Last updated 13:39, Thursday, 02 October 2008

ON TUESDAY at their weekly sale Hexham and Northern Marts had forward 53 cattle, which included three young bulls and 37 over 30 month animals. Shortage of prime cattle resulted in shapely sorts keenly bid for.

Prime cattle prices. Heifers per kilo: Blonde to 182.5p Shield Farm. Limousin to 181.5p Shield Farm, 155.5p Nunwick and 151.5P Peacock House. Simmental to 157.5p Peacock House. Charolais to 154.5p(2) Nunwick. Steers per kilo: Limousin to 156.5p Nunwick. Heifers per head: Limousin to £1,139.82 Shield Farm. Blonde to £1,063.98 Shield Farm. Steers per head: Charolais to £1,019.96 Nunwick. Limousin to £1,014.12 Nunwick.

A plainer show of over 30 month animals returned a sharper trade to average 102.3p and £683.50. Prices per kilo: Limousin to 135.5p and 117.5p The Steel, 117.5p Haggate, 114.5p Broomhall and 109.5p Crowhall. Angus to 134.5p Broomhall, 116.5p Steel Hall and 107.5p Sunniside. Charolais to 127.5p and 122.5p Hallington South. Holstien to 111.5p Breckney Hill. Friesian to 109.5p Keepershield. Simmental to 106.5p Brokenheugh. Prices per head: Charolais to £1,269.90 and £1,166.20 Hallington South. Limousin to £878.04 The Steel and £861.04 Broomhall. Friesian to £857.72 Keepershield. Holstien to £856.32 Breckney Hill. Angus to £855.11 Steel Hall.

There were 3,870 prime sheep which comprised of 3,269 lambs and 601 cast ewes and rams. Lambs. Numbers were down on the week as many customers adhere to the six day standstill rule, however this failed to help the trade as a more mixed show of lambs met a lacklustre demand. Quality well fleshed lambs sold to 133.7p/kg for three-quarter Texels from Longlea and to £64 for a superb pen of 53 kilo Suffolk x lambs from Nunwick.

Lamb prices. Suffolk x per head to £64, £60 and £57.80(2), Nunwick, £60.20 and £60 Steel Hall, £60 West Kirkheaton, £58 Buteland and Colwell Hill, £57.20 High Fotherley, £57 Hard Riding, £56.90 East Knitsley and £56 Cowburn Rigg. Per kilo to 126.8p and 125.4p Steel Hall, 125p, 123p(2) and 122.5p Nunwick, 123.3p High Fotherley, 122.8p and 122.6p Derwent Oak and 122p Palm Strothers and Broomhall. Texel x per head to £62.20 and £57.80 Nunwick, £62 and £57 Broomhall, £59 Todburn and Thornley Hall, £58.20 Round Meadows, £58 East Knitsley and Huntershield, £57.80 High Fotherley, Hard Riding, £57.50 West Heddon and £57 Airy Holm and Warksfield Head. Per kilo to 133.7p Longlea, 133.1p and 126.6p Huntershield, 130p Nunwick, 129.3p West Mill Hills, 128.2p Buteland, 128p West Morralee and Grange Farm, 127p Breckon Hill, 126.9p Birkside, 126.8p High Fotherley and Airey Hill and 126.3p Kellah. Beltex x per head to £57 Breckon Hill(smith), £56.50 and £49 Light Birks, £54.50 High Fotherley, £51 and £50.50 Ellfoot and £46.80 Palm Strothers. Per kilo to 129.8p High Fotherley, 129.6p Breckon Hill(smith), 126.5p Palm Strothers, 123.2p and 121.4p Ellfoot and 119.5p and 117.7p Light Birks. Mule per head to £59 High Town, £57 and £51 Whiteside, £57 and £51 Rusheylaw, £55, £50.80 and £50.20 Warksfield Head, £55 and £51 Kellah, £52.40 Cranberry Brow, £51 Kingswood and £50.80 Colwell Hill. Per kilo to 115.9p and 112.2p Kellah, 114.1p and 112.9p Warksfield Head, 113.2p The Steel, 112.7p White House, 112.3p Demesne, 111.9p Hotbank and 110.9p Rusheylaw. Cheviot Mule to £55.80 and 116.3p Overacres. Charollais x per head to £64 Derwent Oak, £55.50 and £51 Salmonswell, £53.50 Low Houselope, £51.80 Rusheylaw and £51.50 and £50 South Colwell. Per kilo to 128.2p 122.6p South Colwell, 125.5p Derwent Oak, 121.6p Low Houselope and 118.6p and 118.1p Salmonswell. Bleu d’ Maine to £50, £49 and 122.5p Chesterwood. Blackface per head to £47 and £42 Hotbank, £47 and £40 Whiteside, £47 Chirdon, £41 Kingswood and £39 Burnbank. Per kilo to 109.3p and 107.7p Hotbank, 105.4p Burnbank, 105.1p Kingswood and 104.4p Chirdon.

Cast ewes and rams. A smaller entry but more hill ewes forward. Trade once again slightly easier on the week. Ewe prices per head: Texel x to £48, £47, £40 and £38.80 Nunwick, £47.50 Hard Riding, £44 Todburn, £41 Pine Dene, £38.20 Kingswood and £38 Bolam West Houses, Steel Hall and Low Farnham. Suffolk x to £47 Hepple Hill and £40.50 Bolam West Houses. Mule to £38.20 Elrington Hall, £36.20 Steel Hall, £35.80 Breckon Hill, £35.50 Rusheylaw, £35.20 Hepple Hill, £35 Cooks House, £34.80 Nunwick and £34.50 Colwell Hill and Pine Dene. Leicester to £45 Hepple Hill. Bleu d’ Maine to £46 Tedcastle. Cheviot x to £36 and £30.20 Barrasford Green and £34 Steel Hall. Blackface to £33 Rusheylaw, £28 Crowhall, £21 White House, £20.20 Toft House and £20 Low Farnham. Swaledale to £17.50 and £17 Chirdon. Rams per head: Blackface to £27 Chirdon.

HEXHAM and Northern Marts’ sale on Friday had 132 beef breeding cattle forward. Heifers with calves were a mixed selection and met a useful trade selling to £1,650 for a superb Belgian Blue x heifer with a spring born Belgian Blue x heifer calf at foot and due in the spring to the Limousin bull from Mirlaw House. Other top prices. Heifers with spring calves: Belgian Blue x to £1,650 Mirlaw House and £1,420 Pease Myers. Limousin x to £1,620 and £1,400 Mirlaw House. Heifers with summer born calves: Limousin x to £1,500 Mirlaw House, £1,420 Brackenthwaite and £1,000 Round Meadows. Angus x to £1,000 Brackenthwaite. Simmental x to £980 Mirlaw House. Stock cows featured the dispersal of the Overton Bush herd of spring and summer calving cows with calves, the majority were middle aged cows, however all were well bid for. Spring calvers with calves at foot (Overton Bush): Saler x to £1,100, £980, £960, £900(3), £850, £840, £820, £810 and £800(2). Angus x £1,000, £830 and £810. Charolais x to £970. Limousin x to £930, £840 and £800. Simmental x to £880.

Cows with summer born calves (Overton Bush): Saler x £1,010, £940, £860, £820, £800 and £790. Limousin x £870. Also forward were 12 Limousin x cows with spring born organic. Limousin x calves from Snitter which sold to £1,060 for a superb 6th calver with a Limousin steer calf at foot. Other prices. Limousin x: Cows with steer calves £990, £970 and £950(2). Cows with heifer calves £930, £910 and £860. In-calf heifers comprised of the annual consignment of autumn calving Aberdeen Angus x Friesian heifers from Balshaw House which sold to £960 and averaged £830 for 14. Top prices: £960, £950, £940, £930, £920 and £900(2). Bulling heifers (all from Overton Bush): Belgian Blue x to £760, £670 and £640. Limousin x to £680. Simmental x to £665 and £640.

FOR their weekly sale on Friday Hexham and Northern Marts had forward 402 store cattle and suckled calves. A very useful selection of store cattle with trade sharper on the week, sold to a good ring of buyers. Top price steer was £1,040 for a Charolais x from Mr R. Oxley, Colwell Hill, and the top price Heifer was for a Blonde x from R. English and Son, Brownsleazes realising £875.

Top prices. Cattle aged 23 months +. Limousin x: Steers to £980 Todburn, £870 and £855 Fairley and £730 and £705 Blue Gables. Heifers to £770 Follions, £730 and £690 Cheviot and £620 Fairley. Belgian Blue x steers to £720 Shotleyfield. Cattle aged 17 – 22 months. Charolais x: Steers to £1,040 and £1,030 Colwell Hill. Heifers to £825, £785, £775, £675 and £670 Colwell Hill and £745 and £742 White House (JS). Limousin x: Steers to £955 Follions, £950, £920(2), £915 and £770 Fairley, £950, £900 and £860 Todburn, £885, £795, £765 and £760 Edlingham Newtown, £800 Rawfoot, £795, £765, £758, £750 and £740 Lee Hall and £755 Elrington Hall. Heifers to £740 £712 Follions, £730 £562 White House (JS), £710 Cheviot, £700 Fairley and £630 Low Staples. Angus x steers to £922 Broomhall. Belgian Blue x: Steers to £775 Lee Hall. Heifers to £582 Grange Farm. Blonde x: Steers to £745 Shotleyfield and £690(2) and £680(2) Prendwick. Heifers to £770 Brownsleazes. Holstien Friesian steers to £575 Coalburns. Simmental x heifers to £712 Grange Farm and £570 Branton Middlesteads. Hereford x steers to £545 Toll Cottage. Cattle 11 – 16 months. Charolais x: Steers to £900, £795 and £700 Edlingham Newtown. Heifers to £865 Edlingham Newtown and £522 Kingswood. Angus x steers to £855, £785 and £730 Broomhall. Limousin x: Steers to £825, £800, £765 and £705 Elrington Hall, £820 and £700 Dotland Park, £805, £770, £760(2), £750, £735 and £720 Lee Hall, £792 Brownsleazes, £780, £740 and £710 Rawfoot and £735 and £700 Follions. Heifers to £840(2), £700, £650 and £625 Dotland Park, £785, £670(2), £580, £575(2) and £560 Burntongues, £715 Low Staples, £670(2) Holly Hill West and £650 Binchester Hall. Belgian Blue x steers to £758, £660 and £600 Little Swinburne, £700 Elrington Hall and £630 Blue Gables. Pure Blonde steers to £755 Harelaw. Blonde x: Steers to £685 and £650 Prendwick. Heifers to £875 and £735 Brownsleazes. Montbeliard x steers to £538 Willow Gap. South Devon steers to £445 Shotleyfield. Cattle 10 months and under. Limousin x: Steers to £750 and £745 Dotland Park, £655 and £650 White House (TM) and £575 Harelaw. Heifers to £645 Dotland Park and £525 Burntongues. Charolais x heifers to £558 Bishopton and £545 Kingswood. Blonde x steers to £545 Harelaw.

AT THEIR weekly sale for store sheep Hexham and Northern Marts had forward an entry of 1,909 head. A good quality show was forward and all classes were a sharp trade and dearer on the week. Feeding ewes per head: Texel x to £34.50 Kirks House, £26 Falstone and £25 Girsonfield. Mule to £30.50 Agars Hill and £25 Falstone. Blackface to £12 and £11.50 Falstone. Swaledale to £19, £15 and £8 Netherharsley. Store lambs per head: Texel x to £54.80 Loadman, £48.20 Middle Cottage, £47 and £40 Dukesfield Hall, £47 Bulls Hill, £45.20 and £40 Hepple Whitefield, £45 Stone Hall, £44.50 Billerley, £44 Low Staples, £43 Wall Fell, £42.50 and £38 Allenheads Farm, £41 Middle Cottage, £39.80 Parkside, £39.50 Newbiggen Hill, £37.50 Netherharsley, £36.50 Falstone, £36.20 Keepershield and £36 Hill Top and Girsonfield. Suffolk x to £49.20 Piatroon, £48.20, £47.50 and £44 Lowfield, £46.80, £41.50 and £38 Settlingstones, £46 Hepple Whitefield, £39.50 Buckshot, £37 Parkside and £36.50 Fontburn Rare Breeds. Mule to £41.50, £36 and £30 Stone House, £40 Dukesfield Hall, £36.50 East Highridge, £36.20 Ouston, £32.20 £26.20 Netherharsley, £32 Rowley Bank, £29.20 Hepple Whitefield and £26.50 Falstone. Cheviot x to £32 and £28 Windyhaugh. Blackface to £33 Dukesfield Hall and £23.50 and £20.20 Laings Hill.

HEXHAM and Northern Marts conducted their annual prize show and sale of the traditional Tow Law Mule gimmer lambs on behalf of the Weardale branch of NEMSA which was kindly sponsored by Animax and Peter Monkhouse Haulage. An excellent show of lambs was presented for the prize show which was expertly judged by Charles Hedley Esq, Burn farm, Willington, Crook who made the following awards. The champion pen shown by Messrs Collingwood, Stewartshield Meadows were awarded the G.W. Robinson Perpetual Rose Bowl for the second consecutive year and went on to realise £115 purchased by Mr Howard Johnson, Whitelea Farm, Crook. The reserve champion pen from T. Collingwood and Son, Ambling Gate sold at £126 and were purchased by K. Cator Esq, Stobb House Farm, Brandon. Third prize lambs from W. Reed and Sons, West Biggens sold at £92 and were purchased by Mr Howard Johnson, Whitelea Farm, Crook. Fourth prize lambs from M.L. and B.E. Coulthard, Bridge End sold at £82 and were also purchased by Mr Howard Johnson, Whitelea Farm, Crook. A full ring of local and distant buyers were operating. Despite the poor weather conditions lambs were presented well. There was a strong trade for tupping lambs, stronger running lambs looked value for money but smaller running lambs sold well. Leading prices: £126, £68 and £62 Ambling Gate, £115 and £67 Stewartshield Meadows, £110, £80, £78, £76, £72 and £64 Stockley Burn, £105 and £76 Redburn, £92, £72 and £64 West Biggens, £83 and £62(2) Spittalshield, £82, £73, £70 and £62 Lands Farm, £82, £66 and £64 Bridge End, £72, £65 and £62 Harwood Shield, £66 Carry House, Ling Riggs and Allergill, £64 Glenhill and Glebe Farm, £63 Garretshields and Waskerley Park Farms and £62 Allotment Farm.

LAST Wednesday at their Scots Gap centre Hexham and Northern Marts sold 1,221 prime lambs to average 43kg, 127.9p/kg and £54.96 per head. With heavy lambs sought after Suffolk cross sold to £67 for 52kg lambs from Messrs Clarkson, Elrington Hall and £65 for 50kg Texel cross lambs from Messrs Robson, Merryshields. Leading pence per kilo price of the sale was 141p/kg for a pen of 22 41kg Texel x lambs from Willie Hall, New Houses, Hallington which realised £57.80 per head. Leading prices: Suffolk x per head to £67, £64.80 and £64.40 Holling Hill, £67 and £62.20 Elrington Hall, £66.20, £64.20 and £61 East White Hill, £64.50 Brixter Hill, £61.50 Hallington New Houses, £60.50 Dene House, £60.20 Little Harle and Chesters and £59.80 Thockrington Farms, Crook Dene and Middle White Hill. Per kilo to 135.2p Elrington Hall, 135p and 131.4p Holling Hill, 133.8p and 133.3p Chesters, 133.8p and 132.6p East White Hill, 133.8p Little Harle, 133.7p Hallington New Houses, 132.9p Thockrington Farms, Crook Dene and Middle White Hill, 132.3p Rugley Walls, 131.8p Merryshields, 131.7p Warkshaugh and 129p Crook Dene. Texel x per head to £65 and £61.50 Merryshields, £65 and £59.20 Little Harle, £65 Chesters, £64.20 Ingoe Low Hall, £64, £61.80 and £64 Thockrington Farms, £64 and £62 Elrington Hall, £64 and £59.80 East White Hill, £60.50 Dene House, £59.20 Grindstone Law, £58 Warkshaugh, £57.80 Hallington New Houses and £55.50, £54.60 and £54 Low Farnham. Per kilo to 141p Hallington New Houses, 134.8p and 133.3p Elrington Hall, 134.6p and 134.2p Grindstone Law, 134.6p and 131.3p Little Harle, 134.4p and 133.3p Thockrington Farms, 133.7p Merryshields, 133.5p Ingoe Low Hall, 132.9p East White Hill, 132.7p Chesters, 131.8p Warkshaugh, 131.7p Rugley Walls, 131.5p Dene House and 130p, 129.1p and 128.6p Low Farnham. Mule per head to £55 and £52 Middle White Hill, £54 Low Farnham and Rugley Walls, £50 and £46.80 Black Callerton and £48.50 Middle White Hill. Per kilo to 122.2p, 121.3p and 118.2p Middle White Hill, 120p and 119.1p Black Callerton, 117.4p Low Farnham, 112.5p Rugley Walls and 110.5p The Fawns and Cartington. Blackface to £45 and 112.5p Cartington.

HEXHAM and Northern Marts held their annual show and sale of 724 Texel, Suffolk and Continental rams and females which was kindly sponsored by Barclays Bank, last Wednesday. At their opening sale of Texel rams the company offered 427 shearlings and ram lambs. With a large mixed entry presented strong sorts were highly sought after with lesser tups proving difficult to cash. Prior to the sale 26 shearlings and four ram lambs were brought before judges John Walton Esq, Keepwick, Hexham and Ian Hamilton Esq, Claywalls, Capheaton, who gave the following awards. The ‘Arthur Iveson Perpetual Memorial Trophy’ for the overall champion Texel ram went to John Davison, Lough Green for an outstanding shearling ram which went on to realise £1,200 and was bought by judge J. Walton Esq. The reserve champion was awarded to a tremendous ram lamb from Alan Walker, Newbiggen Hill which later sold for £620 to Messrs Dalton, Glenhill. Prize list. Shearlings: 1 and 3, Messrs W.H. Davison and Sons, Lough Green £1,200, £800; 2, Messrs R. Thornton and Son, Cornhills £900. Ram lambs: 1 and 3, Mr A. Walker, Newbiggen Hill £620, £460; 2, Messrs A.G. and D. Bisset, Middle Dukesfield £650.

Top flock averages: Cornhills, 20, top £1,080, average £732; Lough Green, 23, top £1,200, average £632; Flotterton Cottages, 11, top £880, average £587; Townfoot, six, top £1,200, average £583; Kiln Cottage eight, top £600, average £522; Yatesfield, two, top £700, average £500; West Heddon, 22, top £780, average £491; Bensons Fell, 21, top £780, average £481; Newbiggen Hill (RL), three, top £620, average £466; Dotland Park, four top £500, average £452. Prices out-with the prize list: Shearlings to £1,200 and £880 Townfoot, £1,080, £1,050, £950, £920, £820(2), £780 and £750(3) Cornhills, £1,000, £900, £880 and £750 Lough Green, £950 Middle Dukesfield, £880 Flotterton Cottages, £800 Newton High House and Butterknowes and £780 Bensons Fell and West Heddon. Ram lambs to £320 Newbiggen Hill, £300(2), £240 and £180 Middle Dukesfield, £250 Bondisle Terrace and £220 and £200 Little Burtholme. Suffolk rams. Shearlings were short of requirements and met the sharpest trade seen at Hexham for some time with averages well above vendors expectations.

Prior to the sale the judge Mr Alan Sked, Kilnford Croft, Dumfries awarded ‘The James Johnson Perpetual Challenge Cup’ for the overall champion Suffolk ram to Gordon and Susan Turnbull from Cookstead, Cornhill on Tweed whose shearling made £700 and was purchased by Matt Findlay, High Farm, Hallington. The reserve champion was awarded to the first prize lamb also from Cookstead which made £450 and was also purchased by Matt Findlay. Prize list. Shearlings: 1, Messrs H.H. Turnbull and Sons, Cookstead £700; 2, Mr J.M. Hayward, East Learmouth £600; 3, Alan R. Lawson and Son, South Farm £520. Ram lambs: 1 and 3, Messrs H.H. Turnbull and Sons, £450, £620; 2, Mr W.H. Clubbey, Lairhill £360.

Top flock averages shearlings, 111 sold – top £780 – avearge £405.41; Flotterton 10 sold top £780 average £539; Cookstead 12 sold top £720 average £525; Lowes fell three sold top £550 average £506; East Learmouth 11 sold top £600 average £490; Edlingham Demesne five sold top £520 average £464; Goatstones six sold top £580 average £462; Black Heddon 15 sold top £700 average £456; South Farm seven sold top £520 average £424. Top flock average ram lambs: 37 sold – top £650 – average £317.57; Cookstead 14 sold top £620(2) average £477; Lairhill 11 sold top £440 average £270.

Prices outwith the prize list. Shearlings: £780, £680 and £650 Flotterton, £720, £620(2) and £600 Cookstead, £700 Black Heddon, £580 Goatstones(2) and East Learmouth(2) and £550 Lowes Fell. Ram lambs: £650, £600, £520, £500, £450(4), £420(3) and £320 Cookstead, £440 and £320 Lairhill, £330 Rowley Link and £300 Park View. Charollais and other continental rams. Shearlings: Charollais to £500, £400, £380, £350 and £280 Thackwood and £180 Middle Heugh. Charollais x to £320 and £200 Thackwood. Texel x to £280 East Trewick, £260 and £250 Nesbit and £110 Lumbylaw. Beltex x to £300(2) and £250 Bensons Fell. Beltex x two shear rams to £150 Middle Heugh. Pure Texel females. Dispersal Sale for F.W. and J.I. Hutchinson, Emley, Whitfield. Gimmers to £150, £110, £100. Two shears to £98, £92. Three shears to £144, £98. Four shears to £80(2). Aged ewes to £74. Dispersal on behalf of J. Mitchell, Kiln Cottage. Two shears to £195, £170, £120. Three shears to £125, £120, £115. Four shears to £100. Gimmers sold on behalf of E. Telfer and Sons, Newton High House £490, £290, £260, £220.

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart at their Longtown sale on Tuesday had forward 4,442 store lambs and 1,259 breeding sheep. Store lambs were a similar show and trade was up £3 on the week. Top was £49 for Texels from The Croft, Shap, then £47 Church View. Suffolks £44.50 Clarghyll, £44 East Unthank, £43.50 Carlenrigg. Greyfaces £46 Cooks House, £38.50 Sheepriggs, £38 Midtodhills. Blackfaces £26.20 Glenwhargen, £25.50 Loch Alve. Swaledales £23.80 Whinshields, £21 Loch Alve. Hill Cheviots were a smaller show and very dear. Top was £41 East Murton, £38.50 Glendinning, £36.50 Easter Alemoor. The breeding sheep comprised 840 ewes, 246 shearlings and 173 ewe lambs. A large ring of buyers saw all classes sharper on previous sales. Ewes sold to £62 for two crop Texel ewes from Messrs Fleming, Hillhead, othes to £60 (2 shear) Shawhill, £58 (3 shear) Kirkhouse; Greyface £59 (2 shear) Wanwood Hill, £54 (2 shear) Longriggthorn, £52 (2 shear) Brookfield. Cheviot Mules £52 (2 crop), £50 (2 crop) Shawhill, £49 (2 crop) Philiphaugh. Lleyn £40 (4 shear) The Green. Shearlings to £80 for Suffolk x Beltex from Z Green, Allerley Terrace who sold others to £62. Texels £78 Shawhill, £56 Hillhead, £52 Stackbraes. Greyfaces £78 Dyke, £68 Longriggthorn and The Dyke. Cheviot Mules £57, £53 Philiphaugh. Lleyns £48 The Green. Ewe lambs to £49 for Mules from Messrs Ivinson, Bankshead, £47 Longriggthorn, £45 Laverhay.

AT THEIR Longtown prime stock sale on Thursday the Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 55 prime cattle, along with 6,628 prime lambs and 9,509 cast ewes and rams. Cattle averages. Steers: Light, 139.5p (112.5p); medium, 191.5p (159.8p); heavy, 183.5p (161.5p). Heifers: Medium, 178.5p (144.4p); heavy, 185.5p (150.2p). Sheep averages. Lambs: Light, 134.0p (114.8p); standard, 145.0p (129.2p); medium, 150.0p (129.8p); heavy, 140.0p (128.3p). Ewes: Light, £38.50 (£19.49); heavy, £78.50 (£36.04). Cast rams: £62.50 (£36.31).