Prime sales

Some 476 prime and cast sheep were forward for Craig Wilson's Auction marts' sale where the sale was topped at £107 for a Suffolk lamb from A and T Wilson, Baryerrock and 224.4p per kg for a pen of Beltex from R Templeton, Carslae, producing an average of 210.5p and £90.96.

Ewes sold to £78 for Zwartbles from G McCornick, Stewarton, whilst tups sold to £73.50 for a pen of Lleyns from T McGarva, Barwhanny.

Penrith

Penrith and District Farmers’ Mart LLP had 1538 prime sheep forward for their weekly sale, comprising of 835 lambs, 197 hoggs and 506 cast ewes and rams, achieving an overall average of 222p per kg.

Topping the sale at 269p were Texel cross lambs from A and R Lyle, Staingills. Suffolk cross Mule lambs sold to £111 from JD Bowness, Cliburn Hall, to average £97.85 per head overall.

Cast ewes and rams saw a strong trade where Texel ewes sold to £138 from Holme.

Wooler

A strong trade was seen throughout at Harrison and Hetherington's weekly sale of sheep comprising of lambs, hoggs and ewes where a Texel ewe led the way at £117 from Edlingham Newtown.

Top price per kg was 253.7p paid for a Beltex lamb from Chillingham Home.

Forfar

Limousins led the way amongst the heifers at Lawrie and Symington's weekly sale of 21 prime cattle selling to 248p from Nethermyres and £1466.40 from Gask to average 234p.

Bullocks peaked at 244p twice – from Nethermyres, which was also produced the lead price per head at £1485.96, and a British Blue from Gask.

Also forward were 273 sheep, cast ewes and rams which sold to £120 for Texels from Over Baldinnie and 274.7p for the same breed from Little Fithie to average 218.4p and an SQQ of 219.2p.

Hoggs sold to £86 per head for Suffolks from Little Ballo and 160p for crosses from Middle Drimmie.

Cockermouth

A steady trade was seen throughout at Mitchells Livestock Centre's weekly sale of 62 cattle comprising of 41 cull cattle, 21 prime bulls and cattle, where Tallentire Hill produced the top price per head with an Aberdeen-Angus steer at £1340.55.

A British Blue bull from WE and DE Litt, Greengill was top price per kg at 194.5p.

Some 859 prime sheep including 669 lambs, 35 hoggs,155 cast ewes and rams were also forward producing an SQQ average of 220.7p. Top price was £127 paid for Texel lambs from Messrs Cartmel, High Low Hall and 263.9p for the same breed from G Rudd, Jenkins Cross.

Huntly

Some 326 prime sheep were forward at United Auctions' weekly sale where Texel crosses topped the new season lambs at 220p from Mains of Culsh, and £97 from Gladhill, Garmouth, to average 205p.

Old season lambs sold to 190p for a Cheviot from Nether Blairmaud, Cornhill and to £86 for a Texel cross from Hillhead, Newmill, to level at 151.25p.

Stirling (Cale)

Caledonian Marts' sold 150 cattle comprising of 72 prime bullocks, heifers and young bulls, 53 OTM cattle, 25 calves and stirks, where Limousins topped the bullock section at 250p from A Pettigrew, Faskine, Airdrie and £1748 from S and J E Andrew, Letter, Dunkeld

Heifers sold to 238p twice for Limousins from D Dickinson, Brockwoodlees, Canonbie, and A Pettigrew, Faskine, Airdrie, and £1575 from Brockwoodlees.

On Tuesday, the firm sold 657 spring lambs, prime hoggs, ewes and tups. Included was the show and sale of Suffolk lambs, held in conjunction with the West and Central Scotland Suffolk club, where judge, Bill MacKinnon tapped out his champion as an entry from J Lawrie, Tilyrie which later sold at £104.

Outwith the show, top price went to D Nicol, Auchtenny, for a 46kg Beltex at £115 and 250p.

Stirling UA

A strong trade was seen throughout at United Auctions' sale of 1433 prime sheep comprising of 611 new season lambs, 262 old season lambs and 560 ewes and rams.

New season lambs sold to £125 for a Texel from Hill of Errol and 262p for a Beltex from Lintibbert to level at 214.30p. Texels from Cherryfield produced the top price in the old season lambs at £89 and 164p, to average 134.17p.

Thainstone

Limousin heifers led the way at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' weekly prime sale of 41 cattle producing a top price of 225p per kg and £1353 from Whiteside, Tullynessle and Hillocks, Whiterashes respectively, to average 200.8p.

Bullocks peaked at 206p for the same breed from Faichfolds, King Edward, and £1352.40 for a Limousin from Whiteside, Tullynessle to level at 196.4p.

Young bulls averaged 164.9p and sold to 203p for a 640kg Limousin from Drumforber, Laurencekirk and £1656 for a 920kg Charolais from Mosside of Gight, Fyvie.

The same day saw 988 prime sheep and feeding ewes and rams sell to 282.6p and £130 for new season Texel cross lambs from Hilton of Culsh, New Deer.

Old season lambs peaked at 208.3p and £100 for Beltex from North Lurg, Midmar.

Longtown

A busy day at C and D Auction Marts' saw 1056 lambs, 467 hoggs, 3039 cast ewes and rams change hand at their weekly sale, where averages improved on the week.

Texel lambs topped the trade at £113 from A Moffat, Stonehouse, Gretna and 266p from CJ Roots, Kilnford Croft, Dumfries, to average 221.5p and an SQQ of 223.6p.

Lanark

Limousins topped Lawrie and Symington's weekly prime sale of 43 bullocks and heifers, four young bulls, 72 cast cows, bulls and 15 calves at 258p for heifers from David Dickinson, Brockwoodlees, Canonbie, whilst bullocks peaked at 236p from Messrs Lindsay, Kepscaith, Longridge.

The calf trade was topped at £315 for an Aberdeen-Angus bull from W Frame, Craigthornhill.

All classes were dearer on the week amongst the prime sheep, where the sale peaked at £115 for Texels from JW Gibb, Rusha, and 265p for a Beltex from WP Frame, Haspielaw, to an produce an overall average of 219p and an SQQ of 219.4p.

Ayr

On Tuesday, Craig Wilson sold 16 prime cattle to a top price of £1396 for a Charolais heifer from Dykes Farms, Auchinleck and 243p for a Limousin heifer from Messrs Anderson, Old Walls.

Steers sold to 220p for Limousins from Old Walls.

The previous day, the firm sold 1490 sheep comprising of 1268 prime lambs and 222 cast ewes and tups, where lambs sold to £109 and 231.9p from G and G Law, Wynd Farm, to produce an overall average of 214.6p and an SQQ of 217.3p.

Also forward was the annual show and sale of Texel lambs held in conjunction with the Scottish Texel Sheep Breeders Club, where judge J Nisbet awarded the championship to J and R Semple, Netherton, whole lambs later sold for £128 and 290.9p per kg to the judge. Reserve was presented to L and B Kirk, Waterside, with Texel cross lambs that sold for £98 and 236.6p, purchased by J Stark, Bluebell, Milton of Campsie.

Carlisle

A strong trade was seen at Harrison and Heatherington's weekly prime sale of 350 cast cows, bulls and cattle where steers sold to £1644.58 and 222.5p for a Limousin cross from Messrs Studholme, Nealhouse, Carlisle and heifers sold to £1499.74 for the same breed from Messrs Blake, Halfway Well, Penrith.

Messrs Errington, Beck House sold the top priced British Blue cow at 162.5p per kg or £1482 per head.

An overall average of 220p was achieved at the prime sheep sale, which was topped at £116 on two occasions from JJ and E Dobson, West End Farm, Allonby and JA and D Kirkby, Ashley Grove Farm, Egremont.

Hawes

Some 485 sheep were forward at Hawes Farmers Auction Marts' sale comprising of 253 spring lambs, 32 hoggs, 198 cast ewes and rams and two ewes with lambs.

Topping the spring lambs at £112 were Texels from JR and LA Capstick.

Also forward were nine calves which sold to £405 for British Blues from Clarkson and Son, Bainbridge, whilst heifers peaked at £295 for Limousins from J Scarr and Sons.

Wigton

A Limousin heifer from T Pearson and Son, High Plasketlands, topped Hopes Auctioneers' weekly prime sale at 225.5p and £1411, whilst steers peaked at 188.50p for a British Blue from Langrigg House.

British Blue cross Holsteins led the way in the bulls at 168.5p from Messrs Raven, Priestcroft.

Prime lambs produced an average of 245p and an SQQ of 246.3p selling to £142 for a Beltex from Messrs Trafford, Bassenthwaite Hall.

Ewes sold to a top of £121 for the same breed from S and D Peile, Parkgate Hall.

Dingwall

Heifers from Bridgend, Dingwall led the way at Dingwall and Highland Marts' sale of 37 prime cattle, selling to 220.0p and £1349.95 for Limousin crosses, to level at 210p.

Bullocks peaked at 210p for the same breed from Balnageith, Forres and £1306.50 for a British Blue from Easter Templand, Fortrose, to average 203.1p.

Also forward were 218 prime sheep which saw new season lambs sell to 223.5p and £95 for Texel crosses from Lochdhu, Nairn, to produce an average of 208.0p. Cheviots led the way amongst the old season lambs at 193.8p and £80 from Groam, Kirkhill and Balnagore, Fearn respectively, to level at 164.1p.

Castle Douglas

More than 850 prime and cast sheep were sold at Wallets Marts Castle Douglas' weekly sale where prime lambs averaged 211.9p with an SQQ of 212.53p

Top price was £113 for a Texel from Douganhill Farms, Palnackie, Castle Douglas and 245.9p for the same breed from Messrs Wilson, West Barmoffity, Kirkpatrick Durham.

Ewes sold to a top of £130.50 for more of the same from Messrs Lennox, Plunton.