Longtown Primestock Sale
31/07/08

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 88 prime cattle, 1 young bull, 12 OTM cattle, 3,171 prime lambs and 4,372 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 31st July, 2008.

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, 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 Mrs 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 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.

Averages:

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 143.0p (124.1p)
Medium to 145.4p (124.1p)
Heavy to 129.5p (123.9p)
O/Weight 125.0p (123.5p)

Ewes
Light to £47.50 (£23.01)
Heavy to £73.50 (£46.27)
Cast Rams £80.50 (£45.96)

Longtown Primestock Sale - 24th July 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 17th July 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 10th July 2008