On Wednesday 13th December 2023 at Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 50 cows and 31 prime cattle; 2382 sheep comprising of 2151 lambs and 231 ewes.
The Christmas show and sale of Prime Bulls and Cast Cows was ably judged by Mr Thomas Fell. The championship was awarded to the prime Bull from WE Callion & Sons, Lodge Farm, Great Clifton which later sold for 326ppk or £2174. Reserve honours went to PE&M Capstick, Whicham Hall which sold for 325ppk or £2249.
Outwith the show top price of 327ppk for a Limousin from JH Mitchinson, Beck House, Silloth or £2340.48 from I&R Millard, Old Hyton, Bootle.
Prime Bull (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin – 327, Beck House. 326, Lodge Farm 325, 324 Whicham Hall 318, Old Hyton, 308, Hundith Hill. British Friesian – 237, Uldale Hall. British Blue – 261, 260 West Farm, 258, Langhorn 258, Harrot Hill Farm. Aberdeen Angus – 243, 240 Greengill Farm. Hereford – 251, 249, 242 Beck House. Holstein Friesian – 240, 234 Row Hall.
Prime Bull (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 2340.48, Old Hyton Farm 2316.16, Hundith Hill 2249, Whicham Farm 2174.42, Lodge farm 2050.29, 1950.48 Beck House. British Blue – 2001.87, 1970.80 West Farm. Hereford – 1618.50, Beck House.
First in the cow show went to the Limousin from Messrs Miller, Allerby Hall which later sold for the days top price of 222p. Reserve honours went to RE Miller, West Farm reaching 220p.
Top gross was £1761.76 for a Limousin from JD&M Capstick, Fellside, Bootle.
Dairy types sold to 181p for a Norwegian Red from MG&S Harper, West House, Dearham or £1277.55 for a Holstein Friesian again from MG&S Harper, West House.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- . Limousin – 222, Allerby Hall 220, West Farm 208, Fellside Farm 199, Shatton Lodge Close 198, Kirkland House 194, 180 Harrot Hill 193, High Moss 183, 181 Hayes Castle. British Blue – 186, Fellside Farm. Norwegian Red – 181, West House 157, New Mill. Hereford – 180, 174 Hollins 174, Hollins. Montbeliarde – 170, Threapthwaite Farm. Aberdeen Angus – 166(2) Hollins, 160, Crosbythwaite Farm. Holstein Friesian – 154, Tallentire Hill farm 153, West House 150, West House 149, Barnyard 149, Row Hall 144, Langhorn 140, Barnyard. Holstein – 144, 143 Threapthwaite, 143, Tallentire Hill.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin - 1761.76, Fellside Farm 1698.40, West farm 1619.64, Kirkland House 1584.04, Shatton Lodge Close 1551.78 Allerby Hall 1457.15, High Moss 1439.48, 1427.40, Harrot Hill, 1405.92, Fellside Farm 1348.71, 1272.43, Hayes Castle. British Blue – 1474.98, Fellside Farm Aberdeen Angus – 1320, Crosbythwaite farm 1115.52, Hollins. Hereford – 1362.02, Parkside Road 1285.20, 1193.64, Hollins. Holstein – 1049.62, Threapthwaite farm 1015.30, Tallentire Hill. Holstein Friesian – 1277.55, West House 1241.24, Tallentire Hill 1159.22, Barnyard 1081.74, Row Hall 1044, West House. Norwegian Red - 1109.53, West House 1104.80, New Mill.
Prime Heifer(Top price per kilo – pence):- . : Holstein Cross – 200, Tallentire Hill Farm. Simmental – 240, Hunday Farm. Limousin – 262, West Farm
Prime Heifer (Top price per head - £):- .
Limousin – 1912.60, West Farm Holstein – 1324, Tallentire Hill Farm 1266.72, Lowca Cottage Farm.
Prime Sheep
Today saw the Annual Christmas Show and Sale of Prime Lambs kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington Ltd, Hundith Hill Hotel, Marsh Commercial, Brockbank Solicitors and RI Stamper Haulage Ltd. Judging was in the highly regarded and experienced hands of Mr Tommy Bradley.
After some deliberation the Championship trophy was awarded to the first prized pair of Beltex lambs from TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall which later sold for the days top price of £320 purchased by Lancashire Direct Halal. Reserve honours went the first prized Texels again from TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall which later sold for £300 per head.
Outwith the show a super trade right through. A large entry of fell lambs forward selling to £112 for Herdwicks from GS&B Barwise, Bell House, Whitehaven or 243.9ppk from Messrs Bland, Clea Hall, Wigton.
Prize List
Pair of Texels-
1st & Reserve- TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall
2nd- A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills
3rd- A&M Roberts, Riggingill
Pair of Beltex-
1st & Champion- TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall
2nd- JA&CM Brown, Park House
3rd- S&D Peile, Parkgate Hall
Pair of Suffolk-
1st- A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills
2nd- A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills
Pair of Any Other Continental-
1st- MW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge Close
2nd- GS&B Barwise, Bell House
3rd- GS&B Barwise, Bell House
Pen of 5 Herdwick-
1st- M/s Balnd, Clea Hall
2nd- M/s Bland, Clea Hall
3rd- M/s Bland, Clea Hall
Pen of 10 Texel X Herdwick-
1st- J&C Stobart, Howbeck Lodge
2nd- M/s Harrington, Grange Grassings
Pen of 10 Mule-
1st- A Fearon, Kirkland House
2nd- P&PI Walker, Beechcroft
3rd- MW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge Close
Pen of 10 Continental-
1st- M/s Lawson, Hundith Hill
Leading Averages
S&D Peile, Parkgate Hall sold 2 to avg £230
TA Jefferson, Aspatria Hall sold 12 to avg £197
TW Johnstone, Briary Bank sold 4 to avg £192.50
A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills sold 8 to avg £191.50
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Beltex- 666.7 Aspatria Hall, 460 Parkgate Hall, 382.4 Riggingill, 381.1, 346.9 Shatton Lodge Close, 370.4 Kelmore Hills, 356.8, 355.6 Parkhouse. Texel- 612.2 Aspatria Hall, 433.3 Kelmore Hills, 363.3 Parsonage, 362.3 Briary Bank, 360 Far End, 360 Shatton Lodge Close, 342, 324.5 Greenbank Close, 340.4 Riggingill, 331 Woodside Cottage, 328.3(2) High Flatts, 325 Hollins, 323.8, 318.2 Far End. Suffolk- 298.1, 274.1 Kelmore Hills, 280.7 Croft House, 274.5 Bolton Wood Lane. Dutch Spotted- 279.1 Bell House. Charollais- 273.3 Bolton Wood Lane. TexXHerd- 272.6, 263.1 East House, 269.2 Low Eskholme, 264.4 Howbeck Lodge, 262.2 Grange Grassings. Mule- 254.5 Swinside End, 249 Shatton Lodge Close, 248.9 Sneckyeat. Herdwick- 243.9(2) Clea Hall, 243.5 Bell House, 241.9 Seathwaite.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Beltex- 320 Aspatria Hall, 230 Parkgate Hall, 202, 170 Shatton Lodge Close, 200 Kelmore Hills, 195 Riggingill, 160, 157 Park House, 148, 144, 142 Cherrytree House, 140, 130.50 Elva Plain. Texel- 300 Aspatria Hall, 260 Kelmore Hills, 192(2) Briary Bank, 180 Shatton Lodge Close, 180 Far End, 178 Parsonage, 174(2), 171(2), 168, 162 High Flatts, 172, 171 Greenbank Close, 169, 161 Hollins, 160 Riggingill, 159 Overcroft, 158 High House, 157 Stud Fold, 155, 154 Peter House. Suffolk- 161 High Flatts, 158, 148 Kelmore Hills, 156 Aspatria Hall, 151 Bolton Wood Lane, 144 Main Street, 138, 132 Far End, 125 Westray. Charollais- 137 Fieldside. Mule- 121 Kirkland House, 120 Greengill, 120 Beechcroft, 119.50 Shatton Lodge Close, 118 Far End, 116 Sneckyeat. TexXHerd- 121 Beechcroft, 119, 110.50 Howbeck Lodge, 118 Aspatria Hall, 118, 115 Grange Grassings, 118, 114, 113 Yew Tree, 114.50 East House, 112 Bell House, 110.50 East House. Dutch Spotted- 120 Bell House. Cheviot Mule- 119 Elva Plain. Cheviot- 115 Hinning House. Herdwick- 112 Bell House, 100(2) Clea Hall.
Cast Ewes sold to another similar trade with a poor show forward. Top of £192 for Texel ewes from KA&R Campbell, Corrow Farm, Lochgoilhead. Fell ewes to £75 for Herdwicks from G&T Tyson, East House, Brigham.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 192, 182, Corrow Farm 138, High House 119, Lake view 119, Salter Hall, 118 Strawberry How 115, Byresteads Farm. Mule – 96, 94, Salter Hall 94, Lake view 92,Byresteads. Herdwick – 75, 68 East House. Swaledale – 65, Uldale Hall 61, Byresteads farm.