• Lamb crop drops 8%

    IT COMES as no surprise that the latest forecast for the 2013 lamb crop has been revised downwards, with the new figure of 15.8m head down a massive 1.36m (8%) on the 2012 figures.

  • Rejected bull makes five figures privately

    DESPITE CHANGES to the pre-sale inspection at Limousin society sales, many breeders remained bitter about the continued inconsistency of the panel at last week's breed show and sale at Carlisle, where 20+ bulls were rejected – one in seven.

  • Demand for grass-fed stock on the up

    IT MAY be in short supply throughout much of the country, but demand for grass and indeed grass-fed raised and finished beef and sheep has soared since horsemeat DNA was first confirmed in some processed foods on sale in British supermarkets.

  • Limousin bulls peak at 40,000gns

    A distinct shortage of cash, due to the soaring cost of concentrates and the lack of available grass, resulted in a decidedly sticky trade for pedigree Limousin bulls at a society show and sale at Carlisle, where overall averages fell more than £800 per head – despite a top price of 40,000gns.

  • Reduced EU demand for lamb

    UK sheep prices may be on the up in the UK due to reduced supplies, but it appears the opposite holds true on the Continent, where the economic problems being experienced by many countries in southern Europe are having a significant effect on the trading patterns of sheep and sheep meat.

  • Beef prices hit record levels again

    Beef prices are continuing to rise, with several centres setting new records almost on a weekly basis, due to the continued shortage of finished cattle plus the rise in demand for locally produced beef following the horsemeat scandal.

  • Return to the ring

    AUCTIONEER Willie Paterson has made the decision to return to the ring, joining the team at Mitchells, Cockermouth, Cumbria, this month.

  • Scots buy at Beeston

    The sole entry from the Ridgefield herd from Charley, Leicester, produced the lead sale at the Western Holstein Club's Monthly Focus Milk show and sale of fresh calved cows and heifers at Beeston, attracting the highest bid of 4000gns.

  • Beef Shorthorn records

    Female records were also smashed at the heifer sale at Stirling in October when Chapelton Honeysuckle set a high of 13,000gns whilst a record average of £2110 was set for 81.

  • Beef breeders hard to cash

    Despite a good show, beef breeding cattle proved hard to cash due to this year's late spring, the shortage of grass and lack of available keep, at Harrison and Hetherington's sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.