HARRISON and Hetherington's prime sheep sale at Carlisle on Monday, included the annual show and sale of Blackface and Swaledale hoggs, judged by M McIntyre, of McIntyre Meats, Hawes, who bought his choice of three first prize winners.

This included the lead pen of heavy Blackface hoggs from Messrs Fisher, Smalmstown, which scaled 49kg and realised 181.6p per kg or £89 per head, the first prize pen of lightweight Blackfaces, 38kg lambs from D Graham, South Lambhill, Longtown, which made 197.4p or £75 and the lead pen of Swaledales from Messrs Moscrop and Waugh, Albyfield, Brampton. They passed the weighbridge at 40.5kg, and sold for £79 per head or 195.1p per kg.

Outwith the show, well finished hoggs met a firm demand for all weight ranges. Topping the sale at £115.80 per head was a pen of four Dutch Texel hoggs from Messrs Laird, Unity Farm, Brampton, which realised 289.5p per kg to Andrew Dawson.

Top price per kg was at 300p paid for 36kg Beltex hoggs from Messrs Dempster, Castle Hill, Lockerbie, again purchased by Mr Dawson.

A good entry of cast ewes and rams was topped by Texels from Messrs Donald, Lamonby selling at £129.50. Mules saw the biggest rise on the week with a consignment from Messrs Donald, Denton Mains selling to £86.50.

Hill-bred sheep saw a rise of £13 on the week overall, with pens of Cheviots from Messrs Edgar, Penrith, selling to £53.50.