FIRST Milk has announced that it is to slash the price it pays for milk destined for both its liquid and manufacturing pools by three pence per litre (ppl) from October 1.

The move will reduce the company's liquid pool price to 25.1ppl and the manufacturing price to 26.1ppl.

Market round-up

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had 6,367 breeding sheep forward at their annual show and sale in Dumfries on Friday.

Top prices and averages for gimmers: Scotch Mules to £168 for the champion pen from RJ Fry, Porterstown and averaged £141.59 (+£5.59 on the year) for 2393; Texels £158 (x2) and £140.54 (+£14.63) for 309; Half-breds £140 and £134 (+£4) for 83; Cheviot Mules £152 and £140.54 for 55. Ewe lambs: Scotch Mules to £152 for the champion pen off K Park & Sons, Dalpeddar and averaged £101.23 (+23p) for 2930; Texels £122 and £109 for 66; Cheviot Mules £80 and £77.67 for 75.

United Auctions had 4,569 forward at their annual show and sale of Scotch Mule gimmers at Stirling on Saturday that sold to £185 for the champion pen off Messrs H&J Paterson & Sons, East Dykes.

Accredited gimmers averaged £161.66 (+£17.47), while non-accredited gimmers levelled at £161.44 (+£4.85).

John Swan Ltd sold 44 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 246p per kilogramme and an average of 217p (no change on the week). Meanwhile 43 prime bullocks peaked at 241p and levelled at 217.5p (+8.1p).

Over in the rough ring the 51 beef-type cattle averaged 127.6p (+8.2p). Along with that the firm also sold 2,029 prime lambs to a top of £90 per head and 183p per kg to average 160p (-3p).

The 937 cast sheep forward saw ewes sell to £89 for Texels and £79 for Lleyns, to average £61.15 overall. Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 22 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday which came to a top of 237.5p and an average of 200.8p (+11.2p).

Meanwhile 22 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 231.5p and levelled at 185.4p (-2.3p).

Seven prime, dairy-bred bullocks sold to 157.5p and averaged 131.6p.

Thirty prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 215.5p and averaged 183.2p (-4.1p), while 49 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 180.5p and levelled at 144.7p (-15p). In the rough ring the 195 beef cows averaged 127.2p (-0.6p) and 181 dairy cows levelled at 92.1p (-5.1p). Ten bulls averaged 109.4p (+3.7p). The firm also sold 2,584 prime lambs to a top of £100 and 252.2p to average 168.9p (-0.3p). The 227 cast sheep forward saw ewes sell to £114.50 for Suffolks and £71.50 for Hill Cheviots.