On Wednesday 19th July 2023 at Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of 32 primestock comprising of 32 cast cows and 3 prime bulls, 1685 prime sheep including 993 prime lambs and 692 cast ewes and rams.
Prime cattle sold to 243p for a Limousin Bull from WE Callion & Sons, Lodge Farm, Workington.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 243 Lodge Farm.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1331.64 Lodge Farm.
Cast cow trade slightly easier but returns remain very pleasing. Top of 220p for a Limousin cow from Messrs Hodgson, Croft End, Beckermet. Top gross was £1383.80 for a Holstein Friesian from Bowness Farms, Threapland Lees, Aspatria.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 220 Croft End, 197 Cathow. Holstein Friesian – 189, 167 Barnyard, 187 West House, 185, 181 Threapland Lees, 173 Frizington Parks, 173 Row Hall. Aberdeen Angus – 188 Croft Farm. Simmental – 178 Croft Farm. British Friesian - 176, 175, 174 Wellington Farm. Dairy Shorthorn – 177 Ireby Hall. Belted Galloway – 172 Brackenridge. Brown Swiss – 171 Frizington Parks.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Holstein Friesian – 1383.80, 1145.73 Threapland Lees, 1355.75 West House, 1349.36, 1315.44 Barnyard, 1217.92 Frizington Parks, 1043.19 Row Hall, 1018.35 Waites Farm, 1010.60 New Mill. Limousin – 1370.60 Croft End, 1221.40 Cathow. Brown Swiss – 1162.80 Frizington Parks. British Friesian – 1113.60, 1029.60, 1029 Wellington Farm. Dairy Shorthorn – 1111.56 Ireby Hall. Aberdeen Angus – 1109.20 Croft Farm. Belted Galloway – 1038.88 Brackenridge.
OTM Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Holstein Friesian – 1024.80, 886.88 Watson Hill.
OTM Heifer (Top price per head - £):- Holstein Friesian – 184, 183 Watson Hill.
Prime Sheep
An increased entry of lambs forward being a similar trade on the week. Top of £176 for a Texel lamb from G Wilkinson, Arkleby House, Aspatria purchased by Haighs Butchers, Pow Street, Workington. Others to £175 for a Beltex from S Bell, Loughhead, Carlisle with 45kg which was also the top per kilo at 388.9ppk.
Texels to 361.7ppk from Messrs Butler, Moor Platt, St. Bees.
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex – 388.9, 316.7 Loughhead Farm, 325, 314.3 Irthing View, 304.9, 297.6 Corn How, 293.2 Woodside Cottage, 289.1 Nr Branthwaite Edge. Texel – 361.7 Moor Platt Farm, 359.6, 357.4 Hundith Hill, 353.2, 348.8 Abbey Ter, 353.2 Fieldside, 334.7 Fairladies, 332.1 Arkleby House, 331.1, 327.7 Riggingill, 328.3 Salter Hall, 320 High Farm, 312.8 Orchard Farm, 312.5 Solway House, 310.6 Scalesmoor, 309.7 Loughhead Farm, 304.9 Lake View. Charollais – 337.8 Uldale Hall, 268.9 Fairladies Farm, 265.3 Moor Platt Farm. Suffolk – 312.5, 310.2 High Flatts, 306.5, 274.5, 268.9 Scalesmoor, 286.6 Solway House, 283.7 Grange Farm, 273 Hinning House. Blue Texel – 312.2, 306.3 Crummock Bank, 271.4 Fangs Brow. Dutch Spotted – 306.8, 296.2 Croft End, 267.1 Bell House Farm. Bleu Du Maine – 270.9, Oughterside Mill. Texel X Herdwick – 254 Grange Grassings. Mule – 251.2 Uldale Hall.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Texel – 176 Arkleby House, 170, 132 Moor Platt, 169, 168 Hundith Hill, 166, 143 Abbey Terrace, 166, 161, 136 Fieldside, 164 Fairladies, 160, 143 High Farm, 154, 149 Riggingill, 151 Salter Hall, 146 Scalesmoor. Beltex – 175, 152 Loughhead, 154, 130 Irthing View, 133 Nr Branthwaite Edge, 129 Woodside Cottage, 125(2) Corn How. Dutch Spotted – 154, 135 Croft End. Suffolk – 152, 150 High Flatts, 141, 129, 121 Scalesmoor, 139 Grange Farm, 117.5- Solway House, 115 Seafield House. Charollais – 152 Uldale Hall, 130 Moor Platt, 121 Fairladies. Blue Texel – 147, 128 Crummock Bank, 114 Fangs Brow. Texel X Herdwick – 117 Grange Grassings. Bleu Du Maine – 116.50 Oughterside Mill. Mule – 108 Uldale Hall.
Cast ewe trade off the clock for a larger entry forward. Record rates of return achieved with a centre record of £278 achieved for a pair of Texel ewes from JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, Egremont. Messrs Crichton’s run of ewes averaged an eye-watering £228.25. All Texel ewes sold averaged £139.14.
Cast Rams sold to £240 for a Texel from GS Bell, Newhouse Farm, Flimby with others to £205 twice from J&J Fraser, Julian Holme, Gosforth.
Fell ewes sold to a top of £90 for Swaledales from J&C Stobart, Howbeck Lodge, Hesket New Market.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 278, 265, 260, 238, 230, 178 Loughrigg, 244, 228, 198, 186 Arkleby House, 240, 179 Corn How, 212 Moor Platt. Suffolk – 141, 131 Scalesmoor, 134 Moor Platt. Beltex – 138 Moor Platt, 130 Woodhall Brow. Bluefaced Leicester – 125 Orthwaite Hall. Mule – 117, 107 Parsonage Farm, 114 Howbeck Lodge, 106 Corn How, 101 Nr Branthwaite Edge, 100 Bracken Howe. Cheviot – 97 Woodhall Brow. Texel X Herdwick – 92 Stone Croft. Swaledale – 90, 81 Howbeck Lodge, 83 Byresteads Farm, 82 Orthwaite Hall, 81 Shatton Lodge, 79 Beechcroft. Herdwick – 86 Orthwaite Hall, 74, 73 Gatesgarth.
Cull Rams (per head - £):- Texel – 240 Newhouse Farm, 205(2), 120(2) Julianholme, 158 Fieldside, 140 Whitekeld. Blue Texel – 145 Crummock Bank. Charollais – 134 Rainors Farm, 120 Isel Old Parks.