Market Prices

This week Border Livestock Exchange to week ending sold 182 prime cattle including 62 cows, 3,043 prime sheep including 375 cull ewes, 390 store lambs, 26 store cattle and 40 in calf cows.

Aberdeen Angus steers sold to £1,743 and 420p per kg Tughall Grange, Chathill. Continental cross steers to 400p per kg and £1,738 for Scottish and £1,596 and 380p per kg for British. Despite being more plentiful, in specification cattle continue to be easy to shift. Cast cows sold to £1,193 per head from Skelton Estates, Saltburn, by the Sea.

After the Christmas/New Year hike in price, prime lamb trade steadied with good numbers being sold. Export lambs sold to 410p per kg and £86.10 for Romneys from Hallrule, Bonchester Bridge, and Humbleton, Wooler; Mules to £77.70 Garretshiels, Otterburn. Small Euro type lambs sold to £60.80. Cull ewes were similar with Texel cross ewes from Haymount, Kelso, selling to £110 per head.

Store cattle are still good to sell with Spring born Aberdeen Angus heifer calves in demand and required. A marvellous batch of 40 regularly aged Luing in calf cows sold at £1,400 per head. Store lambs sold at £64 for 36kg Texel crosses and more are stillneeded.

longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 25 prime cattle, seven young bulls, 31 over 30 month cattle, 4,810 prime hoggs and 5,780 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

An increased entry of prime cattle forward sold to an easier trade, although in keeping with national trend.

Bullocks topped at 238.5p for a Limousin shown by D. and R. Cornthwaite, Balgray Hill and heifers to 235.5p for a Limousin from W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House.

A larger show of 4,810 prime hoggs (863 lightweights) were forward to the usual full ring of buyers who were far more cautious than the previous two weeks. Also sold was a pen of four hoggs kindly sold by Messrs J.P. Fisher, Smalmstown, Longtown to raise money towards the Farmers’ Charity Auction to be held at Borderway Mart. They raised £99 each purchased by Mr James Thompson, Penrith.

A larger show of 5,780 cast ewes and rams were forward to a smaller ring of buyers, all classes slightly easier on the week but still sold at good rates. Export and smaller ewes most obvious change on the week.

st boswells

At their weekly Primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 93 clean cattle, 94 OTM cattle, 2,141 old season SQQ lambs and 738 ewes.

Bullocks (32) averaged 220.3p per kg and sold to 246p (-11.4p on week), heifers (57) averaged 220.5p per kg and sold to 248p (-8.8p on week), four young bulls averaged 140.8p per kg and sold to 160p (n/c on week) and 96 beef type OTM cattle averaged 127.1p per kg and sold to 188p (+0.4p on the week).

The 1,823 SQQ hoggs averaged 181.2p per kg (-12.1p on week) and sold to £90, 952 hoggs 38-42kgs averaged 188.1. Ewes averaged £45.80, and sold to £93 and £87 for tups. Heavy ewes £58.55, light ewes £39.86.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.48 W Taylor (Lockerbie), 2.46 (2) M/s JP Mason and Robert Wilson Butcher Edin, 2.40 (2) W Taylor (Lockerbie) and M/s Cropper, 2.38 (2) M/s Cropper; Upper Nisbet 2.46 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Langhaugh 2.42 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Lurdenlaw 2.39 (2) M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons and M/s Hugh Black and Sons; Saughland 2.35 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd.

Principal Prices per head: Lurdenlaw £1663.20, £1529.60, £1477.05; Bee Edge £1525.20, £1488; Nisbet £1483.90.

Cows per head: Roxburgh Mains £1402.50, £1246.70; Corsbie £1327.70; Humebyres £1274.10, £1177.50; Crookhouse £1230.25; Wester Middleton £1202.40, £1132.50; Gatherick £1130.25; Huntington £1108.25; Muircleugh £1089.15; 10 Newmains £1083.60; Outerston £1082.30; Commonside £1065.90; Stoneypath £1044.

Cows per kg: Dunslaw 1.88; Commonside 1.87, 1.79, 1.73; Corsbie 1.871.45; Crookhouse 1.85; Wester Middleton 1.67, 1.50; Langhaugh 1.65, 1.59; Roxburgh Mains 1.65; Humebyres 1.57; Fowberry Moor 1.49; Angelraw 1.45; Kaeside 1.45.

Bull: Northhouse £1151.40 (1.01).

Lambs per head: Tex.x;- £90, £85 the Lee, £84, £83.50 Crumhaughhill, Suff.x;- £84 St Leonards, £81.50 Dunslaw, £80 Bonjedward Mill, St Leonards and Traprain, Chev;- £80.50 Wester Ulston, £79.50 North Synton, Bel;- £79.50 Lylestane and Sydenham, GF;- £67.50 Thistle Doo, HB;- £77.50 Upper Huntlywood, Rom;- £74 Upper Samieston, CM;- £73.50 Lylestane, £73 Stoneypath.

wooler

At their weekly Prime Stock sale held last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 880 hoggs and 397 ewes and rams.

Hoggs again a good show with late rates maintained. More could have been sold to vendors advantage.

Leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £88 Wrangham East, £87 East Fleetham, £85 Lilburn Estates and Lorbottle, £84.50p, £84 East Fleetham, £83 Inland Pasture, Cockhall, Fawdon Farms and Springhill, Seahouses, £82.50p West Longridge, £82 Mindrum Farming Co, Lickar Moor, Inland Pasture and Lorbottle. Zwa:- £85 Wrangham East. Suff.x:- £84.50p Todrig, £82 East Fleetham, £81.50p Ladykirk, £81 Titlington Mount. Char.x:- £84 East Fleetham. Bel:- £84, £82.50p (2) Ladykirk. Ven:- £79.50p (2) North Lyham. Chev:- £78.50p (2) North Lyham, £78 Biddlestone Home Farm, £77 (2) Humbleheugh.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 217.1p Ladykirk, 211.8p Lorbottle, 200p Ladykirk. Tex:- 205p Mindrum Farming Co, 202.4p Cockhall, 198.8p Mindrum Farming Co, 198.7p Branton Eastside and Lickar Moor, 197.5p Cockhall, 196.3p Mindrum Farming Co. Chev:- 189.7p Branton Eastside, 188.8p North Lyham. Ven:- 193.9p North Lyham. Mule:- 182.1p Village Farm.

Ewes a larger show, all classes sought after with more horned ewes on offer. Dearer on the week.