Last updated 10:08, Thursday, 31 July 2008

THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 46 prime cattle, 18 OTM cattle, 3,579 prime lambs and 4,678 cast ewes and rams at the weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, July 24. THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 86 store cattle and three breeding cattle at the fortnightly sale on Tuesday, July 22.THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward a small show of store lambs at the sale at Longtown on Tuesday, July 22.

A small show of clean cattle, because of the good weather, saw all classes dearer on the week. Top price of 185.5p and 181.5p for Limousin heifers from Messrs R Neill, Upper Tinwald and purchased by W Kirkup & Sons, Butchers, Longtown and Maurice Wharton Meats Ltd. Heavy Charolais heifers from T Armstrong & Son, Sceughdyke to 175.5p. Limousin bullocks from A & W J Taylor & Son, Dashwellgreen sold to 183.5p and 181.5p to Messrs Nattrass, Butcher and Border Meats, Lockerbie; others to 177.5p Hallburn, 173.5p, 173.5p and 168.5p Dashwellgreen; Charolais 169.5p and 164.5p Hallburn. Limousin bullocks from Hallburn sold to £1,153; Belgian Blue £1,125 Sceughdyke. Charolais heifers £1,105 Sceughdyke; Limousin £1,103 Upper Tinwald.

OTM cattle were also dearer. Limousin bullocks to 128.5p and 122.5p Black House, 127.5p Brisco Hill. Limousin cows to 124.5p Cambeck Hill, 117.5p Blindhillbush; Shorthorn 116.5p, 115.5p Cambeck Hill; Charolais 114.5p Enzieholm; Black & White 103.5p Stonewall.

The 3,579 prime lambs met a rising trade throughout the day, with 38 kilo + lambs in short supply to meet demand. Overall average 131.2p. The sale was topped at £75.80 for Texels from Messrs Sutherland, Carran, Thurso and to 152.5p per kilo for Beltex lambs from Messrs Park, Stonehouse, Gretna. Texel £68.50 Rosehill, £65 Bankhead; Suffolk £65.80 Sceughdyke, £63.20 Justicetown, £61.20 Barnglies; Beltex £57.80, £57.20 Mouldy Hills; Half Bred £56.20 High Moat; Charollais £54.80 Knowe Farm, £53.80 Redgate Head; Greyface £53.20 Whitedyke, £52.20 High House; Cheviot Mule £50.20 Commonside; Blackface £50 Coshogle; North Country Cheviot £48.20 Commonside; Swaledale £44.20 Morley Hill.

The 1,187 lightweight lambs were another large show, with well-fleshed types easily sold. Top of £48.80 for Texels from Stonehouse; others £45.80 Murtholm; Charollais £47.80 Clonrae; Suffolk £46.20 Commonside, £46.20 Lustruther; Greyface £44.20 The Bank Farm, £42.80 Clonrae; Blackface £42.80 Arnicle, £41.80 Beechcroft; Hill Cheviot £39.20 Haithwaite.

The 4,678 cast ewes and rams met a tremendous trade. All classes were very dear, with all buyers keen to purchase. Overall average of £38.15. Top of £77.50 for Texel ewes from Greenknowe; others to £75.50 Roadside, £71.50 Muirhead; Charollais £70.50 Newry; Beltex £68.50 Waterside, £67.50 Newry; Suffolk £63.50 Long Strumble; Suffolk cross £62.50 Ballinlass, £60.50 Clate Quoy; North Country Cheviot £59.50 Clate Quoy; Half Bred £57.50 East Mains; Leicester £57.50 Cranshaws and High Airyolland; Cheviot Mule £56.50 Stackbraes; Greyface £47.50 Ballinlass, Burnbrae and East Mains, £47 Castle Nook; Masham £44.50 Leadgate. Hill ewes to £51.50 for Cheviots from Tarrasfoot; Blackface £44.50 Deuchrie, £42.50 Brownhill; Lleyn £46.50 South Bowerhouses, £44.50 Cowcorse; Swaledale £35.50 East Highberries; Herdwick £26.50 Hillside. Rams to £65.50 for Suffolks from Clate Quoy; Texel £64.50 Baltier; Beltex £59.50 Newry and Sibmister; Cheviot £47.50 Clate Quoy; Leicester £44.50 Marygate; Blackface £35.50 Allensgreen.

Steers: medium to 181.5p (153.4p); heavy to 183.5p (162.4p). Heifers: medium to 149.5p (138p); heavy to 185.5p (157.5p). Lambs: light to 152.5p (123.9p); standard to 149.4p (131.9p); medium to 141.3p (133.2p); heavy to 142.8p (127.3p); o/weight 137.8p (132.9p). Ewes: light to £51.50 (£23.71); heavy to £77.50 (£44.58). Cast rams £65.50 (£41.52).

Store cattle sold well throughout the sale and met a good trade. Top price was £700 for Simmental bullocks from T & H Armstrong, West Craigs, Waterbeck.

Principal prices. Store bullocks: Charolais £470 Laalsteins. Limousin £660 Bonshawside, £605 West Craigs, £580 Rinnion Hills, £560 Westwinds. Friesian £470 Bonshawside. Hereford £460 Bonshawside. Blonde £490 Bonshawside. Angus £632 West Craigs, £530 Bonshawside.

Store heifers: Charolais £595, £535, £520 Bonshawside. Simmental £572 West Craigs. Limousin £600, £572 Hethermill, £555 West Winds, £550 Hethermill. Blonde £525 Bonshawside. Angus £445 Bonshawside.

Store bulls: Shorthorn £380 Halton Lea.

Breeding cattle: Cows with bull calves – Limousin £575 Wallholm. Cows in-calf – Limousin £530 Halton Lea; Galloway £495 Halton Lea.

Store lambs met an extreme demand and were short of requirements. Top of £42 was paid for Texels from The Cooms; others to £39.20 Hopestead, £36.80 Lustruther Cottage; Jacob £30.50 North Farm who also sold Texel cross ewes with twins to £36 North Farm, Suffolk ewes with twins at £34 and geld Texel ewes at £50.