Prime stock values ease back but markets remain largely firm

Craig Wilson sold spring lambs to an average of £203 or 413p, topping at £220 or 413p for a Texel from A and T Wilson, Baryerrock. Hoggs sold to £200 from S and A McCaig, Mount Pleasant and 402p for Beltex from R Templeton and Co, Carslae. Mount Pleasant led the cast sheep with Texel cross ewes, making £188, while topping the tups at £132 was a Blue Faced Leicester from Barncorkrie.

DUMFRIES

C&D Auction Marts sold spring lambs to £200 for Hampshires from Messrs Brown, Hollands, and to 450p for Hampshires from Messrs Maxwell, Hayfield. Hoggs reached £213 for Texels from Messrs Laird, East Polquhirter and £431 for Cheviots from Glenkiln Farms, Bettyknowes. Cast ewes topped at £330 for Texels from Messrs Ewart, Belridding, which rams realised £275, again for a Texel, from Messrs Ewart, Belridding.

C&D’s fortnightly sale of OTM and prime cattle saw beef cows average 268p, selling to 320p from KMB Farmers, Ardlamy and to £2968 from Herries Farms, Lantonside.

Dairy cows average 211.7p and sold to 280p from Messrs Currie, Barndennoch and to £2295 from Messrs Murray, Conheath.

Bulls levelled at 284p and peaked at 310p and to £3038 from Messrs Paterson, Hartbush. Heifers reached 430p from Messrs Jardine, Yett.

DINGWALL

Dingwall and Highland Marts sold 48 OTM prime and feeding cattle to an average of 258.1p, selling to 308.6p and £2500 for a Limousin cross cow from Fodderletter Farm, Tomintoul.

Bullocks averaged 314.7p, peaking at 316.0p and £2003.20 for a 640kg Stabiliser cross from Findon Farm, Culbokie. Heifers averaged 320.1p and sold to 339.0p for a 620kg Limousin cross from Bridgend, Dingwall and £2324.40 for a 745kg Limousin cross from the same home.

Old season lambs averaged 394.4p and sold to 505.0p for a 44kg Beltex cross from Tillybo Fisherie, Turriff and £228 for a 72kg Beltex cross from Allt Mor, Teanluick.

Feeding Sheep sold to £500 for a Hampshire Down ewe from 2 Glaick, Ardross, sold in aid of the Highland Hospice, purchased by Ewan MacDonald, Conon Brae, who reconsigned it, which sold to £250 to Vivers Scotlamb, Annan.

WOOLER

Harrison and Hetherington saw lambs average 450.8p, with a top of 479p, and £240 for Texels from Messrs Cochrane, Broadmeadows. Hoggs averaged £195.50 and 365p and peaked at £227 for Texels from Messrs Woodcock, The Hagg and 432.2p, again for Texels, this time from Messrs Gregory, Springhill.  

Ewes reached £250 twice, for Texels from The Hagg, and from Black Heddon, while tups topped at £240 for Suffolks from Hethpool House.

PENRITH

Penrith and District Farmers' auction sold spring lambs to an average of 460p, topping at 533p, and £240 twice, for a Texel cross lamb from Messrs ES and D Noble, Mill Farm, Beckermet, and for a single Suffolk from Messrs Graves, Hesket House.

Hoggs levelled at £208.31 and 410p, topping at 529p for a pen of three Beltex at 43kg, and to £268 for a pen of six at 68kg.

Cast ewes averaged £186.64, topping at £390 for a pen of four pure-bred Texels from M McNally, Jonesborough, while rams from W Bethell, County Armagh, achieved £380 for a pure-bred Texel.  

COCKERMOUTH

A Limousin cow from RG Marrs, Cathow, topped the cast cow trade at Mitchell's auction, making 293.5p, while another Limousin from JJ and C Hodgson, Stybeck, sold for £1709.82.

Spring lambs from A and C Park, Seaview topped at £264 for a Texel and to 531.9p for more of the same from WW and D Boow, Corney Hall.

G Gate, Hollins, topped the hogg ring, with Texels selling to £256 and 474.1p.

Cast ewes and rams sold to £268 for a Texel tup from Messrs Mansergh, Sneakyeat, with ewes topping at £260 for a Suffolk from Corney Hall.

LONGTOWN

C&D Auction Marts had forward an entry of 10,067 sheep comprising 117 spring lambs, 5569 hoggs and 4381 cast ewes and rams. Spring lambs topped at £240 for Texels from R Johnston, Kimmeter Green, Annan and to 476p again for Texels, from JB Ackerley, Milton Mains, Brampton.   

Hoggs reached 521p for Texels from Glendoe Estate and £275 for Texels from Messrs Beard, Dormansteads, Roweltown.

Ewes sold to a top of £365 from RL and AR Phillips, Fir Trees, Harrogate, while rams topped at £315 for Texels from Beckfoot.

Cows reached 306p for a Limousin from J Graham and Sons, Orchard, Hawick and to £2622 from RS Conley and Son, Barrasford Green, Hexham.

STIRLING (UA)

United Auctions sold 9258 sheep comprising 289 new season lambs selling to an average of 437.53p, 7635 old season lambs selling to an average of 397.21p and 1333 ewes and rams.

New season lambs peaked at £230 for Continentals from

Baldastard and to 500p for Texels from Mawcarse. Old season lambs sold to £250 for Texels from Weston and to 500p for Beltex from Slatich.  

Cast ewes peaked at £360 for Texels from Merkins, with rams to £360, again for Texels, this time from Carrat.  

STIRLING (CALLY)

Caledonian Marts sold heifers at an average of 377p, with two sales at 425p, for Limousins from WM Pettigrew, Faskine, and T Taylor, Heatheryhall. The top price per head was £2842 for a Limousin from DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Muthill. Bullocks averaged 363p, selling to 415p or £2739 for a British Blue from Ross Brothers, Wardhead, Strichen.

Young Bulls averaged 307p, reaching 350p or £2275 for a Limousin from M Jack, Carriston, Fife. OTM’s averaged 270p and peaked at 318p for a Limousin from J Robertson and Co, Newton of Logierait and to £2580 for a Limousin from Rathillet, Cupar.

Black and Whites averaged 183p and sold to 277p for a Friesian from RM Reid, The Glen and to £2100 for a Friesian from W and M Wylie, Broompark.

On Tuesday, new season lambs averaged 447p, selling to 600p for a Beltex from DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Muthill and to £262 for a pen of Texels from PG Perring, Hoprig, Berwickshire. Old season lambs averaged 384p, peaking at 465p on two occasions for a pen of Texels from A Taylor, Heatheryhall, Thankerton and for Beltex from DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, and to £240 for a single Texel from A Taylor.

Ewes sold to £233 for a Texel from P G Perring, Hoprig, Berwickshire, while tups peaked at £219 for a Bluefaced Leicester from D MacGregor, Burnhead, Kilsyth.

THAINSTONE

Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold under 30-month bullocks to an average of 332.8p, peaking at 369p twice, firstly for a 635kg Limousin Cross from Whiteside, Tullynessle and secondly for a 600kg Limousin Cross from Pityot, Bridge of Muchalls. The gross price was £2483.95 for a 755kg Charolais cross from Brangan, Boyndie. Heifers averaged 342p and sold to 377p for a 610kg Limousin from Pityot and £2670.90 for an 870kg Limousin Cross from Tillyorn Corse, Lumphanan.

Young Bulls averaged 315.5p and sold to 357p and £2856 for a Limousin cross from Tillyorn Corse. Over 30-month bullocks sold to 311p and 2152.80 for a Simmental cross from Mains of Corsegight, New Deer. Heifers reached 309p for a Limousin Cross and £2668.75 for a Limousin Cross from Newton of Savoch, Longside.

Beef finished cows averaged £2360.10 and sold to £2890 for a Simmental cross from Fintry, Turriff. Feeding cows averaged £1865.64 and sold to £2210 for a British Blue Cross from Odinstone, Shapinsay. Boning cows averaged £1112.03 and sold to £1430 for a Luing. Dairy cows levelled at £1531 and sold to £1870 for a Fleckvieh cCross from Redhouse, Fraserburgh. Bulls averaged £2422.14 and sold to £3450 for a Limousin from Glasslaw, Dunnottar.

New season lambs averaged  401.7p (+5.9p) and sold to 490.2p for a pair of pure Suffolks from Newton of Haddo, Forgue and £260 for a pair of Suffolk crosses from Milltown of Birness, Ellon. Old season lambs averaged 395p (-13p) and sold to 467p for Texels from Mosshead, Whitehouse and £260 gross for Texels from Newton of Greeness, Turriff. Feeding ewes and rams averaged £183.70 and sold to £340 for Beltex Crosses from Odinstone, Shapinsay.

DARLINGTON

Darlington Farmers Auction Mart had forward 246 cattle and 1098 sheep. Bulls averaged 334pp and £2402, selling to 398p for Limousins from JR Knox and Son, Bracks and to £3302 for a British Blonde from Bushy Park. Friesian bulls reached 330p from R Hall and Son, Kilton Hall and to £2196 from J Armstrong, Southern Law.

Clean heifers levelled at 389p and £2368, with steers at 367p and £2579. The top heifers sold to 445p from R Miller, Arkleby Hall, while steers traded at 415p from Rochester and Murray, Glebe Farm.  

New season lambs averaged 471p and £215.91, peaking at 584p from JC Simpson, Hill Top East, and £266 for Suffolk crosses from Cole Hill, Elwick. Hoggs levelled at 395p and £188.83, reaching 450p and £234 for Beltex from TN Callender, Ox Eye.

In the cast ring, the average was £187.76 with ewes from JC Simpson, Hill Top East leading the way at £246.

On Monday, OTMs averaged 257p and £1747, peaking at 360p for a  Hereford steer from B Cave, Whitehall and to £2799 for a Limousin cow from F Ward, Rogerley Hall. Cast bulls peaked at 314p and £3076 for a seven-year-old, Limousin from R and S Purdham, Low Boonwood, Cumbria and £3067. Two ten-year-olds topped the Friesian’s from G Thompson and Son, Softley as one sold for 220p and the other led the gross values at £1821.  

ST BOSWELLS

Harrison and Hetherington sold 90 clean cattle, 44 cast cows, three bulls, 240 lambs, 1220 hoggs and 400 cast sheep. Bullocks averaged 335p and sold to 396p for Limousins from Messrs Dandie, Learielaw and to £2656 for more of the same from Hamilton Farming, Lennoxlove. Heifers averaged 348p and sold to 438p for a Limousin from Messrs Hamilton, Bee Edge and to £2661for British Blue £2661 from the same home. Cows levelled at 268p and sold to 329p for Aberdeen Angus from Messrs Connon, Greenknowe and to £2762 for the same breed from Messrs Tweedie, Middlethird.

Young bulls peaked at 336p for Aberdeen Angus from Messrs Logan, West Garleton and to £1987 for Limousins from the same home. Cast bulls averaged 244p and sold to 263p for an Angus from Messrs Stewart, Tushielaw and to £2560 for Luing from Messrs Penny, Harehead.

Lambs levelled at 445.8p (-13p on the week) and £207. A top price of £250 was paid for Suffolk crosses from Messrs Scott, Redpath, East End, and £492 for Texel crosses from Messrs Fleming, Lochside.

Hoggs averaged 403.2p (-0.8p on the week) and £200, selling to £286 for Texels from Wester Ulston and 449p for more of the same from Messrs  Fleming, Anvil.

Sheep averaged £160.42 and peaked at £305 for a Texel from D Gray, Sunnycroft , while tups topped at £268 for a Texel from Floors Farming, Rawburn.

LANARK

Lawrie and Symington had forward 80 cattle comprising 38 bullocks and heifers and 42 cast cows.

Heifers sold to £2692 for Limousins from Brownsbank, Biggar, or to 420p for Limousins from Brockwoodlees, Canonbie. Bullocks peaked at £2733 for a Charolais, again from Brownsbank Farm or to 370p from Hill Farm, Strathaven. Young bulls sold to £2437 and 325p from East Merkland, Strathaven. Dairy bullocks peaked at £2150 and 302p for Friesians from Millhill.

Beef cows reached £2470 from Auchenhard, West Calder or 286p from Overcairn, New Cumnock. Dairy cows peaked at £1890 from Greentowers, Lanark or to 261p from Letham, Lesmahagow.

In the sheep rings, 162 spring lambs, 3245 hoggs, and 1746 cast ewes came under the hammer to meet an overall average of 470p. The sale topped at £242 for Texels from Messrs Clark, Blackhill and to 506.80p for Charollais from A Patterson, Baldastard.

Hoggs levelled at 406p and peaked at £290 for Texels from Messrs Campbell, Strawfrank and to 520p for Beltex from Messrs Cunningham, Walkerdyke.

Texels from Messrs Gibson, Cowgrove, topped the ewe trade at £385, while the same breed topped the rams at £325 from Strawfrank.

CARLISLE

Harrison and Hetherington sold 131 bulls with the top price of £4111.60 for a Charolais bull from J and L Wilson, Cassindilly, Cupar and to 428p for an  Limousin from Messrs Jenkinson.

Dairy bulls peaked at £2515.50 for a Fleckvieh from Messrs Todd, Wyndham House, Wigton and to 320p for a Holstein Friesian from Messrs Jackson, Skelton Wood End, Penrith.

J and L Wilson also topped the steers at £2903.52 for a Charolais cross with a top per kg of 380p for  Limousin cross from Messrs Bowe, Bothel Parks, Wigton. Heifers peaked at £2627.88 for a Limousin cross from Messrs Blake, Halfway Well, Penrith, and to 414p for a Limousin cross from Messrs Wales, Thackwood, Carlisle. 

Cows were topped at £3061 for a Charolais from DA Harrison and Co, Hill House and 387.5p for a Blue cross from the same home.  Bulls realised £3348 for a Beef Shorthorn from Chapel House, and 287.5p for a Limousin from Stephney.

Cast rams peaked at £320 for a Texel ram from Messrs Mitchell, Mirkbooths, with a Rouge ewe selling for £270 from Messrs Marwick and Coney, Glenogle.  

New season lambs averaged 461p and £196, with the top going to a Texel selling to £225 from Mirkbooths and to 495.5p for Texels from Birks.

Hogs met an average of 390p or £184, topping at £240 for a trio of Beltex crosses from Haig Murray, The Beeches and to 452p for Blue Texels from the same home. Cast ewes and rams peaked at £277 for a Rouge from Glenogle.

AYR

Craig Wilson sold 523 cast sheep, 175 prime lambs and 1371 hoggs. New season lambs averaged 438p, topping at £234 and 520p for a pair of Texels from H Sloan, Mull of Galloway.

 Hoggs averaged 408p or £182 and peaked at £230 for a pen of Beltex from Messrs Stevenson, Balcaimie or 476p for another pen of Beltex from the same home.

Cast ewes from J and J McLeish, Back O’Hill, peaked at £288 for a Texel with tups selling to £198 for Dutch Spotted from D Welsh, West Broadmoss.  

Heifers averaged 382.53p or £2255.04, selling to 426p for a Limousin heifer from The Smith Family at North Boig, while a bullock realised 412p or £2616.20. Young bulls averaged 335.00p or £1768.00, peaking at 340p for a Limousin off South Hourat and £2450 for an Aberdeen Angus from Broughton Skeog. Young Bulls sold to 340p for a Limousin off South Hourat.

Cast bulls peaked at £2450 for an Aberdeen Angus from Broughton Skeog. Clean cattle reached £2100 for a Limousin heifer from High Kilphin, while cows sold to £2240 for an Angus from Holmbyre.

HUNTLY

United Auctions saw new season lambs average 414p and peak at 452p for a Texel from Meikle Begshill, Drumblade and to £224 for a Suffolk from Foulzie, Kind Edward. Old season lambs averaged 375p, selling to 435p for a Texel from Mains of Leslie, Insch and to £258 for a Texel from Rory and Alfie Wood, Burrleton.

Ewes levelled at £160.49, topping at £310 for a pure Texel from Rory and Alfie Wood, Burrleton.

CASTLE DOUGLAS

Wallets Marts sold 51 new season lambs to a top of £232 for Mill Bleu lambs from Kerrie McDermid, South Boig and 500p for Beltex from Messrs Torbet, Whitecrook.

Hoggs averaged 383.74p and peaked at £230, again for Mill Bleu from Kerrie McDermid, and 445p for Texels from Messrs Gilroy, East Kirkcarsewell. Sheep peaked at £292 for Texel rams from D Kerr, Fagra, while ewes sold to £238 for Texels from Messrs McCulloch, Lochside.

 KIRKBY STEPHEN

Harrison and Hetherington sold 2872 hoggs to an average of 412.6p and £200.94, topping at £271 for a Beltex cross from Messrs Smithson, Skelcies Hall, Kirkby Stephen. Topping the pence per kilo at 520.8p was a pen of seven Beltex crosses from J Andrews, Boscar Flats, York. Sheep topped at £264 for a pen of Texel cross ewes from Messrs Foster, West End Farm, Bowes

Spring lambs averaged 476.87p and £205.96, peaking at £234 for a Texel cross lamb from Messrs Sowerby, Terrys Farm Ormside and to 538.5p for Beltex from Wharton Hall.

WIGTON

Hopes Auctioneers sold hoggs to £252 for Texels from Messrs Paterson, Thistle Bottom and to 502.3p for a Beltex from JT and EM Marrs, Broomhills. Spring lambs topped at £258 and 600p for Beltex from JJ Crichton, Loughrigg. Ewes peaked at £350 for Charollais from the same home.