE Bulls – 1035, 920, 860 Old Potato House.

Cast Sheep

There were more numbers forward again, (1090), at the weekly cast sheep sale as the season gets into full swing. This only had a negligible effect on the trade however, as more purchasers around the ringside were all keen to fill their orders with both fit and feeding ewes.

Texel Rams – 172, Greenchesters; 164 Delight; 152 Errington Red House.

Texel Ewes – 175, 160 East Wharmley; 160, 142 Greenchesters; 159, 151 Middle Horsleyhope; 159, 151 Delight; 158, 142, 140 Hallington New Houses; 152, 147 Low Houses; 149, 148 Aydon North; 148 The Hott; 146 Brownchesters; 140 Burn House.

Dutch Texel Ewes – 146, 129 Little Swinburne.

Suffolk Ewes – 158 Baal Hill; 150, 135 Middle Horsleyhope; 142 Hallington New Houses; 138 Delight; 132 Low West House; 130 Nilston Rigg.

Beltex Ewes – 175, 130, 126 Middle Horsleyhope.

Leicester Ewes – 138 Hotbank, 128 The Stobbs; 122 Tarset Hall.

Bleu de Maine Ewes – 114 Grange Houses.

Mule Ewes – 118, 110 Brownchesters; 114, 100 Nilston Rigg; 112 Burn House; 110 Delight; 108, 90 Lee Hall; 106 The Hott; 106 Little Swinburne; 101 High Shipley; 100 Kimmerston; 98 Low Barns; 98 Errington Red House, Highwood, Baal Hill, Tarset Hall; 95 Kingswood; 92 West Haydon; 91 Oaklea; 90 East Unthank.

Zwartbles Ewes – 110 Kimmerston.

Wensleydale Ewes – 87 Low Houselop.

Cheviot Ewes – 98 Highwood; 98, 71 Greenchesters.

Blackface Rams – 92 The Stobbs.

Blackface Ewes– 96, The Stobbs; 88 Hotbank.

Swaledale Ewes – 84 East Unthank; 78 Kingswood; 68 Baal Hill.

Herdwick Ewes – 70 Middle Dukesfield.

Store Sheep

The catalogued entry of 3,412 store lambs were dearer on the week for all classes, as purchasers are travelling to Hexham for the quality sheep on offer every week. Well fleshed, short term keep lambs were particularly sought after and long term lambs are benefitting from the confidence resonating through the sheep industry.

Texel – 152, 135, 120, 118 Rugley Walls; 141 Sherburn Tower; 133, 132 Whiteside (Grieve); 130 Middle Dukesfield; 128 Hamsteels Hall; 127 Longshaws; 124 West Barn; 123 Causey View, Stewartshields Meadow; 120 Red House; 118 Greenchesters, Longshaws.

Dutch Texel – 158, 150, 122 Wallend; 130, 117.50 Willimoteswick.

Suffolk – 128 Rugley Walls; 109, 101 Cooper House; 105 Delight.

Beltex – 140, 130, 126.50, 126, 124 Hallington New Houses; 128 The Fawns; 122 Middle Dukesfield, Closehead; 121, 120 West Moorhouses.

Bleu de Maine – 131, 127, 123 Hallington New Houses.

Continental x – 116 Longshaws.

Mule – 85 Softley, 85, 79 Harsondale; 83.50 Burnbank; 82.50 East Unthank; 81 Hotbank; 79.50 Stewartshields Meadows; 79 Agars Hill.

Leicester – 79.50, 78.50 Nookton.

Cattle

Prime Cattle

Charolais x heifers – £1448.98, £1401.38 & £1366.89 Flotterton

252.5p, 241.5p & 239.5p Flotterton.

Cast Cows & OTM

Another good entry of cows this week, more new vendors choosing Hexham to market their cast cows and bulls.

The lean cows are still very easy to cash. Overly fat cows were slightly easier on the week.

Highest grossing cow this week came from Mrs E Lishman, Fell Lane, with one of their Pedigree Angus cows realising £1,598.63.

Stock Bulls sold to £1,593.67 for a Limousin from Mrs VS Allgood, Nunwick.

Limousin x - £1362.66 Piatroon, £1313.50 Dukesfield Hall, £1200.88 Dunns Houses, £1174.10, £1140.19, £1113.13 & £1110.38 Great Chesters

179.5p Piatroon, 177.5p Dukesfield Hall, 175.5p Great Chesters, 167.5p Haggate.

Angus - £1598.63 Fell Lane

157.5p West Shields & Fell Lane.

Angus x - £1434.43 & £1170.00 Paradise,