On Wednesday 1st November 2023 Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 64 cast cows and 57 prime cattle, 2017 sheep including 1649 prime lambs and 368 cast ewes and rams.
The monthly Lake District Sale of Prime Cattle sold to a busy ringside of both local and travelled buyers who ensured a strong trade for all classes. It was evident that with Christmas Shows approaching some of the best quality types had been held back for that purpose.
Top of 329p for a Limousin Heifer from Newbiggin Farms, Kirklinton purchased by W Lindsay & Sons, Butcher, Station Street, Cockermouth. Steers sold to 311p for a Limousin from J&E Scott, Mid Farm, Torpenhow.
Top gross was £2235 for a Limousin Steer from MW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, Cockermouth. Heifers to £2079.28 again from Newbiggin Farms.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence): - Limousin – 302 Hundith Hill. 300 Beck House. Charolais – 286 Beck House. British Blue – 252,250 West Farm. 250 South View. Longhorn – 250 South View.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £): - Limousin- 2135.14 Hundith Hill. 1842 Beck House. 1523.61 Hunday Farm. Charolais - 1870.44 Beck House. Aberdeen Angus - 1552.95, 1501.85 Beck House. Longhorn – 1485, South View. Simmental – 1963.20, South View. British Blue – 2005, 1879.10, 1851.80, 1743.84, West Farm. 1604.75, Ellenbank. 1492.50, Hunday.
Prime Steer (Top price per kilo– pence): -Limousin – 311 Mid Farm. 308, 298, 297, 293, 288, 287, 281 Gebdykes. 304,301 Newbiggin Farm. 296 East Mill. 295 Crakeplace Hall. 274 Byresteads. British Blue – 301 Gebdykes.
Prime Steer (Top price per head - £): - Limousin - 2235, Shatton Lodge. 2226.06, 2133.04,2103.64, 2025.54, 2004.48, 1980.30, 1933.28 Gebdykes.2095.68 East Mill. 2048.96, 2010.68 Newbiggin Farm. 1943.75 Mid Farm. 1939.92 Byresteads. British Blue - 2221.38 Gebdykes.
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £) – Limousin - 2079.28, Newbiggin Farm. 2020.39, 1965.60, 1964.43, 1882.77 High Plaskett Lands. 1952.25 Hundith Hill. 1909.54, 1808.86, 1740.92, 1735.65 Gebdykes. 1848.21, 1714.19 Byresteads Farm. 1814.40 Mid Farm . Charolais - 1837.44 High Plaskett Lands. British Blue - 1527.36 Sorrowstones.
Prime Heifer (Top price per kilo – pence): Limousin – 329,304,299,286 Newbiggin. 312,291 High Plaskett Lands. 311,298,285,284 Gebdykes. 288 Mid Farm. 287 Crakeplace. 285 Hundith Hill. Charolais – 288 High Plaskett Lands.
Another good entry of cast cows with trade rising on the week procuring great returns. Top of 268p for young Limousin cow from RM Wilson, Dockray Nook, Lamplugh. Others to 254p or the days top gross of £1810.76 for a Limousin from AR Hardy, Eastlands, High Harrington.
Dairy types sold to 204p for a British Friesian from Wellington Farms, Aspatria. Top gross was £1464 for a Holstein Friesian from R&M Allison, Barnyard, Greysouthen.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- . Limousin – 268,219 Dockray Nook. 254,223,182 Eastlands. 213,198 Kirkland House. 203 The How. 195 Hayborough. 181 Shatton Lodge. British Friesian – 208, 164 Wellington Farm. Charolais – 181 Hayborough. Norwegian Red – 165 Threapthwaite. Shorthorn – 164 Mosser Mains. Holstein – 160,145 Gibbtarn. 157,145,130 Threapthwaite. 150,149 Blue Dial. 146 Lowca Cottage. British Blue – 160 East Mill. 158 Crooklands. Simmental – 160 New House. Holstein Friesian – 150,147 Barnyard. 143 Croft House. 140 Threapland Lees.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1810.76,1569.72,1050.14 Eastlands. 1581.20,1500.15 Dockray Nook. 1479.06, 1375.98 Kirkland House. 1441.30 The How.1404.56 Shatton Lodge. 1390.35 Hayborough. Holstein Friesian – 1464 Barnyard. 1148.29 Croft House. 1092 Bowness Farms. Charolais – 1256.14 Hayborough. British Friesian – 1200.16, 1102.08 Wellington Farm. Holstein – 1176,1047.47 Blue Dial. 1136.1025.15 Gibbtarn. 1070.10,1067.60 Threapthwaite. 1040.98 Lowca Cottage. Norwegian Red – 1161.60 Threapthwaite. British Blue – 1107.20,1050 East Mill.
Prime Sheep
A great trade on the week with averages some 10p up on last week defying national trends. Heavy and Butcher type lambs the dearest trade perhaps ever seen.
Top of £210 for Texel lambs from Messrs Fraser, High Flatts, Gilcrux who also sold others to £208 purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth.
Messrs Fraser sold 34 lambs to average an astonishing £174.71. No that’s not an error. £174.71. Including a pen of 12 at £196.
Beltex lambs sold to £199 from A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills, Distington.
Dutch Texels to £196 from TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall, Aspatria.
Suffolks to £168 from RM&ER Jackson, Scalemoor, Lamplugh.
A large entry of Mule lambs sold to £132 from A Feron, Kirkland House, Kirkland whilst Cheviots to £125 from DJ Porter, Easthwaite, Wasdale.
A large entry of Herdwick crossed lambs came forward proving very good to sell upto £116 from P&J Bland, Knott Houses, Grasmere or 269.7p from WS&C Jackson, Croft House, Aspatria.
Leading Averages:
G Gate, Hollins sold 2 to avg £195
M/s Fraser, High Flatts sold 34 to avg £174.71
TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall sold 12 to avg £171.25
TW Johnstone, Briary Bank sold 6 to avg £151
K Hodgson, Parsonage Farm sold 4 to avg £150.75
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Texel- 210, 208, 206, 200, 196, 184, 171, 166 High Flatts, 198, 143 Parsonage, 197, 193 Hollins, 180 Beckhouse, 170, 148, 147, 145 Greengill, 170 Briary Bank, 158, 148 Summerhill, 154 Seafield House, 153 Arkleby House, 145 Croft House, 144 Pow Heads, 142(2) Bank House, 141 Brow Foot, 140 Streetgate. Beltex- 199, 192, 188 Kelmore Hills, 170 Briary Bank, 150 Segbushwell, 147 Arkleby House, 135, 130(2) Green Marsh, 135 Croft House. Dutch Texel- 196, 191, 188, 171, 155 Aspatria Hall. Suffolk- 168, 122 Scalesmoor, 135 Greengill, 133.50 Frizington Parks, 132 Green Marsh, 130(3) Frizington Parks, 125 Greengill, 125 Pasture House, 122 Far End. Mule- 132, 116, 110 Kirkland House, 120 Plumbland, 117 Greengill, 116.50 Beechcroft, 113 Shatton Lodge, 111 Town Head. Cheviot- 125 Easthwaite, 124 Greengill. Dutch Spotted- 120, 111 Bell House. TexXHerd- 116, 105 Knott Houses, 113 Grange Grassings, 110.50, 106 Croft House, 109 Clea Hall, 109 Easthwaite, 106 East House, 105.50 Dearham Row.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 380.8 Parsonage, 370.4, 367.9, 363, 342, 340.7, 335.5, 328.1 High Flatts, 358.2, 344.6 Hollins, 342.2 Seafield House, 339.6 Beckhouse, 337.2 Croft House, 334.9 Pow Heads, 333.3 Segbushwell, 330.2(2) Bank House, 326.9 Greengill. Beltex- 376, 362.3, 361.8 Kelmore Hills, 369.6 Briary Bank, 342.1, 309.5 Green Marsh, 300 Croft House. Dutch Texel- 363, 354.7, 353.7, 342 Aspatria Hall. Suffolk- 329.4, 260, 244.8 Scalesmoor, 253.8 Green Marsh, 248.8 Holebeck House, 245.5 Greengill, 245.5 Ryhola Meadow, 244.4 Easthwaite, 244 Far End. TexXHerd- 269.7, 264.9, 257, 254.9, 252.4, 250 Croft House, 262.5, 252.2 Knott Houses, 258.3 Stybeck, 253.5 Clea Hall, 247.7 Easthwaite, 246.5 East House, 245.7 Grange Grassings. Cheviot- 245.1 Easthwaite, 242.1 Stonecroft. Mule- 244.4 Kirklnad House, 242.7 Beechcroft, 240 Seafield House, 240 Plumbland. Swaledale- 200 Far End.
A much smaller entry of ewes on the week with heavy ewes selling considerably dearer. Top of £176 for a Texel ewe from MJ Lawson, Pasture House, Wigton. Light ewes to £73 for Badger Faces again from MJ Lawson, Pasture House. More required to satisfy buyer demand.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 176 Pasture House. 158,152,131 Summerhill. 136 Bell Mount. 133 Pasture House. 130 Winder Lea. 129 Arkleby House, 125 Rose Farm. Suffolk – 134,128,111 Pasture House. Cheviot – 120,112 Pasture House. 97,84 Stonecroft. 96 Easthwaite. Bluefaced Leicester – 115 Buckle Avenue. 115,98 East house. 111, 110, 90 Bell Mount. 98 Mosser Mains. Blue Texel – 98 Isel Old Parks. Mule – 94 Pasture House. 89 Mosser Mains. 89 Shatton Lodge. 88 Old Hyton. Badger Faced – 73 Pasture House. Swaledale – 57 Segbushwell. 55 Bell Mount. Herdwick- 51 Easthwaite.
Cast Rams (per head - £):- Texel – 124 Lamplugh Hall.