Farming

By Neale McQuistin

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 59 clean cattle, 73 cast cows, 2,130 prime lambs and 424 cast sheep at St Boswells yesterday.

Thirteen prime bullocks sold to a top of 240p/kg to average 231p (-4p), while 44 prime heifers peaked at 265p to average 226p (+1p). Two young bulls sold to 220p and averaged 211p.

In the rough ring cast cows sold to £1,483 and 215p to average 133p (-3p).

Prime lambs peaked at £120 and 281p/kg for Beltex to average 196p overall (-4p).

Heavy cast ewes sold to a top of £118 for Texels and averaged £91 (+£5), while light ewes peaked at £77 for Cheviots and averaged £53 (+£4).

The firm also sold 23 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday which peaked at 243p/kg and levelled at 217p (+9p), while nine beef-bred bullocks sold to 232p and levelled at 215p (+9p).

Twenty-six beef-bred young bulls sold to 228p and averaged 188p (+14p), while 18 dairy-bred young bulls peaked at 177p and levelled at 161p (+16p).

In the rough ring 215 cast dairy cows sold to 161p to average 97p (+3p), while 115 cast beef cows peaked at 212p to average 138p (+21p). Eight cast bulls sold to 136p and levelled at 114p (+4p).

A large show of 2,895 prime lambs sold to £125 and 301p/kg to average 198p (-11p). In the cast sheep section 219 heavy ewes peaked at £110 for Beltex and averaged £66 (-£1), while 122 hill ewes were topped at £76 for Blackfaces and averaged £38 (+£1).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold a large show of 2,994 prime lambs and 815 cast sheep at Ayr yesterday. Best types were still easy to sell, but poorer lambs would be harder to cash on the week. Top prices at the sale were achieved for the same pen of three Beltex lambs which were bid to £105 or 233p/kg when the hammer came down. Blackface lambs at the sale peaked at £83 for one pen and 196p for another pen of 38. The whole sale averaged 191p/kg (-6p).

Cast sheep which were lean export types continued to meet strong demand, but overfat ewes were still the hardest commodity to sell. Top price of £130 was paid for a pair of Texel cross ewes, while other crosses sold to £72 and Blackfaces to £53 for a pen of 20.

Caledonian Marts Ltd sold 497 store cattle at their fortnightly sale at Stirling yesterday. Bullocks averaged 221p/kg, selling to 284p for a pen of Salers and to £1,190 for a pen of Limousins. Heifers averaged 204p, selling to 244p for a pen of Limousins and to £1,130 for a pen of Charolais. Black & Whites averaged 176p and to £710.