Longtown Primestock Sale
23/12/08

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 36 prime cattle, 3 young bulls, 2,945 prime lambs and 4,138 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 23rd December, 2008.

A smaller show of prime cattle met a sharper trade and were well short of requirements. Top price of 193.5p (£1141) for a Blonde heifer from A Irving, Toppin Castle, others from the same 183.5p. Limousin heifers 185.5p Ladyhousesteads, others 175.5p Slealands, 174.5p Hallburn. Limousin bullocks 176.5p Dashwellgreen, others 174.5p Cardewlees, Hallburn & Toppin Castle, 171.5p Hallburn; Belgian Blue 171.5p The Gill.

Young bulls sold to 135.5p for Angus from Smallholms, 133.5p, 132.5p for Holsteins from Southlambhill.

The lambs met a fantastic trade, selling to a full ring of buyers. The 1838 lambs over 36 kilos averaged 148.4p with the 1107 under 36kg averaged 152.6p. The overall sale averaged 149.8p. The sale was topped at £85.50 for Suffolk lambs from W N Douglas, Catslackburn and to 189p/kg for Beltex from S Irving, Longtown. Other Suffolks £82.50 Sceughdyke, £76.50 Stonehouse, £60.50 Commonside; Cheviot £59.20 Glendearg, £58.20 Falnash, £57.80 Catslackburn; Texel £85.50 Catslackburn, £83 Briar Lea, £82.50 High Stenries; Charollais £72.80 Dashwellgreen, £67.80 Sceughdyke & Netherton; Greyface £64.20 Sockbridge Hall, £63.80 Sceughdyke & Kirkland Green; Cheviot Mules £66.80 Falnash, £66.50 Clerkhill; Leicesters £64.50 Pates Hill; Blackfaces £64.80 Boreland, £60.50 Meggethead, £58.50 Tone Hall; North Country Cheviots £63.50 Earlside, £62.20 Hownam Grange, £59.20 Beechcroft; Herdwicks £56.80 Allfornaught; Zwartbles £69.80 Stackbraes, £67.80 Glebelands; Oxford £53.80 Guards; Romney Marsh £58.20 Haithwaite.

Light lambs to £66.50 for Texels from High Greenhill, £59.80 Haithwaite, £57.20 Sorbie; Charollais £51.20 Culqhuasen, £45.80 Allfornaught; Halfbreds £55.20 Earlside; Greyfaces £58.20, £49.50 Rosgill Hall; Blackfaces £55.20 Cramalt, £50.80 Westloch, £48.20 Winterhopeburn; North Country Cheviot £58.80 Killean Estate, £53.80 Earlside & Faulding Cleugh; Beltex £59 Briar Lea.

Also forward was another large show of 4,138 cast ewes and rams. A packed ring of buyers saw the best trade seen for months. The sale topped at £80.50 for Texel ewes from Stackbraes, others to £80 Waterside, £79.50 Seafield House; Suffolks £77.50, £74.50 Low Farm, £72.50 Easthouse; Suffolks £76.50, £75.50 Stackbraes, £74.50 Roadside; Charollais £77.50, £72.50 Easthouse, £66.50 Kirkland Green; Greyface £66.50 Seafield House, £64.50 Low Farm & West End; Cheviot Mules £51.50 Falnash; Leicesters £72.50 Low Carry House, £56.50 Romesbeoch; North Country Cheviots £70.50 Allfornaught, £63.50 Roadside; Beltex £78 Waterside; Lleyns £77.50 Roadside; Roussin £61.50 Roadside.

Light ewes to £52.50 for Blackfaces from Low Carry House, £51.50 Becklees, £48.50 Millantae; Cheviots £48.50 Haithwaite, £46.50 Falnash, £40.50 Hownam Grange; Swaledales £43.50 Kelmore Hills, £40.50 Orthwaite Hall, £37.50 Hammershields; Herdwicks £46.50 Cottage Farm, £33.50 Kelmore Hills, £32.50 Orthwaite Hall; Shetland £32 Low Roughhill.

Prime rams to £75.50 for Texels from Kilfillan, £68.50 Haithwaite, £66.50 Orthwaite Hall; Cheviots £47.50 Haithwaite; Suffolks £70.50 Easthouse; Charollais £68.50 Easthouse; Leicesters £74.50 Boreland, £68.50 Stackbraes; Blackfaces £45.50 East Mains, £41.50 Chapelhope; North Country Cheviots £56.50 Bayles; Swaledales £28.50 Bayles & Orthwaite Hall; Beltex £50 The Wynd; Oxford £72.50 The Wynd; Dorsets £56.50 The Wynd.

Averages:

Steers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 174.5p (174.5p)
Heavy to 176.5p (166.6p)

Heifers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 175.5p (164.7p)
Heavy to 193.5p (164.2p)

Young Beef Bulls to 135.5p (133.8p)

Lambs
Light to 187.0p (152.4p)
Standard to 186.0p (152.8p)
Medium to 189.0p (145.5p)
Heavy to 165.0p (148.2p)
O/Weight 156.0p (135.1p)

Ewes
Light to £52.50 (£35.74)
Heavy to £80.50 (£51.60)

Cast Rams to £75.50 (£44.77)

Longtown Primestock Sale - 18th December 2008
Longtown Christmas Primestock Sale - 11th December 2008
Longtown Christmas Primestock Sale - 4th December 2008