On Wednesday 31st January 2024, Mitchells Livestock Centre, Cockermouth held their weekly sale of primestock with 113 Cattle comprising of 73 Prime Cattle and 60 cast cows; 1469 sheep including 1220 prime lambs and 249 cast ewes and rams.
Another wonderful day at the monthly Lake District Sale of Prime Cattle as trade reaches new levels. An increased ringside of purchasers and the return of Betty Graham made sure a tip top trade ensued. Top of 340ppk for a Limousin Heifer from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria purchased by Haighs Butchers, Pow Street, Workington. Others to 339p from NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes, Masham. Top gross for Heifers was £2157.60 for a Limousin again from NE Dyson & Son, Gebdykes.
Steers sold to 328p for a Limousin again from NE Dyson, Gebdykes, Masham. The days top gross of £2385.80 for a Limousin from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria.
Prime Bulls sold to 335p for a Limousin from Messrs Lawson, Hundith Hill, Cockermouth. Others to a whopping £2443.52 again from Messrs Lawson, Hundith Hill.
Prime Steer (Price per head) - Limousin – 2385.80, West Farm. 2154.70, Shatton Lodge. 2141.75, 2124.80, 2109.04, 2077, Gebdykes. 1931.20, Allerby Hall. Beef Shorthorn – 1987.20, 1964.58, Shatton Lodge. British Blue – 1953.72, Allerby Hall. Aberdeen Angus – 1731.11, Wardwarrow.
Prime Steer (Pence per kilo) – Limousin – 328, 325, 320, 310, Gebdykes. 316, West Farm. 290, Shatton Lodge. 284, Allerby Hall. Aberdeen Angus – 289, Wardwarrow. Beef Shorthorn – 276, 274, Shatton Lodge. British Blue – 268, Allerby Hall.
Prime Heifer (Price per head) – Limousin – 2157.60, 2142.48, 2070, 2057.61, 2037.05, 1971.60, 1946.16, Gebdykes. 2118.96, 2082.57, High Plaskett Lands. 2101.20, 1982.69, West Farm. 1990.96, 1921.92, 1841.10, 1840.36, East House. 1972.06, 1937.38, Wardwarrow. 1911, 1853.94, 1844.92, 1815.78 Newbiggin. 1806.21, 1800.56, 1795.97, 1768.80 High Aketon. British Blue – 1942.56 Gebdykes, 1755.36 Overcroft. Aberdeen Angus – 1795.68 Wardwarrow. Beef Shorthorn – 1650 Shatton Lodge. Holstein Friesian – 1476.60 New Mill.
Prime Heifer (Pence per kilo) – Limousin – 340, 331, West Farm. 339, 321, 318, 318, 311, Gebdykes. 336, 331, 328, 327, 326, 323, 320, East House. 330, 329, 325, 319, 317, High Aketon. 329, 327, High Plaskett Lands. 325, 318, 318, Newbiggin. 314, Wardwarrow. British Blue – 318, Overcroft. 304, Gebdykes. Aberdeen Angus – 258, Wardwarrow. Beef Shorthorn – 250, Shatton Lodge. Holstein Friesian – 214, New Mill.
Prime Bull (Price per head) – Limousin – 2443.52, 2338.30 Hundith Hill. 2220, 2047.92, 2017.80, 1846.90, 1689.80, 1630.72, Stormont. 1995.12, 1934.52, Harrott Hill. 1676.70, 1516.20 Greengill. 1591.86, Lowside.
Prime Bull (Pence per kilo) – Limousin – 335, 332, Hundith Hill. 306, 294, Harrot Hill. 300, 285, Stormont. 270, 266, Greengill. Aberdeen Angus – 252, Greengill.
A good entry of cast cows with strong competition topping at 224p or £1693.44 for a British Blue from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria. Limousin cows to 216p from J Brown & Sons, Crakeplace Hall, Ullock or £1503.48 from Messrs Miller, Allerby Hall, Aspatria.
Black and whites sold to 180p or the top gross of £14542.60 for a Holstein from G&I Carruthers & Son, Lowca Cottage, Lowca. 174p or£1405.92 for a British Friesian from J Pattinson & Son, Uldale Hall, Uldale.
Cast Cows (Price per head-£)-
British Blue – 1693.44, West Farm, 1321.26 Mid Farm. Simmental – 1504.44 Mid Farm. Limousin – 1503.48 Allerby Hall, 1499.04, 1344.07 Crakeplace, 1488 Lake View, 1478.40 Mid Farm, 1372.64 Hill Top, 1206.46, 1141.65 Prospect House. Holstein – 1452.60, 1250.79, 993.85 Lowca Cottage, 1192.80 Tallentire Hill, 1177.10 Frizington Parks, 1092.72, 1019.20 Blue Dial. British Friesian – 1405.92, 1214.09 Uldale Hall, 1101.26 Clarks Farm, 1012.83 Wellington Farm, 1004.40, Fairladies. Beef Shorthorn – 1386 Hill Top. Holstein Friesian – 1386 Waites Farm, 1379.44, 1148.66, Prospect House, 1336.20, 1025.10 Burton House, 1307.30, 1076.04 Lodge Farm, 1284.23 Tallentire Hill. Brown Swiss – 1077 Frizington Parks. Blonde – 1049.76 Low Godderthwaite.
Cast Cow (Pence per kilo) – British Blue – 224, West Farm. Limousin – 216, 211, Crakeplace Hall. 204, Allerby Hall. 200, Lake View. 192, Mid Farm. 184, Hill Top. British Friesian – 174, 167, Uldale Hall. 159, 155, 145, Wellington Farm. 158, 157, Clarks Farm. 155, Fairladies. Holstein – 180, 173, Lowca Cottage. 168, Tallentire Hill. 158, Frizington Parks. 157, Blue Dial. Holstien Friesian – 172, 158, Prospect House. 170, 153, Burton House. 170, 147, Lodge Farm. 168, Waites. 167, Tallentire Hill. Galloway – 165 Derwent House.
Hogg trade up another gear producing outstanding returns. Top of £220 for Texel hoggs from A&D Smith, Kelmore Hills, Distington. Others to £213 from Messrs Fraser, High Flatts, Gilcrux. Top per kilo was 382.5p for Texel lambs from A&J Clark, Cherrytree House, Blindcrake. Beltex to 381.6p from T Trafford & Son, Peter House, Bassenthwaite.
Mule hoggs sold to £164 for 60kg from DJN Eilbeck, Plumbland, Aspatria or others to 320.5p again from DJN Eilbeck, Plumbland.
Texel X Herdwick hoggs again proving good to sell topping at £134 from J Harrington, Grange Grassings, Gilcrux or 320ppk from Messrs Matterson, Low Eskholme, Ravenglass.
More fell hoggs coming forward every week topping at £129 for Swaledales from J Ireland & Son, Stockhow Hall, Kirkland or 280.5p from AG&KF Nicholson, Swinside End, Lorton.
Herdwick hoggs sold to £114 from the Lakeland Farm Visitor Centre, Meadow Bank, Ings. Top per kilo was 266.1p from DJ Porter, Easthwaite Farm, Wasdale.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per kilo – pence): - Texel – 382.50, 351.20, Cherrytree. 372.70, 357.10, 351.90, Greensyke. 355.10, Riggingill. 351.20, Greengill. 350, 331.90, Park Road. 348.10, 325.50, 322.40, 321.60, High Flatts. 346.50, Wilson Park. 344.20, Lane Head. 344, 339.20, 338, 336, 326 (2), Aspatria Hall. 339.60, 322.20, Kelmore Hills. 337.50 Grange Farm. 334.10, Croftside Farm. 328 Greengill. Beltex – 381.60, 371.20, Peter House. 378.40, 368.60, 362, 355.80, Aspatria Hall. 375, Briary Bank. 372.10, Greensyke. 368.80, 352.30, Wilson Park. 367.30, 345.10, Parkgate Hall. 337.50, Ellenbank. Suffolk – 317.60, 306.70, Scalesmoor. 304.50, Orchard. 303.80, Lane Head. 300, Causeway Foot. Dutch Spotted – 315.20, Croft End. Cheviot – 303.80, Low Eskholme. 295.60, Hinning House. Texel x Herdwick – 320, 297.50, Low Eskholme. 297.80, Grange Grassings. 295.30, 290.20, Riggingill. 290, Greensyke. Mule – 320.5, 275.50 Plumbland. 284.80, Byresteads. 284.80, Shatton Lodge. 282.20, Wilson Park. 278.60, Greengill. 277.90, Swinside End. 277.30, Gate Ghyll. Swaledale – 280.50, Swinside End. 268.80, Stockhow Hall. Scotch Blackface – 282.60, Ellenbank. Herdwick – 266.10, Easthwaite. 260, Outgang. 259.10, Meadow Bank. 259, Seathwaite. 247.60, Elva Plain.
Prime Hoggs (Top price per head - £): - Texel – 220, 206, 203, 170, 163, Kelmore Hills. 213, 196, 188, 187, 181, 179, 164, High Flatts. 190, 187, 186, 178, 175, 164 Greensyke, 188, 170 Hollins, 186 Peterhouse, 185 Shatton Lodge Close, 182, 162 Briary Bank, 179, 176 Lane Head, 174 Riggingill, 173, 172, 169, 168, 163(2) Aspatria Hall, 173 Scalesmoor, 168 Park Road, 164 Greengill, 160 Prospect House, 160 Ellenbank. Beltex – 193, 187, 168, Peter House. 193, 188, 185, 181, 170, Aspatria Hall. 180, Briary Bank. 180, 176, 173, Parkgate Hall. 177, 155, Wilson Park. 172 (2), 154, Croftside. 160, Greensyke. 154, 146, Cherrytree. 141, Prospect House. Mule- 164, 141, 129.50 Plumbland, 136.50 Greengill, 131 Byresteads, 131 Shatton Lodge Close, 127 Wilson Park. Suffolk – 162, 150, 138, Scalesmoor. 161, Lane Head. 147, Causeway Foot. Dutch Spotted- 145 Croft End. TexXHerd- 134 Grange Grassings, 128, 119 Low Eskholme, 127 Riggingill, 120 Greengill, 119.50 Croft House, 119 Riggingill. Cheviot- 133 Hinning House, 128 Elva Plain, 124 Greengill. Blackface- 130 Ellenbank. Swaledale- 129 Stockhow Hall, 115 Swinside End, 113 Gateghyll, 109.50 Eirintalla, 108 Hinning House. Herdwick- 114 Meadow Bank, 104 Elva Plain, 101 Seathwaite.
A moderate sample forward with lean ewes selling much dearer on the week. Top of £168 for a pair of Texels from J Almond & LJ Crossland, Irton House, Isel. Fell ewes to £76 for Swaledales from A Fearon, Kirkland House, Frizington.
Cull Ewes (per head - £): - Texel- 168 Irton House, 165 Greensyke, 160 High Low Hall, 148, 136 Starghyll, 144 Briary Bank, 134 High Flatts. Suffolk- 130 Starghyll, 118 Greensyke. Lleyn- 120 Dockray Nook. Mule- 99 Parsonage, 98 Starghyll, 96(2) Riggingill, 96 High Low Hall. Cheviot- 98 Easthwaite, 97 Greensyke. Blackface- 78 Greensyke. Swaledale- 76 Kirkland House, 74 Low Snab. Herdwick- 69, 60 Glencoyne.