St Boswells auction sees ‘blistering’ trade for prime cattle as bullocks sell to 249p/kg

HARRISON & Hetherington sold 87 clean cattle, 52 cast cows, 1,399 prime hoggets and 361 cast sheep at St Boswells yesterday.

Prime cattle were a blistering trade throughout. Twentyseven prime bullocks sold to 249p/kg and averaged 230p (n/c), while 58 prime heifers peaked at 266p to average 238p (+5p). Two young bulls sold to 184p to average 182p.

In the cast ring cows peaked at £1,665 and 243p to average 168p (+4p).

In the sheep ring prime hoggets peaked at £177 and 392p/kg for Beltex hoggs to average £132 (+£12) or 299p (+28p) overall.

Heavy cast sheep sold to a top of £138 for Hampshires and averaged £116 (+£2), while light ewes peaked at £111 for Cheviot ewes and averaged £82 (-£2).

The firm also sold 22 prime heifers at Carlisle yesterday which peaked at 276p/kg and levelled at 220p (n/c), while 15 beef-bred bullocks sold to 240p and levelled at 227p (+6p). Five dairybred bullocks peaked at 177p to average 169p (+1p).

Forty-one young beefbred bulls peaked at 240p and averaged 207p (+11p), while 31 dairybred young bulls sold to 199p and levelled at 178p (+10p).

In the rough ring 89 cast beef cows peaked at 228p to average 150p (+5p), while 145 cast dairy cows sold to 197p to average 124p (+7p). Eight cast bulls sold to 153p and averaged 136p (+17p).

The 1,664 prime hoggs sold to £176 and 403p/ kg to average 295p (+21p).

In the cast sheep section 38 heavy ewes peaked at £140 for a Texel to average £97 (+£10), while 46 hill ewes sold to £100 for Greyfaced to level at £66 (n/c).

Messrs Craig Wilson sold 2113 prime hoggets and 356 cast sheep at

Ayr yesterday.

Prime hoggets continued an upward trend when they sold to average £120 or 283p/kg (+10p) overall. Top prices were £158 for a Texel and 342p/kg for a pen of Beltex.

However, the highlight of the sale was an outstanding run of 996 Blackface hoggets that peaked at £137 for one strong pen and 296p/kg for another pen of 72. The Blackface hoggets averaged 281p/kg or £113.

Cast sheep numbers were tight again this week and trade was dearer. Texel ewes topped the sale for a pair that sold for £188, while Mules made up to £121 and Blackfaces sold to £88.

C&D Auction Marts sold 331 store cattle at their fortnightly sale in Dumfries yesterday.

The 132 beef-bred bullocks sold to 290p/kg and £1320 to average 243p/kg, while 30 Holstein bullocks peaked at 194p/kg and £1075 to average 186p. The 158 heifers sold to 302p and £1300 to average 234p. Eleven