On Wednesday 3rd January 2024, Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock with 96 Cattle comprising of 44 Prime Cattle and 52 cast cows; 1927 sheep including 1634 prime lambs and 293 cast ewes and rams.
Today saw the Opening Sale of Lake District Prime Cattle. Nearly a year since this sale was first incorporated; it has gone from strength to strength and another fantastic day was had today. Top of 330ppk for a Limousin Heifer from M/s W Miller, High Aketon, Wigton. Top priced Steer was 328p for a Limousin from S Hardisty & Son, How Hall, Ennerdale.
Top gross was £2175.30 for a Limousin Steer from NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes, Masham. Heifers to £2174.08 for a Limousin also from the same good farming of NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes.
Prime Bulls sold to £2299.50 for a Charolais from TA Byers, Ellenbank, Boltongate.
Prime Steer (Price per head- £)- Limousin- 2175.30, 2116.30, 2038.31, 1929.92 Gebdykes. 1833.52 How Hall. British Blue- 2020.48 Gebdykes.
Prime Steer (Pence per kilo)- Limousin – 328 How Hall. 317,306,301,296 Gebdykes.
British Blue – 287 Gebdykes.
Prime Heifer (Price per head-£) – Limousin- 2174.08, 2046.72, 2000, 1993.86 Gebdykes. 2082.90, 2067.70 Mid Farm. 2002.20, 1933.14 Whicham Hall. 1909.44 Pickett Howe. 1877.04 Newbiggin Farm. British Blue- 2138.26, 1974.96 Gebdykes.
Prime Heifer (Pence per kilo)- Limousin – 330,318,313 High Aketon. 321,312 East House. 320,319,318,316 Gebdykes. 319 Whicham Hall. British Blue – 323,312 Gebdykes.
Prime Bull (Price per head-£)-Charolais- 2299.50 Ellenbank. Limousin- 1652.28 Greengill Farm. Aberdeen Angus- 1510.60, 1384.24 Greengill Farm. British Blue- 1375.40, 1350.90 Lowside Farm. Holstein Friesian- 1118.26 Lamplugh Hall.
Prime Bull (Pence per kilo)- Charolais – 315 Ellenbank. Limousin – 281 Greengill. Aberdeen Angus – 260,242 Greengill. British Blue – 237,230 Lowside. Holstein Friesian – 221 Lamplugh Hall.
Cast cows sold to 232p for a British Blue from TI Mitchell, Croft Farm, Dearham. Limousin to 223p from D&MA Wilson, Lamplugh Hall, Lamplugh. Top gross was £1574.88 for a Charolais from DA&SM Miller, Crookdake Mill, Wigton. Dairy types to £1448.40 from R&M Allison, Barnyard, Greysouthen or 176p for a Holstein Friesian from WE Callion & Sons, Lodge Farm, Great Clifton.
Cast Cows (Price per head-£)- Charolais- 1574.88 Crookdake Mill. 1010.35 Croft Farm. Limousin – 1572.15,1456.56,1392.60 Lamplugh Hall. 1501.64 Brookfield. 1286.40,1257.30 Kirkland House. 1277.34 Pickett How. 1187.76,1176.03 Seathwaite. British Blue – 1514.96 Croft Farm. 1256.72 Harrot Hill. 1121.80 Overcroft. 1055.07 Bracken How. Holstein Friesian - 1448.40 Barnyard. 1382.42, 1263.78 Prospect House. 1347.84, 1258.40, 1171.20 Lodge Farm. 1064.12 Waites Farm. Aberdeen Angus- 1225.78, 1168.74, 1018.68 Black Wood. Norwegian Red – 1013.80 Threapthwaite.
Cast Cows (Pence per kilo)- British Blue – 232 Croft Farm. 184 Harrot Hill. 171 Bracken How. Limousin – 223,220,204 Lamplugh Hall. 217 Brookfield. 198,192 Kirkland House. 196,179 Seathwaite. 194 Cathow. 183 Pickett Howe. Charolais – 204 Crookdake Mill. Holstein Friesian – 176,160,156 Lodge Farm. 170 Barnyard. 169,153 Prospect House. 153,148 Waites. Aberdeen Angus – 167,156 Black Wood.
As we move into hogg season all classes sold to a bumper trade producing an overall average of 284.6ppk or SQQ 288.5p. A wonderful trade throughout topping at £198 for a Texel hogg from A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills, Workington purchased by Tony Harrison, Butcher, Main Street, Cockermouth. Others from the same good home to £195 again purchased by Tony Harrison, Butchers.
Suffolk hoggs to £169 from MJ Lawson, Pasture House, Wigton or 300ppk from DA Harrison, Solway House, Wigton.
A Large show of TexelXHerdwick hoggs forward once again topping at £127.50 from D Davis, Whinnah Lodge, Lamplugh or 303.8ppk from G&T Tyson, East House, Brigham.
Mule hoggs sold to 277.9ppk from JE&A Wilson, Far End, Bootle or £131 from KJ&CS Wilson, Wood Farm, Thursby.
Fell hoggs coming into their own now topping at £119 for Herdwicks from GS&B Barwise, Bell House, Whitehaven or 260.6p from W&E Gate, Rook Farm, Tallentire.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per kilo – pence):- Texel- 361.2, 330, 319.7 Kelmore Hills, 346, 326.9 High Flatts, 333.3, 331, 317.1 Elva Plain, 328.6 Seafield House, 325 Parkhouse, 320.5 Pasture House, 320 Somerfield House, 319.5 Rose Farm, 315.6 Somerfield House, 315.5 Greengill, 315.4 East House. Beltex- 320.9 Somerfield House, 316.7 Parkhouse. TexXHerd- 303.8 East House, 296.2 Low Eskholme, 293.2 Bully House, 291.2 Easthwaite, 290 Gatesgarth. Suffolk- 300 Solway House, 290.7 Kelmore Hills, 290 Lynedraw, 287.8 Low House, 287.5 Wood Farm. Cheviot- 290.2, 285.4 Elva Plain. Charollais- 290 Uldale Hall. Blackface- 289.5 Low Eskholme. Mule- 277.9, 276.1 Far End, 275 Swinside End, 267.8 Low Garth, 265 Hinning House. Herdwick- 260.6 Rook Farm, 251.6 Easthwaite, 247.9 Bell House. Swaledale- 241.2 Hinning House.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per head - £):- Texel- 198, 195, 190, 180, 177, 174, 169 Kelmore Hills, 191, 185, 174, 173, 170, 164, 159, 156 High Flatts, 177, 170, 169 Briary Bank, 170, 157 Pasture House, 164 Solway House, 159 Greengill, 158 Langhorn, 152 Overcroft, 152 Mid Farm. Suffolk- 169 Pasture House, 145 Lynedraw, 138 Wood Farm, 135 Causeway Foot, 132, 129.50 Low House, 129.50 Streetgate, 129 Solway House. Beltex- 161, 152 Corney Hall, 138 Somerfield House, 136 Far End. Cheviot- 150 Easthwaite. Dutch Spotted- 149, 123 Solway House. Mule- 131 Wood Farm, 125.50 Greengill, 125 Ellenbank, 122 Shatton Lodge Close, 121.50, 120 Far End, 120.50 Low Garth, 120 Beechcroft. TexXHerd- 127.50 Whinnah Lodge, 125 Grange Grassings, 118.50 East House, 116 Gatesgarth, 115.50 Low Eskholme, 114 Easthwaite. Herdwick- 119, 98 Bell House. Blackface- 110 Low Eskholme.
Heavy ewes would once gain sell slightly dearer on the week topping at £198 for a Texel from A Ashburner, Summerhill, Whitehaven. Beltex to £192 from J Blackburn, Greenbank Close, Prospect. Mules to £122 from T&MD Beaty, Langhorn, Egremont.
Cull Ewes (per head - £):- Texel – 198 Summerhill. 172,149,121 High Flatts. 165 Whinnerah. 152,130 Greenbank Close. 127 Seafield House. 126 Abbey Terrace. 122 Rook farm. Beltex – 182 Greenbank Close. Suffolk – 138,125,119,111 Greenbank Close. 124 High Flatts. 124 Woodside. Mule – 122 Langhorn. 104 Rook farm. 100 Summerhill. Cheviot – 103 Easthwaite. Dorset – 89, 87 Thornbank. Herdwick- 60 Chapel House.