On Wednesday 4th October 2023 at Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 90 cast cows and cast bulls and 53 Lake District Clean Cattle and prime bulls. 1515 sheep included 1115 prime lambs and 400 cast ewes and rams.
Lake District Prime cattle proves to be a huge success, with new buyers following the product. A full sale average of 303ppk. The sale was full of outstanding bullocks with averaged a wonderful £2060.
Leading the sale was a Limousin Heifer from Mr William Miller, High Aketon, 328ppk. Purchased by Mr Richard Lindsay, Cockermouth Butcher. This farms consignment of 5 show stopping heifers, averaged 323.7ppk.
The steer’s leading price was achieved twice. One from the renowned Loughrigg Steading. This Limousin steer was sold for 327ppk. Again purchased by Mr Richard Lindsay. Matching this was J Dixon, Lesson hall with their limousin steer also.
JJ Crichton, Loughrigg had 5 well finished animals, to average 320.25ppk.
Other loyal supporters which were headlining the Lake District flagship were J Dixon, Lesson Hall. 3 averaging 317.58ppk. A must mention is from the Story Family, Newbiggin Farms with milage not a barrier to achieve results. Their 9 homebred cattle averaged 303.14ppk (£2028.36)
The native breed section was supported by JA Ritson, Baggra Yeat, with 4 blue grey bullocks 41months of age averaging £1421.96.
Prime Steer (Top price per kilo – pence): - Limousin – 327, 322, Loughrigg. 327, 318, 308, Lesson Hall. 316, 313, 300, 299, 285, Newbiggin Farm. 314, Allerby Hall. 283, West Farm. British Blue – 325, 306, Loughrigg.
Prime Steer (Top price per head - £): - Limousin- 2250.78, 2112.42, Loughrigg. 2200.56, 2056.83, 1995.84, Lesson Hall. 2159.70, 2158.78, 2066.64, 2064, 2032.05, Newbiggin Farm. 2116.36, 1932, 1855.90, 1808.95, Allerby Hall. 2091.37, West Farm. British Blue – 2151.50, 1967.58, Loughrigg.
Prime Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence): - Limousin – 328, 328, 324, 324, 314, High Aketon. 321, Loughrigg. 315, Allerby Hall. 315, 307, 300, 295, Newbiggin Farms. Hereford – 235, 224, Shatton Lodge. Blonde – 290, Hundith Hill.
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £): - Blonde – 2198.20, Hundith Hill. Hereford – 1556.80, 1534.55, Shatton Lodge. Limousin – 2050.76, 1959.30, 1935, 1829, Newbiggin Farm. 1915.20, Allerby Hall. 1895.84, 1866.24, 1843.56, 1830.24, High Aketon. 1871.43, Loughrigg.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence): -Limousin- 296 Allerby Hall. 271, 262, Arkleby Hall. 257, South View. 250, Hunday. Charolais – 258, Arkleby Hall. 251, Ellenbank. Simmental – 240, Ellenbank. British Blue – 240, West Farm.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £): - Limousin - 2483.44 Allerby Hall. Charolais - 1945.25, Ellenbank. 1664.10, Arkleby Hall. British Blue – 1872, West Farm . Limousin - 1788.60, Arkleby Hall . 1583.37, 1575, Hunday Farm. Simmental - 1687.20, Ellenbank. British Friesian - 1685.07, 1598.22, 1598.08, West Farm. Norwegian Red - 1613.52, 1516.40, Hunday Farm.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence): Limousin- 227 The How. 225 Allerby Hall. 219 Oughterside Mill. 218, 201 Low Garth. 212 Thornholme. 210, 188 Mid Farm. 208 Shatton Lodge. 176 Newhouse Farm. British Blue- 198 Mid Farm. 190 Oughterside Mill. 170 Riggingill. Holstein Friesian- 186 East Farm. 182 Row Hall. 176, 157 Lamplugh Hall. 174, 152 The Glebe. 173, 170 Barnyard. 160 Long Close. 152 Brackenbarrow Farm. British Friesian- 183 Wellington Farm. 170 Weary Hall. 102 Harrington Parks. Charolais- 170 (2) Crooklands Farm. 110 Croft Farm. Holstein Friesian- 171 Long Close. 142 Threapthwaite. 138 The Glebe. Aberdeen Angus- 149, 136, 132, 130, 126 Croft Farm. 141 Thornholme. Simmental- 139 Croft Farm.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £): - Limousin – 1713.60, 1556.64, Mid Farm. 1688.96, Shatton Lodge. 1662.21, Oughterside Mill. 1642.50, Allerby Mill. 1577.65, The How. 1336.34, 1322.58, Low Garth. 1288.96, Thornholme. British Blue – 1469.16 Mid Farm. 1419.50 Riggingill. 1292 Oughterside Mill. Holstein Friesian – 1334.50, 1309.61, Barnyard. 1314.72, 1168.08, Lamplugh Hall. 1268.54, Row Hall. 1079.20, Brackenbarrow. 1074.40, 1033.76, The Glebe. 1056.48, East Farm. British Friesian – 1304.79, Wellington Farm. 1190, Weary Hall. Charolais – 1269.90, 1094.80 Crooklands Farm.
Prime Sheep
Prime lamb SQQ 254ppk. With more buyers present bidding was very brisk for all types of weights.
Leading price per head was £182 for a marvellous texel lamb from M/S Rawling, Overcroft. Purchased by Tony Harrison, Main Street butcher.
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Texel- 344 Aldoth Farm. 343.40 Overcroft. 340, 324 Parsonage Farm. 337.30, 317.60 High Flatts. 318 Hayes Castle. 317.50 (2), 314.60 Holly Barn. Beltex- 327.50, 311.40 Parsonage Farm. 308.20 Swinside End Farm. 305, 293 Holly Barn. 304.30, 294, 271.70 Aspatria Hall. 293.50 Far Reach.289 Homlecroft. Charollais- 263.60, 260 Holmecroft. Texel x Herdwick- 260.80, 253.30 Fell Barrow. 258.50 Stonecroft. 258.20, 257.50, 247.80 Green House Farm. 250 Derwent House. 248.60 Stone Ends. 244.20 Grange Grassings. 243.60 Dearham Row. Suffolk- 258.20, 244.60, 218.80 Aldoth Farm. 254.80 Troutbeck Park. 250, 237.50 Sneckyeat Farm. 241.50, 230.60 Cherry Tree Farm. 230.40, 224.50 Ryhola Meadow. Dutch Spotted- 255.70 Croft End. Cheviot- 246.30, 243.20, 242.90 Stonecroft. Mule- 243.60, 238.90, 217 Beechcroft. 240 Swinside End Farm. 237.20 Seafield House. Zwartble- 210.90 Ullock Main. Herdwick- 205.60 Green Close.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 182 Overcroft. 172 Aldoth Farm. 172, 162 x2 High Flatts. 170, 159 Parsonage Farm.160 Hollins Farm. 160, 159 Hayes Castle. Beltex- 167, 137 Parsonage Farm. 151 Swinside End. 147, 144, 143 Aspatria Hall. 135 Far Reach. 126, 122 Holly Barn. 118.50 Holme Croft Farm. Suffolk- 159, 142, 113, 105 Aldoth Farm. 114.50, 106 Ryhola Meaddow. 114, 110 Sneckyeat Farm. 113 Cherry Tree.107 Troutbeck Park. Cheviot- 119, 101, 90 Stonecroft. Texel x Herdwick- 142, 111.50, 106, 103 Greenhouse Farm. 133, 114 Fell Barrow. 109 Green Close. 106 Stonecroft. 105 Grange Grassings 102 Armaside Farm. Charollais- 116, 104 Holmecroft. Mule- 115, 114.50, 107.50 Beechcroft. 11.50 Seafield House. 108 Swinside End Farm. Dutch Spotted- 112.50 Croft End. Zwartble- 97 Ullock Mains. Herdwick- 74 Green Close.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Suffolk – 149 Station House. 124, 100 West Ghyll End. Texel – 147, 123, Overcroft. 139, Green Close. 133, 119, Whins. 130, 124, High Bewaldeth. 124, Fell Barrow. 124, Springhill. 119, Tarn Cottage. Charolais – 117, 116, West Ghyll End. Cheviot – 94 Rakefoot. Swaledale – 78 Croft House. 62 Strudda Bank. 56, Shatton Lodge. Mule – 93, Station House. 88, Far Reach. 86, Strawberry How. 86, Shatton Lodge. 82, Whins. 80, Walkhurst. Herdwick – 83, 60, 56, Croft House. 52, Brimmer Head. Texel x Herdwick – 85, East House.
Cast Rams (per head - £):- Cheviot – 108 The Hill.