Last updated 09:52, Thursday, 07 August 2008

THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart had forward 88 prime cattle, 1 young bull, 12 OTM cattle, 3,171 prime lambs and 4,372 cast ewes and rams at the weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday, July 31.THE Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers’ Mart held its grand opening sale of 2,046 breeding ewes and store lambs at Longtown on Tuesday, July 29.

Quality well-fleshed clean cattle were short of requirements and met a dearer trade. Top prices of 183.5p and 182.5p for Limousin bullocks from A & W J Taylor, Dashwellgreen to W Kirkup & Son, Butcher, Longtown and Messrs Nattrass, Butcher, Carlisle; others 178.5p Houghton House, 176.5p Dashwellgreen, 175.5p Hallburn, 174.5p Keldhead, 173.5p Dashwellgreen and Hallburn, 172.5p Bloan Farm and Hallburn; Belgian Blue 176.5p Houghton House, 170.5p Keld House; Charolais 172.5p, 167.5p Hallburn.

Belgian Blue heifers from J Retson & Son, Gardrum sold to 180.5p and 173.5p to Maurice Wharton Meats and Border Meats, Lockerbie; Limousin 174.5p Dykehead.

OTM cattle were again in very short supply and well-fleshed sorts were dearer, with Limousin bullocks to 135.5p and 123.5p Blackhouse. Limousin heifers to 135.5p Townfoot. Limousin cows to 112.5p Nunscleugh; Angus 103.5p Girnwood. Limousin bulls to 110.5p Stormont.

The 3,171 prime lambs saw a full ring of buyers present and were an excellent show of quality lambs. The overall sale average was 123.96p, selling to a top of 145.4p for Texels from Messrs Stamper, Colter Coats, Preston. Top per head of £70 for Charollais from L G Luescher, The Kerr, Canonbie. Texel £68.80 Upper Mains, £64 Colter Coats, £62.20 Clement Leazes, £60.80 High Greenhill, £60 Roachburn; Suffolk £59.20 Sceughdyke, £58.80 Aimshaugh, £56.80 Kirkblane; Greyface £51.20 The Nook, £50.80 Crowhall, £47.20 Gapshield; Blackface £50.20 Overburns, £43.80 Penpeugh.

The 362 lightweight lambs were a far smaller show than of recent weeks, with trade similar, although store lamb sales are starting to dictate light lamb prices. Texel £45.20 High Parkfoot, £41.80 Dallowie; Suffolk £44.80 Lustruther; Blackface £43.20 Overburns, £40 Mitchellhill; Cheviot £42.20 Murtholm; Greyface £39.80 Tarnside House; Bleu d’Maine £37.20 Henrys Hill; Swaledale £34.80 Haggistone Holm, £32.80 Stonehall.

The 4,366 cast ewes and rams saw all classes sharper, with more buyers operating to an overall average of £38.17. Top of £73.50 for heavy Texel cross ewes from Middle Farm and East Mains, £71.50 North Farm; Beltex £70.50 Ballyclare; Charollais £69.50 Stackbraes; Suffolk £65.50 Reagill Grange; Suffolk cross £64.50 Roadside, £62.50 Newry; North Country Cheviot £57.50 North Synton; Leicester £56.50 North Farm; Half Bred £55.50 Huntington; Cheviot Mule £55.50 Winterhope; Greyface £52.50 Dallowie, £52 Stackbraes; Lleyn £47.50 North Farm. Hill ewes to £47.50 for Cheviots from Inglewood Edge, £42.50 Kirkton; Blackface £37.50 Stackbraes, £35.50 Clonrae, £33.50 Crowhall; Swaledale £35.50 Brydekirk Mains, £30.50 Gapshield; Herdwick £26.50 Haithwaite. Rams to £80.50 for a Texel from North Farm; Charollais £73.50 Winterhope; Beltex £69.50 North Farm; Suffolk £65.50 Brisco Hill; Leicester £61.50 Newry; Cheviot £56.50 North Synton; Lleyn £47.50 Synton Mains; Blackface £29.50 North Farm.

Steers: light to 136.5p (123.3p); medium to 174.5p (146.2p); heavy to 183.5p (157.8p). Heifers: light to 155.5p (155.5p); medium to 174.5p (145.2p); heavy to 180.5p (146.7p). Young beef bulls to 112.5p (112.5p). Lambs: light to 128.3p (120.2p); standard to 143p (124.1p); medium to 145.4p (124.1p); heavy to 129.5p (123.9p); o/weight 125p (123.5p). Ewes: light to £47.50 (£23.01); heavy to £73.50 (£46.27). Cast rams: £80.50 (£45.96).

Breeding sheep met a strong trade and were short of requirements. Top of £86, £85 and £82 was paid for Suffolk shearlings from Ballylinney Livestock, Whitcastles, who also sold one and two-crops at £70. Charollais ewes to £72 Yulescroft; Suffolk cross £68 Yulescroft; Texel £54 Yulescroft; Greyface £51 Station Road, £50 Stackbraes, £48 Sloda Hill; Lleyn £50 Sloda Hill; Dorset £44 Yulescroft. Suffolk shearling rams to £100 Yulescroft.

Store lambs met a fantastic trade from a large company of interested buyers, best Texels making £40 plus with Greyface & Suffolks to late thirties. Top of £43 was paid for Texels from Towsbank; others £42.80 Underwood, £42.20 Burnmouth (Nichol) and £42 Rinnion Hills; Greyface £38 Whintingstown, £37.20 Penpeugh, £37 High Parkfoot, £36 Stonehall; Suffolk £37 Hopestead, £36.50 Glendhu; Zwartbles £31 Smithy Court.