On Wednesday 9th August 2023 Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 25 cast cows and 51 prime cattle, 1693 prime sheep including 1124 prime lambs and 569 cast ewes and rams.
The Lake District sale of prime cattle again attracted a good entry and a wonderful turnout of local purchasers. Trade was brisk being far in excess of expectations delighting vendors. Top of 340ppk for a Limousin Heifer from L Skelton & Son, Low House, Dearham purchased by Wilson Willis Butchers, High Street, Cleator Moor. Others to 334p from Newbiggin Farms, Kirklinton purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth and 332p again from L Skelton & Son, Low House this time purchased by W Lindsay & Sons, Butcher, Station Street, Cockermouth.
Top gross was £2089.36 for a Limousin Steer from Newbiggin Farm purchased by Mr T Fell. Prime Bulls sold to 275p for a British Blue from S Hardisty & Son, How Hall, Ennerdale or £2151.07 for a Limousin from Messrs Miller, Allerby Hall, Aspatria.
Prime Steer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 293, 287, 280, Newbiggin Farm. 260, 239, East Mill. Hereford – 245, Byresteads.
Prime Steer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2089.36, 2062.72, 1988, Newbiggin Farm. 1508, East Mill. Simmental – 2040.72, West Farm. Hereford – 1487.15, Byresteads.
Prime Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 340, 332, Low House. 334, 325, 318, 314, Newbiggin Farm. 324, 321, Hundith House. 320, Mid Farm. 313, Byresteads. British Blue – 260, 250, Bowscale.
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2066.12, 2011.90, 1969.50, 1893.78, 1863.48, 1857.24, Newbiggin Farm. 1978.16, Byresteads. 1934.28, 1887.48, Hundith House. 1932.80, Mid Farm. 1819.36, 1856.40, Low House. Charolais – 1980.55, West Farm. British Blue – 1514.25, Byresteads.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- British Blue – 275, How Hall. 251, West Farm. 234, South View. Limousin – 251, Allerby Hall. 251, 236, Greengill. 234, Row Hall.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2151.07, Allerby Hall. 1518.55, Greengill. British Blue – 2078.28, 1879.20, West Farm. 1881, How Hall. Charolais – 1915.20, Ellenbank. Simmental – 1698.24, Ellenbank.
Cows sold to 204p or £1462.68 for a Limousin from I&R Millard, Old Hyton, Millom. Dairy types sold to 160p or £1171.20 for a Holstein Friesian from CW&DE Bushby, Watson Hill, Egremont.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- . Limousin – 204, Old Hyton. 202, 187, Dockray Nook. 172, Croft House. Aberdeen Angus – 176, Crosshow. 141, Croft House. Holstein Friesian – 160, Watson Hill. 138, Row Hall. 127, Waverbank. Holstein – 156, Woodside. 144, Blue Dial.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1462.68, Old Hyton. 1321.08, 1191.19, Dockray Nook. Holstein Friesian – 1171.20, Watson Hill. Holstein – 1154.88, Blue Dial. 1113.84, Woodside. Aberdeen Angus – 1078.88, Crosshow.
Prime Sheep
Lambs sold dearer on the week defying national trends. Top of £200 or 400ppk for an outstanding Beltex lamb from Kate Sewell, Mayfield Farm, Greysouthen. Texels sold to £192 from L Skelton & Son, Low House purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth. TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall also achieved £192 again purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Cockermouth.
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex- 400, 391.30, 332.70 Mayfield Farm. 390.70 Low House Farm. 377.60 Aspatria Hall.322.50, 307.70, 305 Somerfield House. 319.50 High Farm. 315.80 Chapel House. Texel- 369.20 Aspatria Hall. 365.40 Salter Hall. 361.40 Ryhola Meadow. 356, 350.90, 346.90 Moor Platt. 355.30 High Flatts. 349.10, 341.70 Low House.342.90 Summer Hill. Suffolk- 317.90, 298.20 Low House. 282.60, 270.50, 268.10, 261.90 Ryhola Meadow. 278 Meade Cottage. 272.50 Aspatria Hall. 271.40, 267.40 Highfield Farm. Bleu De’Maine. 284.90, 277.30, 263.50,243.20 Wardhall Guards. Mule- 252.40, 251.10 Swinside End. 247.50, 244.40 Howbeck Lodge. 242.10 Grange Farm. Texel x Herdwick- 270.50 Low Hall. 256.70 Grange Grassings. 253.60 Howbeck Lodge.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Beltex- 200, 180, 173, 130, 127 Mayfield Farm. 185 Aspatria Hall. 168 Low House. 131 High Farm. Texel- 192 , 164 Low House. 192 Aspatria Hall. 190 Salter Hall. 186,178,170 Moor Platt. 179 Chapel House.168 Summer Hill. Bleu Du ’Maine – 166, 151, 122 Wardhall Guards. Suffolk- 164, 124 Low House. 144 Rook Farm. 139 Aspatria Hall. 133, 123 High Field. 130, 126 Ryhola Meadow . Texel x Herdwick - 119 Low Hall Farm.115.50 Grange Grassings.106.50 Howbeck Lodge. Mule- 118, 106 Swinside End. 110 Howbeck Lodge.
Cast ewes in extreme demand with heavy ewes a mega trade. Top of £230 for a Texel from G Butler, Moor Platt, Egremont. Others to £216 from A Ashburner, Summerhill, Whitehaven. Suffolks to £170 again from G Butler, Moor Platt. Mule ewes to £120 for a pen full from TB Stamper & Son, Harrot Hill, Lorton. Fell ewes to £81 twice, both times for Herdwicks from L Finlinson, Parkside Road and again from GW Whitfield & Son, Low Stowbank, Ennerdale.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 230,195,185,178,145 Moor Platt. 216 Summerhill. 195,145,138,136 Salter Hall. 195,182,172,158 Cherry Lane. 192,179,148,145,136 Branthwaite Edge. 176,166,164 Harrot Hill. 168,142,134 Croft End. 150 Rook Farm. 150 Ghyll House. 148,134 Parsonage. 146,130 Woodall Brow. 146,136,130 Swallow Croft. 140 Joann Bungalow.138 woodside Cottage. 138 Mossergate. 135,131 Strawberry How. Suffolk – 170, Moor Platt. 137, 128, High Flatts. Beltex – 150, Moor Platt. 144,138 Woodside Cottage. Mule -120 Harrot Hill. 116,106 Riggingill. 115 Parsonage. 110 East Townend. 108 Summer Hill. 106 Branthwaite Edge. 106,105 Old Hyton. 105 Eskett View. 104 Cherry Lane. Texel X Herdwick – 89 Woodside Farm. Cheviot - 88,80 Woodside Farm. 82 Whinnah Lodge. Herdwick – 81 Parkside Road. 81 Low Stowbank. Swaledale – 78,76 Branthwaite. 74 Stable Court. 67 Grange Farm. 63 Low Stowbank.
Cast Rams (per head - £):- Texel – 158,130,128 Eskett View. Herdwick – 88 The Oaks.