Last updated 21:54, Wednesday, 09 July 2008

THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 105 prime cattle, 2 young bulls, 22 OTM, 722 prime hoggs, 2,725 prime lambs and 4,951 cast ewes and rams at the weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, July 3.THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward a small entry of breeding sheep at the sale at Longtown on Thursday, July 3.

All classes of cattle were easier on the week. Top price of 181.5p for a Belgian Blue heifer from D M & R A Dickinson, Brockwoodlees. Limousin heifers from A Irving, Toppin Castle to 178.5p followed at 175.5p Slealands, 173.5p, 170.5p Crookholm. Charolais heifers 178.5p Hallburn.

Limousin bullocks 179.5p Hallburn, 177.5p Raeburnfoot, 176.5p Dashwellgreen, 173.5p Uppertinwald, 172.5p Stormont, 170.5p Toppin Castle.

Young bulls to 135.5p Becton Hall.

The OTM were a poorer show for quality and cheaper on the week. Charolais cows to 127.5p (£969) Barnglies, Limousins 124.5p (£896) Nunscleugh; Black & White cows 115.5p (£681) Peterscrook; Belgian Blue cows 104.5p (£726) Edenbanks; Limousin bull 103.5p Chapel Farm; Limousin bullocks 111.5p Burnside.

The lambs averaged 143.5p overall for a good show of quality but there is still a shortage of heavy lambs. The sale was topped at £73.50 for Texel lambs from Messrs Atkinson, Gill Farm and to 170.9p for Texel lambs from G & A Scott, Summerhill. Other Texels to £71.80 Summerhill, £68.20 Cardew Hall, Charollais £60 Mossthorn, £54.80 Dashwellgreen; Greyface £65 High House; Suffolks £72.50 Kersknowe, £64.80 Barnglies, £64.20 Spoutbank.

Lightweight lambs were another good show and were more sought after than the previous week. They sold to £53.80 for Suffolks from Whitstonehill and to 168.9p for Dutch Texels from Nunscleugh. Other Suffolk £51.50 Culquhasen; Texels £54.80 Shankbridgend; Charollais £53.20 Hallburn; Greyface £45.20 Cowcorse, £44.80 Whitedyke; Blackface £33.80 Nether Horseburgh; Jacobs £45.80 Zetland.

Another good show of hoggs were in demand and averaged 110.1p. The sale topped at £65.50 for North Country Cheviots from Waterhouse; Suffolk x £53.50 Lyneholm; Cheviots £49.50 Georgefield, £48.50 Setthorns; others to £53.50 Hillcrest; Texels £54.50 Far Howe, £49.50 Supplebank & Upper Glendivan; Greyface £47.50 High House & Haithwaite; Blackface £49.50 Haithwaite, £40.50 Slodahill; Swaledales £49.50 Westerhopeburn; Beltex £46.50 Almagill; Leyns £45.20 Slodahill £44.80 Slodahill.

Lightweight hoggs sold to £40.50 for North Country Cheviots from Braidlie and for Texels from Beechcroft; others £38.80 Far Howe; Cheviots £38.50 Haithwaite, £36.20 Sorbie; Greyface £37.50 High House, £35.50 Far Howe; Blackface £36.80 Slodahill, £34.20 Beechcroft.

The cast ewes and rams were a larger show and easily maintained late high rates with another large company of buyers present. Overall averages £44.84.

Top was £80.50 for Texels from Byreburnside, £78.50 East Mains, Howgillside & Middle Farm, £76.50 Newry. Beltex £73.50 Tercrosset & Newry; Charollais £75.50 Newry, £74.50 Roadside; Suffolks £70.50 Waterloo, £68.50 Lands; Suffolk x £78.50 Tonehall £70.50 Cardew Hall, £69.50 Ballinluss; Bleu de Maines £64.50 Ballinluss; Rouges £68.50 Ballyclare; Halfbreds £63.50 Huntington; Cheviot Mules £59.50 Stackbraes; North Country Cheviots £63.50 Allanshaws, £62.50 School House; Leicesters £63.50 Corse Cottage; Greyfaces £58.50 Old Rectory, £55.50 Kersknowe, The Gill, £54.50 Swainsteads.

Hill ewes £48.50 for Blackfaces from North Farm & Tone Hall; Cheviots £45.50 Branteth; Swaledales £43.50 Clonrae; Kendal Roughs £38.50 Bruntons Hill; Shetlands £31.50 East Mains.

Rams to £78.50 for Suffolks from Tone Hall & Texels from Ballyclare; Charolais £72.50 Ballyclare, Beltex £76.50 Winterhope; Cheviots £58.50 Waterloo; Leicesters £61.50 Tecket; Blackface £48.50 Tone Hall; Swaledales £36.50 Weeds Farm; Herdwicks £37.50 Stackbraes.

Steers: light to 113.5p (113.5p); medium to 172.5p (146.4p); heavy to 179.5p (158.2p). Heifers: medium to 151.5p (136.1p); heavy to 181.5p (158.9p). Young beef bulls to 135.5p (124.9p). Hoggs: light to 126.5p (111.2p); standard to 127.2p (112.9p); medium to 123.8p (106.8p); heavy to 116.9p (107.3p). Shearlings to 115.7p (94.1p). Lambs: light to 152.5p (142.9p); standard to 168.9p (143.8p); medium to 170.9p (143.3p); heavy to 147p (132.5p). Ewes: light to £48.50 (£25.86); heavy to £80.50 (£51.29). Cast rams £78.50 (£50.57).

A small entry attracted many buyers, with all classes remaining good to sell. Top was £39.50 each for Greyface ewes with twins from Pennine View, who also sold a Greyface ewe with triplets to £30. Greyface ewe (correct below) with twins to £33.50. Herdwick ewes (correct below) with singles to £16.50.