Averages were well up on the year and for more sold at Darlington Farmers Auction Marts’ New Year show and sale of store cattle, where steers cashed in at £1197 (+£114 for 16 more sold) and heifers at £1152 (+£96 for 14 more).

The top price was £2300 paid for a British Blue steer from M Robinson and Sons, East Alwent Farm, with the same home leading the heifers at £1920.

The pre-sale champion, a Limousin cross heifer from DG and PD Ayre of Roger Moor, later realised £1480. Runner up was a British Blue steer from KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook, Marrick, that made £1500.

Breeding cattle reached £3050 for a Limousin cow and calf at foot from D and J Gawthorpe, Meadow Nook.

A Texel lamb from D and H M Hodgson, Dyke Nook, led the store hoggs at £136, whilst feeding ewes peaked at £122 for D and JA Teasdale.

Leading Prices

Cows and calves – £3050, £3000, £2600, £2500, £2450 (x2), £2350, £2000 D and J Gawthorpe; £1420, £1250 JB and LM Knight; £1100 W Love Ltd.

Stirks – £560, £390 (x2) JB and LM Knight.

Young bulls – £1850, £1760, £1590 (x2), £1530 D Dixon; £1790, £1570, £1500, £1450 (x2), £1410, £1400 Hughes Bros Farms; £1390 D and J Gawthorpe; £1370, £1310, £1275 J and P Armstrong; £1190 (x2) C Moffett; £1190 (x2), £1090 RA Patterson and Son; £1120 (x2), £1115 (x3) RJ and R Greenbank.

Steers – £2300, £1880, £1820, £1680, £1490 M Robinson and Sons; £1690, £1600, £1590 GL and M Steel; £1510 Jack Sewell; £1500 KO Stones; £1470 G Scott; £1465, £1350 B Needham; £1450, £1400, £1380 (x3) F Ward; £1440, £1415, £1400 (x2) I W Cairns; £1410 ME and TD Tailford; £1400, £1350 W Emerson; £1390, £1360 RA and SL Wearmouth; £1390 TT Hall and Son; £1350 W Love Ltd.

Heifers – £1920, £1840, £1650, £1400 M Robinson and Sons; £1840 PRE Marwood; £1710, £1660, £1620, £1590, £1530 S and J Dent and Son; £1540 HJ and K Millar; £1530, £1380 JR and J Crowe; £1510, £1480, £1470 (x3), £1460, £1440 (x4), £1380 F Ward; £1490, £1420 (x3) Wilkinson and Son; £1480, £1400 DG and PD Ayre; £1480, £1440 L Claughan; £1460, £1420, £1410, £1400 J Thompson and Sons; £1400 JS Wiper; £1390 WB Rutter and Sons; £1390 C and M Burnett; £1380 I W Cairns.

Store hoggs – Cont – £136, £118, £117 D and HM Hodgson; £122, £115 J and P Armstrong; £121, £115 DR Smith; £120, £119.50 JG Atkinson; £119, £114.50, £113 A Wilson; £117, £112 JG and EM Welford; £115.50 G Potts; £115 JD and MS Mortimer; £115 KO Stones. Suff – £116.50, £104, £100 MG and WD Burton; £114 DR Smith; £98 Wolsingham Park Farms. Mule – £100 A Wilson; £85 JD Bousfield; £84 GH and RG Stobbs; £80 MG and WD Burton. Chev – £87, £80 KO Stones. Swale/Blackface – £65 D Wearmouth; £62 Wolsingham Park Farms. Herdwick – £40 A Wilson.

Feeding ewes – £122 D and JA Teasdale; £105, £84 K and RE Robson; £99, £80, £72 B Lowson; £99, £80 MT and J Burney; £93 DG and PD Ayre; £90 D and M Lowes; £90 RL Carter; £80 JG and EM Welford; £80 D Wearmouth; £78, £76, £71 K Cator; £77 M Collingwood.