The Cumberland & Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart had forward 6,893
lowland breeding sheep at their special sale at Longtown on Tuesday
18th September, 2012.
At the annual sale of Greyface (Mule) ewe lambs
there was similar entry of 4,165 head forward and a great credit
must be given to the vendors for improved quality, even after the
horrendous constant wet weather suffered since May. Buyers were
present from Fraserburgh to Devon with a large South contingent
in attendance.
The trade was strong throughout with the smallest
end of the lambs still looking the dearest. The overall average
was £94.96
up £2.35 on the year.
Prior to the sale the annual show was
ably judged by Mr Andrew Spedding of Stoneflatts, whose awards were
as follows:-
Ex Swaledale Ewe
1st Messrs Roddam, Fordlands and sold at £142 to Messrs Ackerley,
Milton Mains
2nd Messrs James, Midtodhills and sold at £158 to Messrs Ridsdale,
Yewtree
3rd Messrs Bell & Copeland, Coach House and sold at £130
to Messrs Spedding, Stoneflatt
Champions from Messrs Roddam, Fordlands with
judge Andrew Spedding
Ex Blackface Ewe
1st Wanwood Partners, Cowden and sold at £112 to Messrs Fox,
Windy Hill
2nd Messrs Nichol, Lawston and sold at £115 to Messrs Cockburn,
Fountainside
Reserve Champions from Wanwood Partners with
the judge Andrew Spedding
Principal prices (outwith show):-
£125 Gapshield, £120 Coach House, Fordlands and Midtodhills, £116
High Parkfoot, £115 Parsonshield, £114 Greensburn, £112
Snowden Close, Fordlands, £110 (x2) Fordlands.
The second sale
of Cheviot Mule ewe lambs and sale for Continental and Suffolk cross
ewe lambs met a mixed trade with only the best kinds easy to sell.
Principal
prices:-
Cheviot Mule - £100 Temon and Fountainside, £92 Snowden
Close, £86, £82 Powisholm, £82 Halterburnhead.
Texel x - £90 Sydenham, £88 Temon, £86, £82, £80
Sydenham, £80 Temon.
Suffolk x - £74 Knarr, £73 Archerbeck, £70 High
House.
Breeding ewes were a smaller show for numbers but good quality
and were in strong demand, easily £5 to £8 up on our
earlier sale. They topped at £130 for Mules (3 shear) from
Bellbank, others to £125, £119 The Flatt, £118
Bellbank, £108
Kilncroft, £100 Smalmstown; Texel £114 Bellbank, £100
Longburgh Fauld; Suffolk £112 Bellbank; Lleyn £84, £74
Sloda Hill.
Shearlings were a smaller entry and short of requirements,
selling to a top of £147 for Mules from Castlefairn, others £143
Hallburn, £141 Barron House, £140 New Hummerbecks and
Taylorburn, £139 Fieldside; Cheviot Mule £140 Castlefairn, £138
Parcelstown and Springwell, £137 Springwells; Rouge £144
Dinwoodie Green; Suffolk £134, £128, £126 Newbiggin, £125
Flex and Newbiggin, £120 Bellbank; Texel £132 Dinwoodie
Green, £131 Bellbank, £130 Dinwoodie Green, £126
Carpet Farm; Lleyn £120, £112 Height, £92 Harper
Hill, £90 Sloda Hill.
