Prize Show and Sale of Native Breed Cattle, Store Cattle & Store Sheep
Store Cattle
Hexham & Northern Marts held their final special prize show and sale of the traditional October cattle sales season and offered 736 head of cattle within the Prize Show and Sale of Native Breeds.
The show was once again kindly sponsored by RM Corbett Haulage Ltd, The Rawburn Aberdeen Angus herd and The Luing Cattle Society and this year was moved one month later to the end of October to accommodate a greater number of cattle on the catalogue and in the show classes.
Mr Mark Jarrett made the long trip up from Bristol to preside as master judge and he was faced with no fewer than Forty-Two cattle across eleven classes, each and every one a delight to witness and perhaps testament to the shift towards native breeds being seen within the upland herds across the region.
From the preliminary breed classes Mr Jarrett was faced with five first prize animals in a sparkling line-up with the best of Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn, Galloway and Luing breeding represented. It was a huge Hereford cross steer that was tapped out as Overall Champion and this one was the lead animal from Messrs Jordan, Tughall Grange, Alnwick returning to the Hexham store ring after a break of over five years – a return that heralded great success as the Chathill family farming operation also scooped the first prize rosette for their pen of four hefty red and white bullocks.
Following a hard fought Angus Championship it was a tremendously correct ‘beautiful black belle’ that emerged to be tapped out as Reserve Champion to the delight of the breeder Michael Baxter, Kiln Hill, Gilsland. The noted Cumbrian purveyor of top quality native breed cattle also figured highly in other classes but it was the jet black smasher that attained his top accolade.
It was an accolade that was sweetened further later in the day when the pair were brought forward to the sale ring when reserve usurped the champion selling at £1840 – the dearest native beast sold on the day – whilst the hefty Hereford steer changed hands at a noteworthy £1750, both being purchased by the judge.
The far-travelled judge made his awards as follows;
Angus steer;
1st Messrs Thompson, The Fawns
2nd Messrs Thompson, The Fawns
3rd Messrs Baxter, Kiln Hill
Angus heifer;
1st Messrs Baxter, Kiln Hill
2nd Messrs Sowerby, Partridge Nest
Champion Angus – Messrs Baxter, Kiln Hill
Pen of 4 Angus Cattle;
1st Messrs Armstrong, Grasslees
2nd Messrs Armstrong, Grasslees
3rd Messrs Armstrong, Grasslees
Hereford steer;
1st Messrs Jordan, Tughall Grange
2nd Messrs Baxter, Kiln Hill
3rd Messrs Jordan, Tughall Grange
Pen of 4 Hereford Cattle;
1st Messrs Jordan, Tughall Grange
2nd Messrs Armstrong, Grasslees
Beef Shorthorn steer;
1st Messrs Carr, Highwood
2nd Messrs Carr, Highwood
Galloway steer;
1st Messrs Carr, Highwood
2nd Messrs Forster, East Wharmley
3rd Messrs Dodd, Wayn Riggs
Overall Champion – Messrs Jordan, Tughall Grange, Hereford Steer
Reserve Champion – Messrs Baxter, Kiln Hill, Angus Heifer.
The company extends our grateful thanks to our sponsors, our judge, prize winners and all exhibitors the efforts of whom ensure this special sale goes from strength to strength.
Besides the outstanding entry of native breeds a number of continental cross cattle were forward and these saw the peak of the trade topping at £1900 for a Blonde cross steer from Messrs Harrison, Colepike and at £1860 for a Charolais cross bullock from Messrs Walton, Flotterton. Charolais heifers topped at £1800 twice; first from Messrs Walton, Flotterton, then again from Messrs Thompson, Fitches Grange, Witton-le-Wear.
A good crowd of buyers were assembled at ringside and remained throughout the duration of the sale with trade as buoyant as has been seen for these classes during the summer and autumn. Vendors declared their satisfaction with levels attained for cattle which, in the main were showing signs of the summer drought and the subsequent deterioration of the weather with many being brought forward off the grass. Those which had been carefully managed and fed during the past few weeks were shown in bloom and rightly so attained a premium on the day.
Leading prices;
Cattle 23 – 30 Months
Charolais x heifers – £1800, £1540, £1400, £1380 & £1360 Fitches Grange
Angus x heifers – £1540 Sunniside Farm
Cattle 17 – 22 Months
Limousin x steers – £1780 & £1760 Colepike Home, £1600 Flotterton, £1560 Lunns House, £1390 Dene House, £1380 Highwood, £1340 Lunns House, £1320 Bothal Park, £1300 Highwood (x3)
Charolais x steers – £1300 East Fourstones
Angus steers-£1740 & £1370 Kiln Hill, £1300 Highwood
Angus x steers – £1800 Catreen, £1520 Flotterton, £1460 Intake Farm, £1420 Flotterton (x2), £1400 Flotterton & Blueburn, £1380 East White Hill, £1370 Partridge Nest, £1350 Catreen
Hereford x steers – £1780 Kiln Hill, £1750, £1620 (x2), £1580, £1510, £1500, £1450, £1400, £1370, £1360 & £1300 Tughall Grange
Simmental x steers-£1580 Carrick
Beef Shorthorn steers – £1340 & £1230 Highwood
Luing steers-£1200 Blueburn
Luing x steers-£1390 & £1280 Carrick
Saler x steers-£1200 Highwood
Galloway x steers-£1160 Highwood
Limousin x heifers – £1320 Lunns House, £1190 Demesne Farm, £1160 Lunns House
Charolais x heifers – £1800 & £1600 Flotterton
British Blue x heifers – £1230 South Farm
Angus heifers-£1840 Kiln Hill
Angus x heifers – £1320 Intake Farm, £1230 East White Hill, £1200 The Stobbs, £1180 Kiln Hill, Snape Farm & Lowfield, £1160 Cottonshope & Intake Farm
Hereford heifers-£1180 Tughall Grange
Hereford x heifers – £1100 & £1080 Tughall Grange
Saler x heifers-£1050 The Tofts
Cattle 11 – 16 Months
Limousin x steers – £1350, £1315, £1300 & £1280 Stotsfold, £1240 Linacres, £1230, £1200 & £1190 (x2) Stotsfold
Charolais x steers – £1260 The Raw, £1080 & £1070 The Crew
Angus steers – £1180 Village Farm
Angus x steers – £1400 The Raw, £1230 Kiln Hill, £1220 Watch Hill, £1205 Bygate, £1190 Colwell Hill, £1160 The Raw
British Blue steers – £1300 Stotsfold
Hereford steesr-£930 Grasslees
Hereford x steers-£980 Newham Village
Stabiliser steers-£920 & £900 Hetherington
Luing x steers-£750 Brinkburnhope
Galloway x steers-£700 Bullions Farm
Beef Shorthorn steers – £1290 Highwood
Limousin x heifers – £1365 Linacres
Angus x heifers – £1160 Intake Farm, £1050 Colwell Hill, £1040 Watch Hill
Hereford x heifers – £930 Grasslees
Cattle 10 months and under
Limousin x steers – £1120 (x2) The Fawns
Angus x steers – £920 The Fawns
Hereford x steers-£750 Three Farms
Highland-£600 & £560 Rattenraw
Cast Ewes
Cast Ewes and Rams sold to an increased trade for a reduced show. Although lean ewes still harder to cash.
Topping the sale was a Charollais cross ewe from Messrs E Taylor, Wallish Walls for £178.
Texel cross ewes sold to £170 from J S A Dodds, High House Farm.
Two Texel Tups sold to £169 from W & J W Mews, Glendue Farm.
Mules sold to a top of £115 from JRG Johnson, West Wharmley.
Blackface ewes sold to £111 from J R Robinson & Son, Warksfield Head.
More ewes wanted for next week with 10+ buyers ringside every week, Contact Jack on 07739 440457.
Texel x – £170 High House Farm, £154 East Greenridge, £148 & £147 High House Farm, £144 Town Farm, £142 East Greenridge, £140 East Newham, Colepike & Town Farm, £137 Barker House, £136 Glendue (x2), £134 Town Farm & East Foreshield (x2), £133 Stone Stile
Suffolk x – £127 Steel Hall
Charollais x – £178 Wallish Walls
Cheviot – £124 Lowes Fell
Cheviot Mule – £136 Steeley Farm
Leicester-£128 Lowes Fell
Mule – £115 West Wharmley, £112 Steeley Farm, £108 Brownsleazes, £104 Crescent Farm
Blackface – £111 Warksfield Head, £99 Brownsleazes
Swaledale – £69 Barker House
Ryeland-£78 Holme Dene Cottage
Cross-£128 Broom House Farm
Cast Tups
Texel – £169 Glendue Farm, £160 East Forshield, £150 East Greenridge
Store Lambs
Hexham and Northern Marts sold a catalogued entry of 5593 to a better trade than expected considering a reduced trade in the fat ring. A lot of lean small lambs on display which were harder to place.
Topping the sale was a pen full of Beltex cross lambs from J E Holliday & Son, Woodland House Farm at £139.
Messrs Pickworth, Dotland Park also sold a pen of 7 Beltex cross lambs to £127.
Closely followed by a pen of 10 Beltex cross lambs from M & N Gray, Low Espley.
Suffolk cross store lambs continue to sell well topping at £117 for a pen of 30 from Howick Estates.
Mule store lambs continue to sell remarkably well to a top of £90 from J A Beattie & Son, South Farm.
With more buyers ringside, lambs are wanted next Friday.
Contact Jack on 07739 440457.
Texel x – £123 Rosehill, £119 Burntongues, £118 West Moorhouses, £117 Morwood Farm, £115 Errington Red House, Howick Estates & Willimoteswick, £111 Brieredge Farm, £110 Errington Red House, Howick Estates (x2), East Thorn Farm & Rosehill, £109.50 Riding Farm, £109 Bankfoot & Butterknowes.
Suffolk x – £117 Howick Estates, £115.50 Garden House
Beltex x-£139 Woodland House Farm, £127 Dotland Park, £126 Low Espley, £125 Woodland House Farm, £123.50 Linacres, £123 Woodland House Farm, £121 Linacres
Dutch Texel x – £121 Bridgeford
Mule – £90 South Farm, £87 Middle White Hill, £85 Low Acton, £83.50 Dyke Nook, £83 Bulls Hill (x2) & Stewartshield Meadows.
Cheviot Mule – £85 Quickening Cote
Blackface – £72 Greenleas