BLUE GREY females met a strong trade at the special sale of breeding females at Newcastleton, where the sale levelled at £1040.86, a rise of £50.46 on the year.

Selling for the top price of £1920 was a Blue Grey heifer with her Limousin-sired bull calf at foot from The Thomsons at Hownam Grange, Kelso.

In-calf heifers peaked at £1600 on six occasions – for three heifers from TR and KM Wallace, Farney Shields; for a single from RM and CM Leach, Whintings Town Farm; another single from TK Laurie, Southdean; and lastly for another single from Hedgeley Farms, Hedgley Hall.

An entry from JW Ions, High Thorneyburn, led the bulling heifers when knocked down for £1400, with the run of 23 from High Thorneyburn cashing in to average £1148.70.

Heifer calves were also in demand and reached £820 twice, firstly from L and H Kennedy, Barron House Farm, Gilsland, and secondly from A and A Hogg and Son, Milnholm Farm, Langholm.

LEADING averages:

In-calf heifers (Farm (no sold), avg) – Southdean (11), £1558.81; Hedgeley Farms (11), £1498.18; Farney Shields (35), £1493.43; Sourhope Farm (14), £1475; Ardwell Farms (10), £1366.

Bulling heifers – The Becks (17), £1322.35; Southdean (16), £1215; Ottercops Farm (5), £1194; Sewing Shields (7), £1162.85; Milnholm (11), £1155.45; Spoutbank (12), £1151.67; Terrona (4), £1150; High Thorneyburn (23), £1148.70; Low Closegill (5), £1114; The Holt (6), £1100; Unthank (5), £1078; Barlaes (12), £1040; The Old Shool House (5), £1040; Dykecroft Farm (10), £1016; The Bloch (30), £1031.67;

LEADING prices:

Heifers with calves – £1920, £1820, £1800, £1780 Hownam Grange.

In-calf heifers – £1600 (x3), £1520, £1500, £1480, £1420, £1400, £1250 Farney Shields; £1600 Whintings Town; £1600, £1580 (x2), £1520, £1500, £1340 Southdean; £1600, £1480 (x3), £1400 Hedgeley Hall; £1550, £1520, £1450, £1420, £1400 Sourhope; £1500, £1380, £1350, £1300 (x2) Ardwell House.

Bulling heifers – £1400, £1250, £1180, £1020 High Thorneyburn; £1340, £1320, £1200 The Becks; £1300, £1240 The Bloch; £1300, £1150, £1120 Milnholm; £1300, £1220 Sewing Shields; £1280 The Old School House; £1220 Hot Bank; £1220, £1100, £980 The Holt; £1200, £1180, £1140 Southdean; £1200, £1150, £1060 Spout Bank; £1180 Low Closegill; £1180, £1000 Dykecroft; £1180 Ottercops; £1150 Terrona; £1120, £1100 Unthank; £1100, £1020, £1000 The Crew; £1050 (x2), £1020 Barlaes; £1040 Hole of Lyne; £1020 High Row; £1020, £1000 (x2) East Deloraine; £1000 Langholm Farms; £980 (x2) Nether Rusko.

Heifer calves – £820 Barron House; £820 Milnholm; £800, £780, £750 (x2) Softley; £750, £700 (x2) Hot Bank; £740 The Row; £710, £700 Sewing Shields; £700, £700 Hartsgarth; £700 Nether Oakshaw; £700 Burnfoot.