Dumfries primestock sale

Mar 13 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE CUMBERLAND and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart held their weekly sale of primestock in Dumfries on Wednesday.

Fifty three prime cattle – butchers sorts were sharper although trade in general was steadier. Bullocks averaged 158.9p (288.9 D/W at 55%). Heifers averaged 161.6p (293.8 D/W at 55%).

Heavyweight heifers: Limousin to 195.5p from D & R Cornthwaite, Balgrayhill Lockerbie to M/S Fraser Butchers Stranraer, 190p, 180p Castlewigg, Whithorn to M/S Fraser Stranraer and Galloway Quality Meats Dumfries, 175.5p, 170.5p Flathill Dundrennan to Border Meats Lockerbie.

Charolais to 169.5p, 168.5p Townhead Parkgate to PR Duff & Sons, Wishaw and Scotbeef Ltd Bridge of Allan.

Lightweight heifers: Limousin to 192.5p Balgrayhill Lockerbie to Border Meats Lockerbie, 190p, 181.5p, 180p Castlewigg Whithorn to M/S Fraser Stranraer and The Nith Hotel Glencaple, 170.5p Meikle Larbrax to M/S JD Owen & Son Butchers Newton Stewart. Top gross heifer £1036.15 Balgrayhill.

Bullocks: Limousin to 187.5p Balgrayhill Lockerbie to M/S Fraser Stranraer, 168.5p, 167.5p Meikle Larbrax to M/S Grierson Bros Butchers Castle Douglas & M/S J Hall & Son Butchers Kirkcudbright.

Galloway to 157.5p High Creoch Gatehouse to PR Duff & Son Wishaw. Top gross bullock £1115.63 Balgrayhill.

75 OTM cattle: trade sharper for all classes with more buyers present, cows for further feeding were keenly sought.

Per kilo, cows: Limousin to 153p Allerbeck, 147p (x2) Castlewigg, 120p (x2) Challoch, 117p (x2) Upper Balanan. Charolais to 147p Allerbeck, 127p Tinwald Shaws. Angus to 139p, 121p Palaceknowe, 117 Riggheads

Blonde to 125p Tinwald Shaws. Simmental to 121p Oxgang, 113p Upper Ballanan. Saler to 111p Bennan. Holstein Friesian to 113p Kerricks, 109p Riggheads, 108p (x2), 107p Kerricks, 105p Burnside.

Per head, cows: Charolais to £1220.10 Allerbeck, £920.75 Tinwald Shaws. Limousin to £1071.00 Allerbeck, £1021.65 Castlewigg. Simmental to £907.50 Oxgang, £819 Netherhall. Holstein Friesian to £875.75 Kerricks, £844.75 Rigghead. Angus to £828.85 Palaceknowe, £827.05 Druidhall.

1245 prime hoggs: Very mixed show for quality but met an excellent trade with quality sorts from 180-205p.

Top price at 205p from 43kg (£88) Beltex crosses from J Muir & Son, Cleughbrae. Top price per head was £88.50 for a pen of Suffolk crosses from Mr A McKune, Townhead. The overall sale average 175.4p

Light hoggs (25.5-32kg): top 188p, av 155.4p. NCC £60 Hastingshall. Cheviot £54.50 Riggheads, £46.80 Chanlockfoot, £44.50 Dalhanna. Blackface £51 Meikle Larbrax, £51 Corsebank, £49.50 Macqueston. Texel £50.50 Dalhanna, £50.50 Meikle Larbrax.

Standard hoggs (32.1-39kg): top 205p; av 180.6p.

NCC £80, £75 Cleughbrae. Texel n£77.50 Dalhanna, £74.50 Raehills, £74 Nether Gribton. Cheviot £76.50 Riggheads. Blackface £72.80 Craigdarroch, £68.50 Newmains, £68 Netherhall, £62 Eastfield. Cross £63.50 Corsencorn. Lleyn £60 Bennan.

Medium hoggs (39.1-45.5kg): top 205p; av 176.8p. Beltex £88 Cleughbrae. NCC £84 Auchencrieff. Texel £81.50 Birkshaw, £79 Raehills, £78.50 West Skelston. Blackface £79.50 Lawesknowe, £76.50 Craigdarroch. Suffolk £75.50 The Bush, £73.50 Raehills. Charollais £71 Wester Parkgate. Leicester £60 Macqueston, £69.50 Nether Barr, £67.50 Dunesslin.

Heavy hoggs (46kg + over): top 186p; av 165p. Suffolk £88.50 Townhead, £86.50 West Skelston, £77.50 Birkshaw, £77.50 Netherhall. Texel £85.50, £84.50 West Skelston, £83.50 The Bush, £83.50 Riggheads. Blackface £83.50 Craigdarroch, £74.50 Troloss, £69.50 Macqueston.

574 cast ewes and rams: trade exceptionally dear and similar to last week.

Heavy ewes: Suffolk £106.50 Dempsterton, £96.50 Steilston, £93.50 Netherhall. Texel £105.50 Snade, £90.50 Elvanfoot, £87.50 Thorniethwaite. Half Bred £93.50 Hartbush, £80 Snade. Cross £78.50 Dempsterton, £77.50 Kenmuir, £72 Auchenage, £71 Palaceknowe

NCC £73.50 Gillesbie.

Light ewes: Cheviot £67 Auchenage, £60 Glenlaugh. Blackface £59.50 Auchenhassan, £55.50 Lawesknowe, £48 Sweetshawhead, £46.50 Auchencheyne. Swale £32.50 Netherton. Heavy ewes averaged £64.05 + £4.03 on the week. Light ewes averaged £42.38 + £7.26 on the week.