On 22nd March 2023 Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of 103 primestock comprising of 41 cast cows, 9 prime bulls and 53 prime cattle, 2,108 prime sheep including 1652 prime hoggs and 456 cast ewes and rams.
The Lake District Prime Cattle sale was a sight to behold as a quality run of cattle were well bid for by the bustling ringside of 9 active buyers.
Trade knows no bounds here at Mitchells selling to a top of 349ppk for a Limousin Heifer from L Skelton & Son, Low House, Dearham purchased by Bowland Foods Ltd, Maryport. Others to 340ppk for a Parthenais from T Pearson & Son, High Plasketlands, Mawbray again purchased by Bowland Foods Ltd.
Steers sold to 332ppk for a British Blue from NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes, Masham who also sold Limousin Steers to 329p.
Top gross of the day was £2240.44 for a Limousin Steer from J Dixon & Son, Lesson Hall, Wigton. Heifers to £2190.40 for a Limousin from AJ Wood, Woodhall Brow, Dean.
Prime Bulls sold to 310p or £2263 for a Limousin Bull from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria.
Many more could have been well sold and are required at each sale to satisfy extreme demand.
Prime Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 349, 321 Low House, 338, 330, 324, 309 Newbiggin, 338, 330, 325 Loughrigg, 330 West Farm, 330, 320 High Plaskett Lands, 329 Lesson Hall, 326, 317 Allerby Hall, 320, 320, 312 Gebdykes, 318 Whicham, 316 Springfield. Parthenais – 340 High Plaskett Lands. British Blue – 326 High Plaskett Lands, 319 Gebdykes. Charolais – 291 East Mill, 286 Springfield.
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2190.40 Woodhall Brow, 2146.30, 2067.12, 1821.60, 1801.47 Newbiggin, 2118.76 Lesson Hall, 2085.60, 1927.80 Springfield, 2065.80 West Farm, 2061.80, 2008.50, 1917.30 Loughrigg, 2008.16, 1971.74 Allerby Hall, 1968, 1939.20, 1912.56 Gebdykes, 1914.36 Whicham Hall, 1913.16 Low House, 1874.40 Mid Farm. Parthenais – 2053.60 High Plaskett Lands. British Blue – 1936.33 Gebdykes, 1858.20 High Plaskett Lands. Charolais – 1807.52 Springfield, 1583.04 East Mill.
Prime Steer (Top price per kilo – pence):- British Blue – 332, 322, 305 Gebdykes. Limousin – 329, 319, 312 Gebdykes, 326, 302 West Farm, 316 Lesson Hall, 314 Mid Farm, 311 Bothel Parks, 309 Allerby Hall, 308 Kirkland Guards. Bazadaise – 320 Gebdykes. Charolais – 288 Sorrowstones.
Prime Steer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2240.44 Lesson Hall, 2229.84, 2089.84 West Farm, 2197.91, 2122.05, 2052.96 Gebdykes, 2192.55 Bothel Parks, 2163 Allerby Hall, 2103.64, 2098.98 Kirkland Guards. British Blue – 2174.65, 2158, 2147.74 Gebdykes. Bazadaise – 2153.60 Gebdykes. Charolais – 1981.44 Sorrowstones.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 310 West Farm, 300 Kirkland Guards, 286, 271 Hunday, 280 Ellenbank. Charolais – 289 Ellenbank. British Blue – 266, 263 South View, 261 Lowca Cottages.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2263 West Farm, 1950.52, 1742.53 Hunday Farm, 1926 Kirkland Guards, 1918 Ellenbank. Charolais – 2103.92 Ellenbank. British Blue – 1539.90 Lowca Cottages, 1441.24, 1436.40 South View.
Cow trade absolutely supersonic topping at 242p for a Limousin cow from Messrs Miller, Allerby Hall, Allerby. Others to 240p from Messrs Mounsey, Wardhall Guards, Arkleby. Top gross was £2072.13 for a Limousin from BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, Cockermouth.
Dairy types sold to 216p for a Holstein Friesian from TG&K Fisher, The Glebe, Carlisle. Top gross was £1637.28 for another from the good home of TG&K Fisher, The Glebe.
The days top price and gross was achieved for a British Blue Bull from PE&M Capstick, Whicham Hall, Millom selling for 268ppk or £2492.40.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- . Limousin- 242 Allerby Hall. 240 Wardhall Guards. 239 Shatton Lodge. 226 Mid Farm. 201 Bracken Howe. Saler- 243, 241, 237 Beck Farm. British Blue- 230, 218 Wardhall Guards. 209 Hall Santon . Holstein Friesian- 216, 186, 185, 183,178, 168 (2), 166, 164, 163, 161 The Glebe. 202 Dundraw Farms. 198, 158 Watson Hill.
Aberdeen Angus- 188, Crosbythwaite farm. Holstein - 188 Lowca Cottage Farm. British Friesian- 186 Wellington Farm. 167 Crowe Hall Farm. British Holstein - 167 Dundrawn Farms. 162 Fairladies Farm.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2072.13 Shatton Lodge, 1831.94 Allerby Hall, 1675.20 Wardhall Guards, 1491.60 Mid Farm, 1119.57 Bracken Howe. Salers – 1652.40, 1573.68, 1511.07 Beck Farm. Holstein – 1637.28, 1605.80, 1476.84, 1321.26, 1206.24, 1135.68, 1114.92, 1090.62, 1074.20, 1073.34, 1012.69 The Glebe, 1327.14, 1302.60 Dundraw, 1085.04, 1008.04 Watson Hill. British Blue – 1580.10, 1417 Wardhall Guards, 1442.10 Hall Santon. British Friesian – 1171.80 Wellington Farm, 1092.18 Hall Santon, 1081.08 Fairladies. Aberdeen Angus – 1159.96 Crosbythwaite.
OTM Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- British Blue- 268 Whicham hall .
OTM Bull (Top price per head - £):- British Blue – 2492.40 Whicham Hall.
OTM Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- British Friesian – 220 Wellington Farm.
OTM Heifer (Top price per head - £):- British Friesian – 1260.60 Wellington Farm.
Prime Sheep
A much-improved trade for all classes as vendors take advantage of the festival demand. A 20 pence per kilo lift across the board provided some welcome returns topping at £184 for a Texel hogg from Messrs Nevinson, High House, Pica purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth. Others to £176 for a Beltex hogg from RA Rawling, Overcroft, Greysouthen purchased by Mr G Lomax.
Pence per kilo honours went to Messrs Richardson, Low Garth, Bewaldeth selling Beltex hoggs to 364.1ppk. Others to 351.1p again from Messrs Richardson.
Mule hoggs sold to £125 twice for BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, Cockermouth or 267.4ppk for AG&KF Nicholson, Swinside End, Lorton.
A large influx of fell hoggs came forward proving very good to sell and topping at £116 for Herdwicks from MG&M Fox, Crosbythwaite, Ulpha and Swaledales from P&PI Walker, Beechcroft, Mockerkin. Top per kilo was 286.8p for Herdwicks from G&T Tyson, East House, Brigham.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex- 364.4, 351.1, 311.8 Low Garth, 334.2 Green Marsh, 317 High House, 308.9, 307.7 Parkgate Hall, 305.3, 295.7 Loughrigg, 298.1 High House. Texel- 323.4, 300 Low Garth, 311.5 High House, 310.5, 307.1 Grange Farm, 310.2 Langhorn, 310 Stockhill, 308.3 Springhill, 301.3 Sherriff, 300 Far End. Blue Du Maine- 288.9, 278.6 Gebdykes. TexXHerd- 288.2, 278 Wha House, 273.3, 271.6 Greengill, 270, 263.4 Wardwarrow, 265.9 Causeyview, 265 Dearham Row, 263.2 Burnthwaite, 256.4 Stonecroft. Herdwick- 286.8 East House, 263.9 Far End, 261.4 Langhorn, 260.8 Wha House, 257.8 Crosbythwaite, 256.8 Wasdale Head Hall, 255.8, 244.2 Yew Tree, 251.3 Brotherilkeld, 247.3 Cockley Beck. Charollais- 285.7 Wardwarrow. Mule- 267.4 Swinside End, 257.8 Kelmore Hills, 254.7 Wardwarrow, 252.2 Hilltop, 247.6 Sherriff, 245.1(2) Shatton Lodge. Blue Texel- 265.1 High Plaskettlands. Swaledale- 265.1 Swinside End, 259.8 Westray, 259.2 Wha House. Jacob- 264.1 Swinside End. Scotch Blackface- 260.8 Stonecroft. Suffolk- 257.6, 256.4 West Moor End, 243.9 Scalesmoor. Cheviot- 254.3 Gebdykes.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 184, 162 High House, 170, 168, 152 Hollins, 164 Gebdykes, 159 High Flatts, 153 Far End, 152 Low Garth, 152 Langhorn. Beltex- 176 Overcroft, 174, 168 High House, 173 Parkgate Hall, 171 Kelmore Hills, 164, 159, 158 Low Garth, 160 Parkgate Hall. Bleu Du Maine- 156(2), 136 Gebdykes. BFL- 149 Swinside End. Suffolk- 135 High Flatts, 126 Gebdykes, 124, 121 West Moor End, 121 Far End. Mule- 125(2) Shatton Lodge, 123.50, 120 Beechcroft, 122 Woodhow, 120 Hayborough, 119 Sherriff, 116 Kelmore Hills, 115 Swinside End. Blue Texel- 122 High Plaskettlands, 120.50 Sherriff, 120 High Bewaldeth. TexXHerd- 122 Yew Tree, 119.50 Low Hall, 119.50, 117.50, 115 Greengill, 114 Wha House. Charollais- 120 Wardwarrow. Cheviot- 119, 111 Brotherilkeld, 117 Gebdykes, 108 Wolsty. Herdwick- 116 Crosbythwaite, 115 Langhorn, 110, 105 Yew Tree, 109 East House, 96.50 Wha House, 95.50 Brotherilkeld, 95 Far End, 95 Wasdale Head Hall. Swaledale- 116 Beechcroft, 114 Swinside End, 106.50 Westray, 103 High Bewaldeth. Jacob- 103 Swinside End, 100 Stonecroft. Scotch Blackface- 96.50 Stonecroft.
Cast ewes sold to £215 for a Beltex ewe from JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont. Fell ewes to £78 from A Hartley Ltd, Turner Hall, Broughton in Furness.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Beltex- 215, 187 Loughrigg . 153. 145 Branthwaite Edge. 147, 123 Parkgate Hall. 137 Green Marsh . Texel- 157 Sherriff. 149(2), 137, 133, 128 (2) High Plaskett Lands. 130 Woodhow Farm. 129, 119 Allerby Hall. 138, 126, 120 Lynedraw. 133 Grange Farm. 120 Segbushwell . Suffolk- 132 Lynedraw. 130 Grange Farm. Charollais- 125 Bell House Farm. Cheviot- 118 Stybeck Farm . Mule- 117 Lynedraw. 102 Outgang. 97 Green Marsh. 96 Far Branthwaite. 96 Croft House. Herdwick- 78, 65, 60 Turner Hall Farm. 77 Segbushwell. 63 Manor House . Swaledale- 71 Turner Hall Farm. 70 Cragg House Farm. 61 Ghyll Farm. Jacob- 71 Swinside End Farm.
Cull Rams ( Per head £-) Blue Faced Leicester- 145, 142, 121, 120 Swinside End Farm. Herdwick- 109 Bowderdale, 83 Howes Farm.