Longtown Primestock Sale
27/03/08

The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart P.L.C. had forward 86 prime cattle, 0 young bulls, 28 OTM cattle, 7,003 prime hoggs and 4,159 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday 27th March, 2008.

Clean cattle met the dearest trade of the season. Top price of 165.5p (twice) for Limousin bullocks from JC & D Nicholson, The Gill and Corby Castle Estate, other Limousins to 163.5p, 162.5p, 160.5p Corby Castle Estate, 158.5p, 157.5p Dashwellgreen, 157.5p Houghton House & Hallburn, 156.5p, 155.5p Dashwellgreen, 156.6p, 155.5p Corby Castle Estate. Belgian Blue bullocks to 162.5p, 158.5p, 157.5p, 153.5p Hallburn.

Heifers topped at 164.5p (twice) for Limousin from Hallburn and Dashwellgreen, others to 160.5p, 159.5p Hallburn, 159.5p Shankcastle, 157.5p Hallburn, 156.5p Dashwellgreen, 153.5p Upper Mains. Charolais 150.5p Upper Mains.

OTM cattle overall were a plainer show for quality with black and white heifers to 107.5p, 102.5p Whitecloserigg. Black and white cows to 91.5p Whitecloserigg, Simmentals 94.5p Milnholm, Angus 90.5p Henrys Hill.

Included in the Prime hogg sale was the annual show for Cheviot hoggs. The judge John Horncastle of North Country Primestock awarded the championship to a pen of 47 kilo South Country Cheviot hoggs from W & J Glendinning, Crawesknowe and sold at £79 (168p/kg) to Woodhead Bros.

Class winners were: Up to 42 kilos – 1st Laws Hall at 40 kilo selling at £70.50 to M Lomax, 2nd The Bloch at 40 kilo selling at £67.50 to R J Vevers. Over 42 kilos – 1st Crawesknowe (Champions) 47kilos selling at £79 to Woodhead Bros, 2nd Crawesknowe at 46 kilos selling at £76.50 Woodhead Bros.

In the prime hogg sale the large ring of buyers ensured the dearest trade seen this year. Well fleshed hoggs keenly sought after. The top was 194.8p/kg for Texels from MacTaggart Bros., and top price per head was £90.50 for Texels from East Mains. The overall sale average was 156.6p.

Suffolk £84.50 Dunjop, £83.50 Kilnfordcroft, Cheviot £79.50, £76.50 Crawesknowe, Texls £90 MacTaggart Bros, Bleu de Maines £78.80 Rascarrel, Charollais £85.50,£80.50 Aldermanseat, Halfbreds £58.50 East Mains, Greyface £79.80 Dunjop, £74.50 Hillview,, Cheviot Mules £67.80, £64.80 Murtholm, Leicesters £65.50 Castle Nook, £61.50 Awhirk, Blackfaces £81 Smalmstown, £76.50 Kirkhouse, North Country Cheviots £88.80, £80 MacTaggart Bros, Swaledale £58.80 Castle Nook, Herdwicks £55.80 Haithwaite, Jacobs £60.20 Skelfhill, Masham £71.80 Colter Coats.

Lightweight hoggs were another excellent show and were also in great demand to a top of 163.1p for Texels from Messrs Simpson, Kirkhouse and to £58.20 for Blackfaces from Messrs Douglas, Upper Hindhope. Other Blackfaces to £54.80 Clonrae, Suffolks £56.20 Grassfield, Cheviots £52 Bloch, £49.20 Wodhouselees, Texels £56.50 Powheads, £53.20 Sockbridge Hall, Charollais £44.80 East Mains, Greyfaces £52.80 Langholm, £49.80 Spout Bank, North Country Cheviots £50.20 Sockbridge Hall, Swaledales £47.80 Castle Nook, Herdwicks £52.80 West Head, Shetlands £38.50 Cauldronlea, Welsh £48.80 Longbrough Fauld.

The cast ewes and rams were a fantastic trade to average £54 overall with no fewer than 15 lots selling at £100 or over. Top price was £111.50 for a pen of Suffolk ewes from Kilnfordcroft, others to £106.50 Fenton, £104.50 Cleughfoot, Land and Queenshaugh. Suffolk x £103.50, £100.50 Ballyclare. Texels £108.50 Queenshaugh & Kilncroft, £106.50 Distillery & Silverrigg, £105.50 Ballyclare. Beltex £98.50 Ainstable Hall, Bleu de Maines £86.50 Newry, Charollais £96.50 Newry & Ballyclare, Leicesters £96.5p Priorsford, £94.50 Kirkland Green, North Country Cheviots £81.50 Skad, £80.50 Terrona, Oxfords £80.50 Roadside, Greyfaces £77.50 Fenton, £76.50 Halfway House, £74.50 East Mains & Ainstable Hall. Lleyns £71.50 Ballyclare, Vendeens £64.50 Kirkwood Mains.

Hill ewes to £62.50 for Blackfaces from North Farm and £58.50 Bankend, £54.50 Castlemilk. Cheviots £58.50 Hillcrest, £57.50 Wester Dunnett, Swaledales £53.50 Kelmore Hills, £50.50 Reaygarth, Herdwicks £49.50 Rowhead, £39.50 Powhead, Jacobs £36.50 Cleughfoot, Zwartbles £38.50 Mallsgate.

Rams to £94.50 for Texels from Queenshaugh, £82.50 Newry, Suffolks £84.50 Hesket House & Land, Zwartbles £78.50 South Slealands, Cheviots £72.50 Adderston Shiels, Rouges £58.50 Demainholm, Charollais £86.50 Street Head, Leicesters £86.50 Street Head, Blackfaces £47.50 East Mains, £46.50 Townshields, Swaledales £36.50 Kirkland Green.

Averages:

Steers
Light to -------p ( ------p)
Medium to 165.5p (153.6p)
Heavy to 165.5p (147.6p)

Heifers
Light to -------p (-------p)
Medium to 164.5p (152.4p)
Heavy to 164.5p (138.1p)

Young Beef Bulls to ------p (-------p)

Hoggs
Light to 163.1p (145.1p)
Standard to 180.5p (155.0p)
Medium to 194.8p (161.2p)
Heavy to 171.2p (150.7p)
Others to -------p (-------p)

Ewes
Light to £62.50 (£33.50)
Heavy to £111.50 (£68.55)

Cast Rams £94.50 (£49.16)

Longtown Primestock Sale - 20th March 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 13th March 2008
Longtown Primestock Sale - 6th March 2008