Last updated 21:57, Wednesday, 23 July 2008

THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 67 prime cattle, 20 OTM cattle, 3,210 prime lambs and 4,111 cast ewes and rams at the weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, July 17.

Clean cattle were short of quality sorts. Limousin bullocks from A & W J Taylor & Son, Dashwellgreen sold to 172.5p, 171.5p, 169.5p and 165.5p. Charolais bullocks to 170.5p from J & N Blaylock & Son, Hallburn and to £1,228 per head from T Armstrong & Son, Sceughdyke; Belgian Blue £1,134 Fenton; Limousin £1,089 Fenton; Blonde d’Aquitaine £1,018 Nether Onsett. Limousin heifers to 172.5p and 171.5p (£1,140) from J M Wharton & Son, The Snade; others 166.5p Gardrum.

OTM cattle were also a plainer show with well-fleshed sorts easily sold and plainer sorts cheaper. Limousin cows to 113.5p Stonehall, 104.5p Nunscleugh; Hereford 105.5p Cambeck Hill; Charolais 102.5p Cambeck Hill. Shorthorn bullocks to 99.5p Townfoot.

The 3,210 prime lambs were a larger show of very good quality and, with buyers very keen, a fantastic trade was realised to an overall average of 133.3p. Top of £71.50 for Suffolk crosses from E A Dodd, Roanstree, Bailey, Newcastleton; others to £68.20 Wallend, £66.20 Hallees; Texel £69.10 Upper Mains, £67.20 Long Strumble, £65.70 Falla; Charollais £61.20 Glendivan; Greyface £58.70 East Highberries, £55.80 Kelmore Hill and High Floweryhirst, £53.40 Midlock; Half Bred £56.20 High Moat, £55.60 Earlside. Top price per kilo of 146.8p for Texels from Messrs Hewitt, Cardewlees.

The 902 lightweight lambs were forward in larger numbers, all classes meeting an extreme demand and short of requirements. Top of £49.20 per head and 140.5p per kilo for Texels from Nirvana; other Texels £47.80 Murtholm, £46.20 Sloda Hill; Suffolk £48.90 Murtholm; Blackface £45.20 Clonrae; Greyface £44.20 Kelmore Hills, £42.70 Nettling Flatt; Charollais £40.80 Kelmore Hills.

The 4,111 cast ewes and rams were a smaller entry with all classes again very good to sell. Top was £73.50 for Texel cross ewes from Crailloch; others £66.50 Little Gala, £64.50 Meikle Killeary; Bleu d’Maine £66.50, £65.50 Newry; Charollais £65 Ballyclare; Suffolk £64.50 Hallees, £63.50 Newry; Suffolk cross £63.50 Caledon, £62.50 Loughrigg; Beltex £63.50 Ballee, £62.50 Meikle Killeary; North Country Cheviot £57.50 Ballyclare and Newry; Leicester £55.50 Stackbraes, £54.50 Penpeugh; Half Bred £54 Caledon; Zwartbles £47.50 Caledon; Greyface £47 Stackbraes, £46 Laalsteins; Oxford £47 Caledon; Lleyn £46.50 Satchells; Cheviot Mule £45.50 Ballee. Hill ewes to £46.50 for Cheviots from Streethead; Blackface £36.50 Ballee, £33.50 Penpeugh, £32 Stackbraes; Swaledale £33.50 East Highberries, £30.50 Kelmore Hills, £30 Parcelstown; Herdwick £32.50 Cardewlees (Glaister). Rams to £73.50 for Suffolks from The Land Farm; Leicester £67.50 Overburn; Charollais £65 Meikle Killeary; Texel £56.50 Newry; Bleu d’Maine £50 Meikle Killeary; Blackface £34.50 MacQueston Farm.

Steers: light to 138.5p (127.5p); medium to 169.5p (151.2p); heavy to 172.5p (152.6p). Heifers: medium to 136.5p (134.4p); heavy to 172.5p (147.3p). Lambs: light to 138.1p (126.1p); standard to 146.4p (133.9p); medium to 146.8p (135p); heavy to 143.9p (136.2p); o/weight 130p (115.7p). Ewes: light to £46.50 (£23.43); heavy to £73.50 (£41.13). Cast rams £73.50 (£35.80).