AN outstanding show of prime cattle and butchers lambs was forward at Hopes Auction Company's Christmas show and sale of primestock last weekend, where an impressive 16 classes of cattle was judged by Clare Cropper and John Mellin.

Champion was a Limousin cross heifer scaling 634kg from Alan Barnett, Brinns Farm Shap, which went on to sell for £2315 or 365p per kg to Steven Wilson of Quality Family Butcher, Corby Hill, Carlisle.

Mr Wilson also paid 305p per kg for the reserve champion, a home-bred Bazadaise cross heifer from Ian and Nathan Grainger, Kiln Close, Glasson.

The Graingers also sold the top price animal at £2677 or 425p with a Limousin heifer weighing 630kg.

In the butchers lambs, judge, Harry Wood of Bowland Foods, Preston, who also runs his own Beltex flock alongside his family's Popes Simmental herd, selected a pair of Beltex from R Hall and Sons, Inglewood Edge, as champion. They later sold for £210 apiece to RJ Harrison, Butcher, King St, Wigton.

Reserve was a similar duo from Ted Skelton, Low House Farm, which made £120.

LEADINGprices:

Cattle – Lim heifer, 630kg, 425p or £2677 I and N Grainger, Kiln Close; BRB heifer, 667kg 370p or £2468 I and N Grainger, Kiln Close; Lim heifer, 634kg, 365p or £2314 A Barnett, Brinns Farm; Lim heifer, 731kg, 265p or £1937 DA Harrison, Hill House; BRB heifer 592kg, 325p or £1937 I and N Grainger, Kiln Close; BRB heifer, 560 kg, 340p or £1904 T Pearson and Son, High Plasketlands.

Butchers lambs – Per head – Bel – £210 £160 £148 ££138 £136 £132 Inglewood Edge; £200 £149 £145 £142 £136 £132 Hillside; £152 £142 The Snade; £150 £132 £120 £118 Low House Farm; £149 £130 Hillcrest; £140 Croft House; £135 Pasture House; £132 Stanger Hill.

Dutch Tex – £158 £150 £148 £146 Cobble Croft. Suff – £90 Bridge Bank.

Per kg – Bel – 506p 372.10p 361.60p 356.60p 336.6p Inglewood Edge; 434.8p 378.10p 359.50p 354.8p 352.0p 345.0p 344.4p 324.8p 323.2p Hillside; 378.4p Croft House; 355.0p 353.5p Snade; 354.8p 325.0p Hill Crest; 348.8p Low House Farm; 338.5p Stanger Hill; 329.3p 322.5p Pasture House. Dutch Tex – 370.0p 363.2p 352.9p 345.5p Cobble Croft.