On Wednesday 12th July Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 110 cattle comprising of 26 cast cows, 84 prime cattle, 1032 prime sheep including 638 lambs and 394 cast ewes and rams.
The monthly sale of Lake District Prime cattle attracted another marvellous entry of all classes. A super ringside of Butchers turned out in force to support local producers. Top of 329p for a Limousin Heifer from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth. Steers topped at 321p for a Limousin from JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont.
Boom, 22 cattle broke the £2000 barrier.
Top gross was £2250.82 for a Limousin Steer from J Dixon & Son, Lesson Hall, Wigton. Heifers upto £2201.60 for a Limousin Heifer from JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont purchased by Haighs Butchers, Pow Street, Workington.
Prime Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin - 329 West Farm, 323 High Plaskettlands, 322, 320 Loughrigg, 322 Solway House, 317, 316, 314,313 Newbiggin Farm, 315 Hundith House. British Blue – 303, 282 Hundith House.
Charolais - 284 West Farm, 273, 270 Brow Top Farm
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin - 2201.60, 2118.76 Loughrigg, 2170.56, 2070.80 High Plaskettlands, 2095.73 West Farm, 2041.02, 2009.28 Solway House, 2028.72, 1968.78, 1968.63 Newbiggin Farm, 1986 Hundith House.
British Blue – 1979.64, 1796.79 Hundith House. Charolais – 1902.80 West Farm, 1575.21 Brow Top Farm. Hereford – 1545.60 Shatton Lodge.
Prime Steer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 321 Loughrigg, 309 Allerby Hall, 307 Newbiggin Farms, 306, 298 Lesson Hall, 298, 290 Kirkland Guards, 293 Croft Farm, 293 East House, 289 Crake Place Hall, 289 Arkleby Hall.
Prime Steer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2250.82, 2249.50, 2151.56, 2047.14 Lesson Hall, 2155.14, 2119.60 Newbiggin Farms, 2122.83 Allerby Hall, 2096.38, 2037.25, 2000.72 Arkleby Hall, 2005.54 Kirkland Guards.
Prime Bulls Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin - 300 West Farm, 290, 281 Allerby Hall. Charolais – 275 Ellen Bank. British Blue – 226, 225 South View. Aberdeen Angus – 223 Greengill Farm. British Friesian – 220, 210 Uldale Hall, 217 Row Hall, 215, 211 Greengill Farm.
Prime Bulls (Price per head-£):- Limousin – 2190 West Farm, 2021.30, 2006.34 Allerby Hall. Charolais – 2131.25, 1520.75 Ellen Bank. British Blue – 1345.50, 1288.20 South View. Aberdeen Angus – 1342.46 Greengill Farm.
British Friesian – 1232.24, 1208.30, 1176 Greengill Farm, 1228.22 Row Hall.
Cows topped at 200p for a British Blue cow from IT Wilson, Parsonage Farm, Whicham Valley and also 200p for the top gross of the day at £1704 for a Simmental cow from GS Bell, Newhouse Farm, Flimby.
Dairy types to 183p for a Dairy Shorthorn from AH Ritson, Ireby Hall, Ireby or £1457.28 for a Holstein Friesian from B Burrough, Waites Farm, Pardshaw.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):-British Blue – 200 Parsonage Farm, 194, 190 East Mill Farm. Simmental – 200 Newhouse Farm. Beef Shorthorn – 190 Parsonage Farm, 189 Bell House Farm. Dairy Shorthorn - 183 Ireby Hall. Hereford – 178 Burnt House. Holstein Friesian – 178 Waverbank, 176 Waites Farm, 173, 172 Burton House Farm, 166 Brackenbarrow Farms.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Simmental – 1704 Newhouse Farm. British Blue – 1687.80 East Mill Farm, 1352 Parsonage Farm. Aberdeen Angus – 1599.60 Burnt House Farm. Holstein Friesian – 1457.28 Waites Farm, 1329.66 Waverbank, 1324.40 Burton House, 1114.96 Tallentire Hill. British Shorthorn – 1317.33 Bell House, 1238.91 Ireby Hall, 1210.30 Parsonage Farm
Prime Sheep
A light show of lambs forward and as forecast trade easier on the week however still comparing favourably with other centres. Top price of £175 paid twice; both times for Texel lambs from A Ashburner, Summerhill, Whitehaven purchased by Haighs Butchers, Pow Street, Workington and also by Wilson Butchers, Main Street, Egremont.
Top per kilo was 381p for Beltex lambs from Mr & Mrs I Fisher, Croft End, Frizington.
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex – 381, 312.8, 310 Croft End Farm, 329.3, 318.6, Strawberry How, 321.7, 314.9, Branthwaite Edge. Texel – 357.1 Summerhill, 340.4, 320.5, Croft Farm, 327.7 Mid Farm, 319.2 Greenbank Close, 317.5 Green Marsh, 308.9 Strawberry How, 308.3 Nr Branthwaite Edge, 305.8 High Flatts, 300 Croftlands, 300 Lake View. Suffolk – 327.7 High Flatts, 295.7 Old Hyton Farm, 278.3 Strawberry How, 272.8 Sneckyeat Farm, 272.6 Ryhola Meadow.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Texel – 175 Summerhill, 166 Greenbank Close, 160 Croft House, 159 High Flatts, 155 High Farm, 154 Mid Farm, 148 Sneckyeat Farm. Beltex – 160 Croft End Farm, 148 Branthwaite Edge, 137, 135 Strawberry Howe, 127, 125 High Moss. Suffolk – 154 High Flatts, 139 Old Hyton Farm, 128 Strawberry House, 125.5 Sneckyeat Farm, 122 Peter House. Dutch Spotted – 128 Croftfield House.
Cast ewes sold to another marvellous trade being just as dear but less quality forward on the week. Top of £152 for Texel ewes from MJ&SJ Reed, Orchard House, Wigton. Mule ewes to £140 from Messrs Fraser, High Flatts, Gilcrux. Fell ewes to £105 for Herdwicks from AD Harrison, Brotherilkeld, Eskdale.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel - 152, 144 Orchard House, 150 Firs Farm, 145 Allerby Hall, 144 Swallow Croft. Mule - 140 High Flatts, 136 Summerhill, 112 Rose Farm, 112, 110 East Townend, 111 Strawberry How. Suffolk - 134 Woodhall Brow, 127, 110 Ryhola Meadow, 120 Sneckyeat Farm. LLeyn - 128, 102 Allerby Hall
Blue Texel – 128 Croftfield House, 126 Croftlands. Beltex - 126 Strawberry Howe.
Herdwick – 105, 92 Brotherilkeld, 86, 75 Ponsonby Old Hall, 82 Seathwaite Farm. Blackface – 101 Ellen Bank. Swaledale – 88, 80 Stockhow Hall, 81 Peter House.
Cull Rams (per head - £):- Texel – 160 Greenbank Close, 135 Stockhow Hall, 122, 120 Orchard House. Swaledale – 105 Freebirch Farm.