Farming
By Neale McQuistin
Harrison & Hetherington sold 61 clean cattle, 69 cast cows, 2,103 prime lambs and 624 cast sheep at St Boswells yesterday.
Fourteen prime bullocks sold to 239p/kg and averaged 214 (-13p), while 46 prime heifers peaked at 249p to average 227p (-2p).
Cast cows were similar to last week’s trade, selling to £1,418 and 183p to average 131p (n/c). Prime lambs sold to £129 and 283p/kg for Beltex lambs to average 207p (-9p) overall.
Cast sheep averaged £81 overall. Heavy cast ewes sold to a top of £137 for a Texel ram and averaged £98 (+£3), while light ewes peaked at £117 for Cheviots and averaged £66 (+£3).
The firm also sold 19 prime heifers at Carlisle yesterday which peaked at 244p/kg and levelled at 220p (+31p), while 24 beef-bred bullocks sold to 239p and levelled at 220p (n/c). Two dairy-bred prime bullocks sold to 163p and averaged 162p.
Thirty-nine beef-bred young bulls sold to 244p and averaged 199p (+2p), while 38 dairy-bred young bulls peaked at 208p and levelled at 154p (-4p).
In the rough ring 237 cast dairy cows sold to 160p to average 98p (+1p), while 103 cast beef cows peaked at 199p to average 130p (+9p). Four cast bulls sold to 109p and levelled at 91p (-17p).
The 2,834 prime lambs sold to £134 and 318p/kg to average 217/kg (-1p).
In the cast sheep section 82 heavy ewes peaked at £124 for a Suffolk and averaged £79 (-£4), while 70 hill ewes were topped at £83 for a Hill Cheviot and averaged £50 (+£4).
Messrs Craig Wilson sold 2,017 prime lambs and 658 cast sheep at Ayr yesterday.
Prime lambs were tough to sell compared to last week with heavier types being hardest to cash. Top price of the day was £110 for Texels on two occasions.
Top price per kilo was 238p for a pair of Beltex. Blackies topped at £90 twice. he whole sale Averaged 204p/kg (-11p).
Cast sheep were the same as last week. op price of £178 was paid for Texel ewes and £168 for others. Mule ewes sold to £99, while Blackfaces peaked at £64.
C&D Auction Marts held their final store cattle sale of 2020 in Dumfries yesterday. There was an entry of 200 store cattle forward and plenty of buyers to match.
Bullocks averaged 215p/kg and sold to 262p or £1295, while heifers averaged 205p and peaked at 230p or £1220.
Young bulls averaged 220p and sold to 227p or £1080.
The firm also held their fortnightly sale of calves in Dumfries yesterday.
All classes were sharper selling to £495 for a Limousin cross heifer and to £460 for a Limousin bull.
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