GOOD, meaty hoggs met the strongest of the trade and heavy hoggs were again dearer on the week when C and D Auction Marts sold 4649prime hoggs, last week, which included shows and sales of Hill Cheviot and North Country Cheviot hoggs. 

Of the Cheviot entry, it was the champion pen of Hill Cheviots from Messrs Carruthers, Woodhall, that topped the trade at £125. They were picked out by B MacTaggart, and later sold to West Scottish Lamb, Carlisle, having tipped the scales at 49kg. The reserve ticket in the same section went to a 47kg pen from J Jardine, Yett, which realised £119. 

In the Northie section, it was a 46kg pen from Messrs Eastham, Longburgh Fauld, that claimed the championship before selling for £110.

The star of the sale, however, were Beltex from Jimmy Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, which peaked at 338p per kg and £135 having averaged 309p and £130.55 for the 55 sold. Other Beltex reached 333p from A Tiffin, Wham Head, Penrith, but it was Texels from Sharplaw Farms, Kelso, that topped the gross trade at £160, with others to £140 from Harehead. 

Light hoggs which were well fleshed sold between 230-240p per kg and to a top of £90 from Messrs Milburn, Wallend, Greenhead. The sale cashed in to average 232.2p (+13p on the week) with SQQs at 233.1p. 

A large entry of cast sheep saw 1104 heavy ewes average £116.55 and sell to £165 for Texel ewes from Keith Farms, while lighter sorts reached £88 for Blackfaces from Stenries. Rams reached £157 for Charollais from Viewley. 

A small selection of 20 cattle saw Limousin heifers from AE Fawkes and Sons, Welton Farms, topped the prime entry at 226p and £1597, while cast cows reached 137p for a Limousin from Michael Baxter, Kiln Hill. 

LEADING awards:

Hill Cheviot – Up to 38kg – 1, A Reid, Glendearg, 38kg, £95; 2 and 3, TN Cavers, Sorbie, 36kg, £83.50 and 38kg, £84. 39-44kg – 1, Glendearg, 39kg, £91; 2, E Eastham, Longburgh Fauld, 43kg, £109; 3, J Muir, Cleughbrae, 41kg, £101. 45kg+ – 1 and champion, Messrs Carruthers, Woodhall, 49kg, £125; 2 and reserve, J Jardine, Yett, 47kg, £119; 3, T Aitchison, North Shortcleugh, 49kg, £123. 

North Country Cheviot – Up to 44kg – 1, J Hepburn, North House, 43kg, £105; 2, WN Douglas, Whitehope, 44kg, £99. 45kg+ – 1 and champion, Longburgh Fauld, 46kg, £110; 2, J Muir, Cleughbrae, 45kg, £108.