On Wednesday 14th June 2023 Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock consisting of 184 cattle comprising of 68 cast cows, 100 clean cattle and 16 prime bulls, 1191 prime sheep including 569 spring lambs, 266 prime hoggs and 356 cast ewes and rams.
The largest entry yet came forward for the monthly sale of Lake District Prime Cattle with a show to rival anywhere in the country. Trade was again superb with all classes in keen demand.
The days top of 354p was paid for a Limousin Heifer from Messrs JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont purchased by Wilson Willis Butchers, High Street, Cleator Moor. Others to 340p from NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes, Masham.
The top gross was £2409.60 for a Limousin Steer from J Dixon & Sons, Lesson Hall, Wigton. Top per kilo for Steers was 332p for a Limouin again from Messrs JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont.
Prime bulls sold to 304p for a British Blue from JH Mitchinson, Beck House, Southwaite. A cracking run of British Friesian Bulls sold to 241p from J Pattinson & Son, Uldale Hall, Uldale.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- British Blue- 304 Beck House. Limousin- 300, 290, 286, 284 Beck House. Angus- 250 Greengill. British Friesian- 241, 229(2), 226 Uldale Hall.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1905, 1838.98, 1823.28, 1818.30, 1700.16, Beck House. British Blue – 1805.76, Beck House. British Friesian – 1232.02, 1205, 1204.54, Uldale Hall.
Prime Steer (Price per Kilo - Pence):- Limousin – 332, 328, Loughrigg. 321, 312, 289, Gebdykes. 320, 310, Lesson Hall. 312, 289, West Farm. 312, Newbiggin Farm. 310, 286, Hayborough. 302, 302, 299, 298, 288, 286, Allerby Hall. 290, Croft Farm. 286, Kirkland Guards. British Blue – 299, Allerby Hall. 298, Newbiggin. Charolais – 293, 290, Gebdykes. Aberdeen Angus – 264, 261, 252, Stockbridge.
Prime Steer (Price per head £):- Limousin - 2409.60, Lesson Hall. 2307.40, 2292.72 Loughrigg. 2197.90 Hayborough. 2185.50 Lesson Hall. 2123.06, 2072.07, 2059.64, 2014.48, 1982.40, Allerby Hall. 2092.92, 2087.28 Gebdykes. 2084.16 Newbiggin Farm. 2059.20, West Farm. 1980.75, Kirkland Guards. 1979.12, Hayborough. British Blue - 2136.66 Newbiggin Farm. 2069.08 Allerby Hall. 1782.20 West Farm. Charolais - 2045.14, 1977.80 Gebdykes . Aberdeen Angus - 1756.44, 1722.60, 1684.32, Stockbridge Farm.
Prime Heifer (Price per Kilo – Pence):- Limousin – 354, 302, Loughrigg. 340, 324, 320, 320, 306, Gebdykes. 332, 320, 320, 316, 308, 298, 297, Newbiggin Farm. 325, 311, 306, 299, 298, Solway House. 318, 296, East Mill. 318, West Farm. 317, 314, 309, 305, 299, East House. 307, Mid Farm. 300, 294, Allerby Hall. British Blue – 325, Lesson Hall. Charolais – 280, 278, 269, Wardwarrow.
Prime Heifer (Price per Head) - . Limousin - 2265.60, Loughrigg. 2186.20, 2016, 2003.20, 1993.32, 1911.60, 1909.44, 1866.84, Gebdykes. 2105.47, 1963, 1940, 1891.08, 1884.60, Solway House. 2016, 2005, 1981.70, Newbiggin Farms 2000, West Farm. British Blue - 1995.50 Lesson Hall. Charolais - 1702.40, 1695.80, 1538.68 Wardwarrow. Simmental - 1638.49 Wardwarrow.
Cow trade marvellous as is the case nowadays topping at 266p for a Charolais from G&T Tyson, East House, Brigham. Limousin cows to 240p from TW West, Pickett Howe, Egremont. Top gross was £1982.54 for a Limousin again from TW West, Pickett Howe, Egremont.
Black and Whites sold to 190p for a British Friesian from Messrs Walker, Harrington Parks, Workington. Top gross was £1409.44 from Messrs Greening, Waverbank, Mealsgate.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- Charolais – 266, East House. 215, Strudda Bank. Limousin – 240, 238, 200, Pickett Howe. 234, Old Hyton. 233, Peter House. 200, 190, The Towers. 198, Sneckyeat. 198, 190, Holmecroft. British Blue – 223, Beechcroft. Aberdeen Angus – 212, 189, Crosshow. Beef Shorthorn – 196, 191, 186, Sneckyeat. 192, High Stanger. Holstein – 194, Arkleby House. 156, Woodside. 152, North Lodge. Holstein Friesian – 184, 169, Waverbank. 181, 171, Allerby Mill. 178, 169, 166, Threapland Lees. 173, 173, 169, Woodside. 172, Barnyard. 167, Woodend. British Friesian – 190, Harrington Parks. 187, Uldale Hall. 180, Thornbank. 179, Parkgate Hall.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1982.54, 1650, 1507.20, Pickett Howe. 1700.90, Peter House. 1516.32, Old Hyton. 1400.30, Holmecroft. British Blue – 1656.89, Beechcroft. Charolais – 1643.88, East House. 1526.50, Strudda Bank. Aberdeen Angus – 1470.42, Thrimby Hall. 1207.36, 1187.20, Crosshow. Beef Shorthorn – 1292.16, Shatton Lodge. 1197.57, 1195.60, 1117.40, Sneakyeat. Holstein – 1455, Arkleby House. 1006.20, Woodside. Holstein Friesian – 1409.44, 1220.18, Waverbank. 1381.03, 1111.50, Allerby Mill. 1212.60, Barnyard. 1169.48, Woodside Farm. 1146.32, Threapland Lees. Blonde – 1285.75, Low Godderthwaite. British Friesian – 1183.70, Harrington Parks. 1127.61, Uldale Hall. 1112.40, Thornbank.
OTM Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Simmental – 260, Ellenbank. Limousin – 233, Flimby Hall.
OTM Heifer (Top price per head - £):-Simmental - 1710.80 Ellenbank. Limousin - 1519.16 Flimby Hall.
Prime Sheep
The show and sale of single Spring Lambs on Mitchells 150th year attracted a quality entry whereby the judging was in the capable hands of Mr Andrew Willis of Wilson Willis Butchers. Championship honours were awarded to S&D Peile of Parkgate Hall, Wigton with his 45kg Beltex lamb which later sold for the days top price of £198 or 440ppk. Reserve was the Texel lamb from J&JK Spedding, Salter Hall which weighed 49kg and sold for £180 purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth.
Spring Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex- 440, 377.5, 368.4, 365.7, 333.3 Parkgate Hall, 342.1 Crooklands, 342, 322.4, 313.6 Blue Dial, 340 Burthwaite, 333 Corney Hall, 329, 322 Green Marsh, 322.5 South View. Texel- 367.3, 344.2, 319.8 Salter Hall, 356, 333.3 Blue Dial, 347.8, 334.8 Aspatria Hall, 341, 319.1 Seafield House, 336.4 High Flatts, 334.2, 317.9 Burthwaite, 328.9, 316.3 Green Marsh, 322.5, 319.5 Mid Farm, 317.6 Croftside, 317.1 Outgang. Charollais- 335.1, 315.9, 312.5 Frizington Parks. Suffolk- 326.5, 304.2 Greengill, 295.2, 289.8 Frizington Parks, 293.3 Ryhola Meadow, 292.5 Aspatria Hall, 291.5 Seafield House. Dutch Spotted- 319.2 Crooklands. Blue Texel- 318.4 Crummock Bank, 300 Crooklands. Badger- 304.7, 302.5 Linskeldfield.
Spring Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Beltex- 198 Parkgate Hall, 171, 158, 138 Blue Dial, 152, 148, 132 Green Marsh, 150 Corney Hall, 136 Burthwaite. Texel- 185, 150, 144 High Flatts, 180, 148 Salter Hall, 164, 148 Green Marsh, 162 Croftside, 160, 154, 148 Aspatria Hall, 160(2) Blue Dial, 155 Brow Top, 151 Parkgate Hall, 150 Burthwaite, 150 Seafield House, 142 Shatton Lodge, 141 High Stanger. Suffolk- 160, 146, 133 Greengill, 142 Frizington Parks, 137, 132(3) Ryhola Meadow. Blue Texel- 156, 154 Crummock Bank, 150, 140 Crooklands. Charollais- 139 Frizington Parks, 135 Croftside. Badger- 131, 121 Linskeldfield.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex- 300, 291.7, 288.9, 285.4, 284.1 Stephney. Texel- 270.3 Thrimby Hall, 264.7, 252.7 Row End. Herdwick- 212.1, 211.6 Boon Cragg, 211.4 East House.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 142 Cragg House, 141 Greengill, 139, 135 Row End. Beltex- 140, 137, 132, 130, 125, 122.50, 122, 120 Stephney. Suffolk- 132 Waites Farm. Blackface- 112 Ellenbank. Herdwick- 91 Boon Cragg.
Ewes another great trade topping at £202 and £198 for Texel ewes from RJ&AY Armstrong, Terrace Farm, Lorton. Others to £194 from WW&D Boow, Corney Hall, Bootle. Fell ewes sold to £99 for a pen of 24 Herdwick ewes from GD&EJ Vickers, Mireside, Ennerdale. Swaledales to £95 from P&PI Walker, Beechcroft, Mockerkin.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel- 202, 198, 155, 153, 148 Terrace Farm, 194, 178, 170, 160(2), 146 Corney Hall, 178, 144, 143 Beck Farm, 144 Crummock Bank, 142 Rose Farm. Beltex- 146 Woodhall Brow, 142 Mill Street. Bleu Du Maine- 165, 144 Croftside. Charollais- 140 Kirkhouse. Mule- 100 Causeyview. Cheviot- 90 Bleak House. Herdwick- 99 Mireside, 95 Beechcroft, 95 East House, 90 Mireside, 88 Causeyview. Swaledale- 95 Beechcroft, 88 Mireside.
Cast Rams- Swaledale- 100 Seatoller. Herdwick- 95 Seatoller.