On Wednesday 20th December 2023 Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock comprising of 40 cast cows and 4 prime cattle, 2188 prime sheep including 1789 prime lambs and 399 cast ewes and rams.
Cast cows topped at 220p or a whopping £1907.40 for a Limousin from JD&M Capstick, Fellside, Bootle. Black and Whites to 200p or £1236 for a Holstein Friesian from KM&KM Mawson, Baileyground, Seascale.
Cast Cows (Top price per kilo – pence):- Limousin- 220, 202 Fellside Farm. 189, 164 Deanscales. Holstein Friesian - 200 Bailey Ground. 150, 138 Threapland Lees. 140, 129 Croft House Farm. 125 Greening ltd. British Blue- 148 Strudda Bank. Simmental- 140 Strudda Bank. Ayrshire- 132 Syke Farm.
Cast Cows (Top price per head - £):- Limousin – 1907.40, 1397.84, Fellside Farm. 1409.94, 1151.28, Hill Top. Ayrshire – 1077.15, Syke Farm. Holstein Friesian – 1236, Bailey Ground. 1204.50, 972.90 Threapland Lees. 1057, 912.03, Croft House. British Blue – 1112.96, Strudda Bank. Simmental – 921.60, 912.60, Rakefoot.
Prime Sheep
A Christmas treat for all vendors as lambs take a huge lift resulting in an overall average of 281.5ppk or £122.63.
Top price was £196 for Texel lambs from A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills, Workington purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Stret, Cockermouth. Others to £194 from Messrs Fraser, High Flatts again purchased by weekly supporter Tony Harrison Butchers.
Top per kilo was 364ppk for Texel lambs from Mrs FC Wharton, Somerfield House, Thursby purchased by Lancashire Direct Halal.
Mule lambs sold to £132 from Messrs Hope, Orthwaite Hall, Uldale or 295.5p from JR&JA Wharton, Segbushwell, Blackford.
Texel X Herdwicks a bumper trade topping at £137 from A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills, Workington or 306.8p from JJ&C Hodgson, Stybeck, Thirlmere.
Fell lambs good to sell topping at £124 from Messrs Hope, Orthwaite Hall, Uldale or 261.6ppk for a pen of 35 Swaledales from WCG Holdings, Eirinntalla, Ennerdale.
Prime Lambs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Texel- 364 Somerfield House, 358.8, 324.6, 322.2 High Flatts, 340 Greenbank Close, 339.1, 324.4 Low House, 335.3 Briary Bank, 332.1 Hollins, 328.6, 322.5 Pasture House, 323.1 Burthwaite. Beltex- 327 Green Marsh. TexXHerd- 306.8, 294.9, 291.1 Stybeck, 302.6, 288.8 East House, 293.8 Low Eskholme, 288.9 Low House, 286.4, 282.9 Croft House, 285 Outgang, 281.1 Pasture House, 280 Grange Grassings, 280 Swinside End. Suffolk- 297.7, 284.4 Wood Farm, 290.9 Townend, 280.2 High Bewaldeth. Mule- 295.5, 268.2 Segbushwell, 276.2 Bell House, 266.7 Hill Top, 265.9 Croft House, 264.8, 262.2 Pasture House, 263 Low Garth, 260.9 Kelmore Hills, 258.8 Orthwaite Hall, 257.4 Beechcroft. Cheviot- 288.6 Elva Plain. Zwartble- 272.2 Low Boonwood. Swaledale- 261.6 Eirinntalla, 253.5 Kelmore Hills. Herdwick- 239.1 Knott Houses.
Prime Lambs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 196, 193, 190, 149, 148 Kelmore Hills, 194, 189, 185, 183, 182(2), 177, 174, 161 High Flatts, 186, 180 Hollins, 183, 171, 168 Briary Bank, 182, 149, 148 Somerfield House, 175, 156, 151(2) Low House, 170, 150(3) Greenbank Close, 160 Low Boonwood, 151 Greengill. Beltex- 167 Croftside. Zwartble- 147 Low Boonwood. TexXHerd- 137 Kelmore Hills, 131 Stybeck, 130, 126 Croft House, 126 Grange Grassings, 125.50, 124 Greenhouse Farm, 122 Orthwaite Hall, 121 Park Road, 120 Elva Plain. Suffolk- 135 Pasture House. 134.50 High Bewaldeth.130.50, 128(2) Wood Farm. 130 Kelmore Hills. 128 Townhead. Mule- 132 Orthwaite Hall, 130 Segbushwell, 122 Byresteads, 121 Beechcroft, 121 Low Garth, 121 Ellenbank, 120 Kelmore Hills, 120 Shatton Lodge Close. Cheviot- 129.50, 127 Elva Plain. Swaledale- 124 Orthwaite Hall, 112.50 Eirinntalla, 109 Kelmore Hills.
All classes sold much dearer on the week delighting vendors. Top of £190 for Texel ewes from R&S Purdham, Low Boonwood, Gosforth. Others to £182 from AJ Wood, Woodhall Brow, Dean. A large entry of fell ewes sold to £88 for Whitefaced Woodlands from AS&C Hodgson, Glencoyne Farm, Glenridding.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 190,140,130 Low Boonwood. 182,170 Woodhall Brow. 172,131 Rook Farm. 170,146,140 High Flatts. Beltex – 170,120 Woodhall Brow. Suffolk – 140,137,131 Solway House. 128 High Flatts. Bluefaced Leicester – 130,110 Segbushwell. Mule – 109,98 Solway House. 100 Rook Farm. 97 Old Hyton. 96 Shatton Lodge Close. Cheviot – 96 Elva Plain. Whitefaced Woodland – 88 Glencoyne. Swaledale – 70,64 Uldale Hall. 70 Wythop Farms. 69 Shatton Lodge Close. 67 Rook Farm. Herdwick – 69,68 Low House. 64 East House. 60 Grange Grassing. 60 Rook Farm. Scottish Blackflace – 67 Low House. Badger face – 64 Rook Farm.
Cast Rams (per head - £):- Texel – 125 Byresteads. Cheviot – 120 Elva Plain. Herdwick – 108 Elva Plain. Swaledale – 70 Wythop Farms.