Longtown Christmas Primestock Sale
06/12/07

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 81 prime cattle, 1 young bulls, 31 OTM, 5,434 prime lambs and 6,338 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 6th December, 2007.

At the Annual Xmas Show of prime cattle, 81 head was forward to a large ring of buyers. The show was judged by Mr G. Newlands of Halliwells Butchers, Selkirk, who awarded the overall championship to an outstanding Limousin heifer from W. & W. Faulder, Houghton House and sold at 220p (510 kilos) and purchased by the judge. Reserve champion was a Belgian Blue heifer from J. Crichton, Loughrigg and sold at 200p (600 kilos) and purchased by Messrs Nattrass Butchers, Carlisle. The prize for the best native breed went to Messrs G. & A. Scott, Summerhill for a Galloway bullock and purchased by W. Kirkup, Butcher, Longtown at 140p (485 kilos).

Prize list:-
Limousin bullock – 1st prize and 2nd prize to Messrs Blaylock, Hallburn, sold at 141.5p to Messrs Malone, Edinburgh.
Charolais bullock – 1st prize to Messrs Nichol, Lawston, sold at 134.5p to West Scottish, 2nd prize to Messrs Blaylock, Hallburn, sold at 128.5p to Woodhead Bros.
Any other Continental bullock – 1st prize and 2nd prize to Messrs Blaylock, Hallburn, sold at 136.5p and 137.5p both to Woodhead Bros.
Any British breed bullock/heifer – 1st prize and 2nd prize to Messrs Scott, Summerhill for a Galloway bullock sold at 140p to W. Kirkup, Longtown and 111.5p to G. Moor.
Limousin heifer – 1st prize and champion to Messrs Faulder, Houghton House, sold at 220p to Halliwells Butchers, Selkirk, 2nd prize also to Houghton House, sold at 145.5p to Border Meats, Lockerbie.
Charolais heifer – 1st prize and 2nd prize to Messrs Blaylock, Hallburn, sold at 134.5p to M. Wharton, Wigton and 130.5p to Woodhead Bros.
Any other Continental heifer – 1st prize to Messrs Crichton, Loughrigg, sold at 200p to Nattrass Butchers, Carlisle, 2nd prize to Messrs Blaylock, Hallburn, sold at 155.5p to Messrs Malone, Edinburgh.

The 31 OTM cattle forward saw well fleshed sorts selling at higher rates, plainer sorts difficult. Limousin bullocks to 92.5p and 85.5p Blackhouse. Galloway heifers to 88.5p Skitby. Angus cows to 64.5p and 63.5p Waughslea; Limousin 61.5p Englishtown; Galloway 51.5p Raeburnfoot; Devon 50.5p Englishtown.

5,434 head of prime lambs were forward and incorporated in the sale was the Xmas Prime Stock Show and Sale.

The lambs were keenly sought after and a large ring of buyers ensured a decent trade throughout with an overall sale average of 82p per kilo. The show was ably judged by Mr S. Stoddart, Hillside, Wigton, who awarded the championship to a pen of 37.5 kilo Beltex lambs from Messrs McIlwraith, Mouldy Hills Farm, Canonbie and later realised £78 or 210p per kilo to Messrs J. Stark, Bluebell, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. The reserve champion was awarded to Messrs Bindloss, Shap Abbey for a pen of 48 kilo Beltex lambs and sold at £74 (154p) to the judge S. Stoddart on behalf of Messrs Fitton, Oldham.

Prize list:-
Texel cross – 1st prize and Solway & Tyne Texel Club Champions to James Whiteford, Tercrosset, 40 kilos £49 to J. Stark, Glasgow; 2nd prize and 3rd prize to Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, 41 kilo £45 to Woodhead Bros., Colne and 39 kilo £42.50 to J. Stark.
Beltex cross – 1st prize to Mouldy Hills, 37 kilo, £74 to J. Stark; 2nd prize to Shap Abbey, 48 kilo, £74 to Messrs Fitton.
Other Continental – 1st prize to Messrs Lawson, Kirkland Green, 41 kilo, £40 Woodhead Bros.; 2nd prize to Messrs Graham, Miller Hill, 40 kilo, £38.50 Messrs Fitton.
Suffolk – 1st prize to Messrs Armstrong, Sceughdyke, 50 kilo, £42.50 Fairfield Meats Ltd, Wrexham; 2nd prize to Messrs Hird, Broomhill, 43 kilo, £38 Woodhead Bros.
Greyface – 1st prize to Messrs Lawson, Kirkland Green, 44 kilo, £34.50 Dunbia Ltd., Llanybydder; 2nd prize to Castlemilk Estates, 39 kilo, £33 Cig Cibyn Ltd., Caernarfon.
South Country Cheviot – 1st prize to Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, 40 kilo, £35 to Woodhead Bros.
Blackface – 1st prize and 2nd prize to Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, 41 kilo, £34 and 39 kilo £30.50 both to Cig Cibyn Ltd.
Swaledale – 1st prize to Messrs Lumley, Nookton, £36 kilo, £25 Messrs Musa, Preston.

Other principal prices, outwith the show:- Beltex £60 Blackrigg Gate; Texel £47.20 Low Lonning, £43.80 Colter Coats; Suffolk £43.20 Dyke Farm, £42.80 Boreland; Charollais £38.80 Pates Hill; Cheviot Mule £36.50 Barnglies; Greyface £36.20 Brydekirk Mains, £35.80 Yewtree Farm; Half Bred £35.80 Earlside.

A larger show of light lambs maintained recent rates with well fleshed sorts easy to sell. Top price of £37.80 for Beltex from Miller Hill; Texel £34.20 North Deanhead, £34 Haithwaite; North Country Cheviot £29.20 Stackbraes; Blackface £28.80 Bush of Ewes, £27.20 Longniddry; Greyface £28 Westloch; Suffolk £27.80 Moorland; Charollais £26.20 Haithwaite; Cheviot £25 Naddle; Swaledale £23.50 Nookton.

The 6,338 cast ewes and rams attracted the usual buyers with trade very similar on the week to average £25.49 overall. Top of £66.50 for heavy Texel ewes from Falla, others £64.50 Newbiggen, £62.50 Kilnknowe and Bettyknowes; Suffolk £54.50 Raeburnhead; Charollais £52.50 Halliday Hill; Suffolk cross £52.50 Redbanks; North Country Cheviot £50.50 and £49.50 Waterloo; Leicester £48.50 Stackbraes; Cheviot Mule £46.50 Newbiggen; Half Bred £46.50 Redbanks; Beltex £46.50 Blackrigg Gate; Greyface £36.50 Newbiggen, £35.50 Stackbraes, Hallburn and Hassendean. Hill ewes to £40.50 for Cheviots from Winterhope; Shetland £31.50 Redbanks; Blackface £28.50 Newbiggen, £27.50 Walkergate and Tenter House, £26.50 Tone Hall; Swaledale £26.50 Whitton; Herdwick £26.50 Dryholme. Rams to £62.50 for Texels from Falla and Leicesters from Dreva; Suffolk £56.50 East Mains; Charollais £56.50 East Mains; Cheviot £50.50 Reisgill; Oxford £50.50 Guards; Kerry £45.50 Westerhouses; Blackface £32.50 Tone Hall; Swaledale £30.50 Whitton.

Averages:

Steers
Light to 118.5p ( 90.2p)
Medium to 141.5p (119.6p)
Heavy to 140.0p (123.9p)

Heifers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 135.5p (124.9p)
Heavy to 220.0p (131.3p)

Young Beef Bulls to 113.5p (113.5p)

Lambs
Light to 89.6p ( 78.3p)
Standard to 210.8p ( 81.8p)
Medium to 130.9p ( 84.2p)
Heavy to 154.1p ( 80.2p)
Others to 109.0p ( 72.3p)

Ewes
Light to £40.50 (£16.05)
Heavy to £66.50 (£32.76)

Cast Rams £62.50 (£37.71)