C&D Auction Marts Limited sold 8,832 sheep at Longtown on Thursday. The 3,293 prime lambs forward averaged 190p/kg which was a rise of 10p on the week. The sale topped at 284p/kg for a single Texel with the top price per head of £132 also being paid for a Texel. The 5,539 cast ewes and rams averaged £64.60 overall and sold a top of £180 for a Beltex ram. Heavy ewes peaked at £160 for Texels and hill ewes topped at £79 for Blackfaces. There were 388 ewes which sold at £100 and above.

The firm also sold 142 Store Cattle in Dumfries yesterday which attracted increased numbers of stronger cattle. Bullocks sold to £1090 for Limousins, while heifers peaked at £1010 for Charolais.

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 39 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 228p/kg and an average of 211p (+0.5p), while 24 prime bullocks peaked at 222p and levelled at 205p (-2p). Five young bulls made up to 200p and averaged 145p (n/c).

In the rough ring 24 cast cows sold to £1303 and 165p to average 135p (n/c).

There were also 1576 prime lambs that sold to £112 and 225p for Beltex to average 186p (+12p).

In the cast sheep section 351 ewes averaged £64 overall. Heavy ewes peaked at £105 for Suffolks and averaged £83, while light ewes peaked at £90 for Cheviots and levelled at £51.

The firm also sold 23 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday to a top of 220p and an average of 199p (+10p), while 30 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 224p and levelled at 197p (+3p). Forty-four prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 212p and averaged 171p (+2p), while 41 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 169p and levelled at 136p (+0.5p). In the Rough Ring 212 cast dairy cows sold to 140p and averaged 96p (-3p), while 79 cast beef cows peaked at 167p and levelled at 124p (-2p). Sixteen cast bulls sold up to 167p and averaged 124p (+3p).

There were also 2826 prime lambs that sold to £111 and 277p/kg to average 187p (+9p).

In the cast sheep ring 267 heavy ewes sold to £112 for Texels and averaged £70.56 (-£1.00), while 112 light ewes peaked at £49 for Swaledales and levelled at £35 (+£2.73).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold a much larger show of 2593 prime lambs at Ayr yesterday to a top of £95 and 198p/kg, to average 176p (+4p).

In the cast sheep ring there was also an increased entry on the week when 605 heavy ewes peaked at £121 for a Texel and averaged £67, while 493 light/export-type ewes peaked at £57 for Blackfaces and levelled at £44.