Longtown Primestock Sale
15/05/08

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 83 prime cattle, 2 young bulls, 18 OTM, 5,353 prime hoggs, 81 spring lambs and 3,852 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 15th May, 2008.

Prime cattle were rather easier on the week. Top was 176.5p for a Blonde heifer from Drumknowe and purchased by J A Jewitt Meat Ltd. Limousins to 173.5p Drumknowe, 164.5p Southlambhill, 162.5p Dashwellgreen 161.5p Hallburn; Charolais to 159.5p, 155.5p Hallburn, 152.5p Sceughdyke & Hallburn. Limousin bullocks to 175.5p, 170.5p Hallburn, 165.5p Toppin Castle & Houghton House, 164.5p Dashwellgreen; Belgian Blues 156.6p, 155.5p Beckhall; Charolais 152.5p Houghton House & Hallburn, 152.5p, 149.5p Sceughdyke.

Prime bulls to 128.5p, 121.5p for Charolais from Gretna House (£1161.60 & £1017.60 per head).

OTMs met a brisk trade with the whole sale averaging 105.4p. Limousin cows sold to 124p from Harelaw Hill, 114p Beckhall, 112p Englishtown, 109p, 106p Leahill. Angus to 114p Minsca; Friesians 109p Becton Hall, 106p Bleatarn. OTM heifers to 124p for Limousin from Ryehills.

Top price per head was £793.60 for Limousin cow from Harelaw Hill, £718.20 Beckhall. Friesians to £784.80 Becton Hall, £694.30 Bleatarn; Angus £740 Cubbyhill, £718.20 Minsca.

Prime lambs were a smaller show and short of buyers requirements, meaning that trade was sharper on the week averaging 193.2p. Top was £85 for Suffolks from Sceughdyke, others to £80.50 Westend, £80 Kimmeter Green, Texels £84 Kimmeter Green & Hermitage, £82 Hermitage.

The prime hoggs were the dearest trade this year selling to levels not seen since pre BSE. A large ring of buyers ensured a flying average of 159.6p selling to a top of £97.50 for Texels from Dinwoodie Green and to 198.6p for Beltex hoggs from Messrs Stoddart, Hillside. Other Texels to £92.50 Colter Coats, £90.50 Dinwoodie Green; Suffolks £88.50 Sykehead, £84.5p Borthwick Brae, Smalmstown & Broomhills; Cheviots £93.50, £81.50 Bloan, £77.50 Todhillrigg; Halfbreds £77.50 Snade; Greyfaces £78.80, £76.80 Dunjop; Leicesters £55 The Bog, £53.50 Stackbraes, Blackface £90.50, £84.50 Smalmstown, £74.50 Newhouse; North Country Cheviots £89.50, £84.50 Smalmstown, £79.20 Kirkland of Longcastle; Swaledales £67.50 High Aketon, £63.50 Roachburn; Beltex £94.50 Hillside, £92.50 Snade; Cambridge £74.80 Kirkwood Mains.

The lightweight hoggs were again forward in large numbers and easily upheld recent rates, with well fleshed types in short supply. Trade was topped at £65 for Beltex hoggs from Messrs Stoddart, Hillside and sold to 198.2p for Cheviots from W Skilling, Cara View, Campbelltown. Suffolks £57.50 Borthwick Brae, £55.80 The Wreay; Cheviots £57, £54.50 Bloch, £53.80 Graystale; Texels £60.20 Sockbridge Hall, £55.50 Hollands; Greyface £54.50 Graystale, £49.50 Cara View; Blackface £52.80 Heathery Hall, £49.80 Stonehouse, £47.20 Cleuchhead; North Country Cheviots £62.20 Plumpe, £54.50 Newington; Shetland £47.50 Little Larbrax.

The cast ewes and rams easily upheld recent high rates. Top was £83.50 for Texel rams from Millantae who sold others at £81.50; Suffolks £68.50 Rhion, Oxfords £59.50 Newton House, Lleyns £60 Roadside; Dorset £56 Newry; Cheviots £73.50 Carruthers; Blackfaces £52.50 Arnicle; Swaledales £34.50 Mallsgate; Leicesters £67.50 Roachburn.

Heavy ewes to £80.50 for Texels from Winterhope & Roadside, others £77.50 West Morley; Halfbreds £68.50 Skinnet; Suffolks £77.50 Ford Mill & Drinkstone, £73.50 West Morley; Charollais £75.50 Thackwood, £71.50 Roadside; Suffolk x £72.50 Newry, £70.50 Waterloo & Ballyclare; Beltex £72.50 Winterhope; Bleu de Maines £62.50 Newry; Leicesters £67.50 Roachburn; Lleyns £46.50 Ford Mill; Greyfaces £55.50 Newton House, £54.50 Easthouse & Upper Mains; Cheviot Mules £58.50 Mossknowe.

Hill ewes to £45.50 for Blackfaces from Leadgate, £43.50 Mallsgate & £42.50 Winterhope, Tappait Lane & Borthwickshiels; Cheviots £42.50 Allfornaught; Swaledales £41.50 Cooks House, £40.50 Spout Bank & Roachburn; Shetlands £36.50 Newton House, £34.50 High House; Herdwicks £33.50 Murraythwaite, £31.50 Abbey Moss.

Averages:

Steers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 158.5p (139.8p)
Heavy to 175.5p (152.2p)

Heifers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 162.5p (151.6p)
Heavy to 176.5p (150.6p)

Young Beef Bulls to 128.0p (124.2p)

Hoggs
Light to 198.2p (146.5p)
Standard to 198.6p (158.4p)
Medium to 196.4p (166.9p)
Heavy to 188.7p (156.5p)
O/Weight to ------p (------p)

Shearlings to 146.0p (102.9p)

Lambs
Light to -------p (------p)
Standard to 194.4p (193.4p)
Medium to 207.3p (193.2p)
Heavy to -------p (------p)

Ewes
Light to £45.50 (£31.52)
Heavy to £80.50 (£55.46)
Cast Rams £83.50 (£49.02)

Longtown Primestock Sale - 8th May 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 1st May 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 24th April 2008