Second Draft Ewe Sale

Hexham & Northern Marts held their penultimate breeding sheep sale of the season and offered a small entry in terms of quantity and mixed in terms of quality.

The best of each class sold well with a ready demand for quality sorts from those looking to top up numbers prior to tupping.

Blackface ewes topped at £180 for a smart pen of mixed ages from Frank Hall, Monkridge Cottage, whilst 5-year-old drafts sold to £100 from Featherwood and 6-year-olds to £94 from The Dudlees.

Swaledale drafts peaked at £82 from Broadgates.

Cheviots too met a mixed demand peaking at £140 and £132 for gimmers from Quickeningcote, with drafts selling to £81 from Shilmoor.

Lowland Sheep met with similar fortunes and peaked at £222 for Texel cross gimmers from Craigshield, whilst Mules sold to £200 & £190 from Wingates Wholme.

Mule 4 crop ewes from Ball Hill changed hands at £132 and Mule ewe lambs sold to a highly satisfactory rates peaking at £134 from The Hole and averaging £110 throughout.

Leading prices;

Blackface Ewes

6 y/o – £94 Dudlees, £91 Dunns Houses

1-2 y/o – £180 Monkridge Cottage

3-4 y/o – £162 Monkridge Cottage

5 y/o – £100 Featherwood

5-6 y/o – £56 Philhope, £55 Cottonshope

1 crop – £82 Greenleas

4 crop – £90 Stoop Rigg

Mixed Ages – £130 Dunns Houses

Yound Ages – £92 Stoop Rigg

Swaledale Ewes

5 y/o – £68 Low Bleakhope

6 y/o – £82 Broadgates, £74 Low Bleakhope

Blackface & Swaledale Gimmers

Blackface – £150 Intake, £136 Greenleas

Swaledale – £81 Thornley Pit

Cheviot Ewes, Gimmers & Ewe Lambs

North Country Gimmers – £140 & £132 Quickeningcote

3-5y/o – £61 Cottonshope

6 y/o – £81 & £74 Flotterton, £70 Quickeningcote

Swaledale Ewe Lambs

£71, £66 (x2) & £62 (x2) Low Bleakhope

Mule & Other Ewes & Gimmers

Gimmers

Texel x – £222 Craigshield, £150 Blue House, £138 South Farm

Mule – £200 & £190 Wingates, £170 Blue House, £166 Wingates, £145 South Farm (x2)

Cheviot Mule – £150 (x2) & £125 Flotterton

Cross – £140 & £130 High Barns

1 crop ewes

Texel x – £185 Craigshield

Suffolk x – £142 Craigshield

1-2 crop ewes

Texel x – £155 & £128 Thornley Pit

2 crop ewes

Blue Texel – £210 Craigshield

2-3 crop ewes

Suffolk x – £130 Low Brooms

3 crop ewes

Cross – £120 High Barns

4 crop ewes

Mule – £137 & £132 Baal Hill, £131 Blue House, £120 Duddo Hill

5-year-old

Texel x – £110 Broadgates

Young Ages

Mule – £162 & £134 South Farm

Udders only

Mule – £82 Thornley Pit

Mule Ewe Lambs

£134 & £131 Hole Farm, £130 Featherwood, £127 Brieredge, £122 Chirdon, £120 Chirdon, Hole Farm & Featherwood, £118 Low Acton, £114 Edges Green, £112 Featherwood, £110 Chirdon & Taylor Burn

Continental & Continental x Ewe Lambs

Zwartble – £155 Wingates

Leicester – £116, £110 & £105 Gibbsneese