Sale of suckled calves saw averages rise by £23.50

LAWRIE and Symington Ltd held a sale of suckled calves in Lanark on Tuesday when averages rose by £23.50 on the year. The 1207 bullocks forward sold to 274.2p per kg and averaged 208.4p, while 807 heifers peaked at 283.2p and levelled at 196.2p.

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 9432 store lambs in Longtown on Tuesday when trade was steadier as a consequence of the prime trade easing. Top prices and averages: Texels to £60 and averaged £48.21; North Country Cheviots £60 and £55.92; Suffolks £59 and £49.31; Beltex £59; Charollais £56 and £46.65; Hill Cheviot £56 and £46.65; Greyfaces £55 and £43.58; Blackfaces £46.50 and£33.12; Swaledales £31.50 and £27.77.

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 14 prime bullocks at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 228p and an average of 196.7p, while 33 prime heifers peaked at 225p and levelled at 200.4p. Three young bulls averaged 198.5p.

In the rough ring leaner, weathered cows were slightly less money, but good, meaty types were still in demand. The 162 beef cows forward averaged 132.7p, while 186 dairy cows levelled at 103.8p.

Fifteen bulls averaged 135.8p. There were also 12 OTM heifers that averaged 164p and 11 OTM bullocks that levelled at 167p.

A small show of nine dairy cattle sold to £2200 for a B&W, calved-heifer and averaged £1841.

There were also 124 beefbreeding cattle forward that were dearer than at the previous sale. Top prices and averages: Heifers with bull calves to £2050 and averaged £1481.82 for 28; Heifers with heifer calves £1980 and £1321.33 for 18; Cows with bull calves £1480 and £1247 for 23; Cows with heifer calves £1900 and £1405 for 12; Bulling heifers £1180 and £803.20 for 41.

The firm went on to sell 750 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £75.50 per head and 180p per kg to average 154.2p (-7p on the week).

There were also 406 cast sheep forward with ewes selling to £70 for Crosses and £56 for Blackfaces.

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had a plainer offering of 34 prime cattle at their weekly sale in Dumfries yesterday when bullocks sold to 222.5p and averaged 207.1p while heifers peaked at 210.5p and levelled at 207.1p.

There were 50 OTM cattle presented in the rough ring when the trade for fleshy cows was good, while weathered sorts met a more hesitant demand. Beef cows averaged 136.2p and dairy cows levelled at 100.3p.

In the sheep ring 899 prime lambs sold to £77.80 and 177p to average 156p (-7p).

The 420 c ast sheep forward saw lighter, plainer ewes difficult to cash while better-fleshed ewes were sharper on the week. Heavy ewes sold to £88.50 for Texels and averaged £56, while light ewes peaked at £47.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £32.50.