C&D Auction Marts Limited had forward 2,621 prime lambs and 3,535 cast ewes & rams at their weekly sale at Longtown on Thursday.

Prime lambs sold to a top of £120 for Blue d Maines and 247p/kg for Texels to average 193p overall which was 6p/kg up on the same week last year. Heavy lambs were in demand for the home market with many pens making £100 and over. The 3,535 cast ewes and rams also met the best trade of the season to average £83 overall. The ewes were topped at £172 for Texels with 720 of the heavy ewes selling at £100 and over to average £120. Hill ewes sold to £73 for Cheviots and for Blackfaces. Rams sold to £138 for Texels.

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 46 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 231p/kg and an average of 201p (-8p), while 26 prime bullocks peaked at 229p and levelled at 196p (-7p).

In the rough ring 43 cast cows sold to £1269 and 155p to average 134p (-5p), while 3 cast bulls sold to a top of £1460.

There were also 1325 prime lambs that sold to £104 and 219p for Beltex to average 184p (-10p).

There were also 382 cast ewes forward that averaged £74 overall. Heavy ewes sold to £121 for Texels and averaged £88, while light ewes peaked at £103 for Cheviots and levelled at £54.

The firm also sold 23 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday to a top of 236p and an average of 206p (-10p), while 21 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 220p and levelled at 198p (+1p). Seventy four prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 209p and averaged 172p (-12p), while 41 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 168p and levelled at 131p (-15p).

In the rough ring 156 cast dairy cows sold to 146p and averaged 100p, while 134 cast beef cows peaked at 182p and averaged 129p. Nineteen cast bulls sold to 152p and levelled at 127p (N/C).

There were also 1700 prime lambs that sold to £114 and 270p to average 189p (-6p).

In the cast sheep ring this week 183 heavy ewes sold to £122 for Dutch Texels and averaged £80, while 43 light ewes peaked at £73 for Blackface and levelled at £50.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1433 prime lambs at Ayr yesterday to a top of £97 per head for a pair of Suffolks and 200p/kg for a single Texel to average 182p on the week (-4p).

There was a larger offering of 532 cast sheep this week when heavy ewes selling to £106 for a Texel cross. Mule ewes sold to £78 and light/export-type ewes peaked at £67 for Blackface.