Weekly Report and Newsletter - 3rd January 2025
J36 Rural Auction Centre: Sale of Prime Lambs & Cast Sheep, Friday 27th December 2024.
Prime Lambs
Lambs take a big lift before the turn of the year.
The sheep trade took a nice rise as we head into 2025 with especially the smarter end lambs a very good trade on the day.
J36’s usual show of all types from 25kg lambs to 67kg saw both old and new faces bidding well on our not so usual alternative Friday afternoon sale. Please note that our next Prime Sheep sale will be on Tuesday 7th January 2025 and we would like to take the chance to wish all our customers the very best for 2025.
Lambs topped at £205 for a pair of Dutch Spotted from DA Dixon, Grayrigg with the same home having another 4 at £195. Charollais sheep hit £190 from JM & NJ Strickland, Whinfell. 43kg Beltex sold to 393ppk from E&H Winder, Ravenstonedale with other 40kg Beltex from R Lawrence selling to 377.5ppk. Texels lambs topped at 374.4ppk from JD Dixon, Flookburgh. Heavier 50kg Texels sold to 358ppk from PJ & ES Rogerson, Appleby. With an average of 326sqq or £150 achieved on the day with vendors pleased with their trade.
Prime Lamb Top Prices: DUTCH SPOTTED: £205.00 Grayrigg Foot, £195.00 Grayrigg Foot, £192.00 Grayrigg Foot, £181.00 Grayrigg Foot, £174.00 Grayrigg Foot. CHAROLAIS: £190.00 The Borrans, £146.00 Marshside, £135.00 Marshside, £112.00 Low Mill House. TEXEL: £179.00 Mason Gill, £178.00 Hall Croft Barn, £178.00 Mason Gill, £178.00 Whinfield Barn, £177.00 Arkild Farm, £177.00 Far Highfield. CONTINENTIAL: £170.00 Tranthwaite Hall, £155.00 Whinfield Farm, £155.00 Bouthwaite Farm, £154.00 Bowers Farm, £152.00 Bowers Farm, £151.00 Marshside. BELTEX: £169.00 Little Close, £163.00 Botton Hall Farm, £159.00Hall Croft Barn, £158.00 Botton Hall Farm, £151.00 Greaves Farm, £140.00 Nether Hall Farm. SUFFOLK: £167.00 Lane Ends Farm, £165.00 Calderside Farm, £165.00 Netherhouses Farm, £163.00 Netherhouses Farm, £159.00 Lane Ends Farm, £158.00 Netherhouses Farm. CHEVIOT: £162.00 Howriggs Farm, £149.00 Swallowmire, £148.00 Howriggs, £137.00 Marshside, £132.00 Bowers Farm, £129.00 Swallowmire. LLEYN: £154.00 Low Foulshaw, £150.00 Low Foulshaw, £149.00 Low Foulshaw, £146.00 Low Foulshaw, £145.00 Low Foulshaw, £144.00 Low Foulshaw. MULE: £153.00 Holme House, £148.00 Nethrhouses Farm, £141.00 Greaves Farm, £140.00 Red Scar FARM, £140.00 Netherhouses Farm, £139.00 Strickland Hill. HALFBRED: £144.00 Holme House Farm. ROUGHFELL: £130.00 High Woodend, £118.00 High Borrowbridge, £113.00 High Woodend, £112.00 Boundary Beck. SWALEDALE: £125.00 Netherhouses Farm, £119.00 Tills Hole, £108.00 Yates Farm, £104.00 Dale End, £92.00 High Woodend, £89.00 Troughton Hall. HERDWICK: £124.00 Main Street, £120.00 Dale End, £90.00 Cockley Beck Farm. HAMPSHIRE: £121.00 Acorn Cattery, £112.00 Acorn Cattery. TEESWATER: £120.00 Nether Hall Farm. DORSET: £109.00 Nibthwaite Grange Farm.
Cast Ewes
A very mixed show of ewes sold to a strong ring of buyers. Heavy well fleshed ewes were in short supply.
Suffolk - £194 from A & RA Middleton, Leck
Texel - £192 from ST Birkett, Carnforth BFL - £182 from R Lawrence, Grange over Sands Hampshire - £173 from JR Robinson, Lupton
Cheviot Mule - £172 from GR Harper, Sedbergh NE Mule - £165 from R Gibson, Kendal
Dalesbred - £130 from Calderside Farm
Swaledale - £110 from Messrs Harrison, Shap Rough Fell - £110 from MW & M Hodgson, Cartmel Fell
Cast Ewes Top Prices: SUFFOLK £194, £158, £154 Leck Fell House, £140 The Borrans, £136 Leck Fell House, £98 Stain Forth. TEXEL: £192 (x2) Hall Croft Barn, £172 Lambrigg Head Farm, £172 Hebblethwaite, £160 Mosergh Farm, £146 Hebblethwaite. LEICESTER: £182 Greaves Farm, £90 Red Scar Farm. CHEVIOT MULE: £172 Stain Forth, £158 Hebblethwaite, £158, £140 Low Mill House, £127 Hebblethwaite. MULE: £165 Singleton Park, £160 Nook Farm, £158 Hall Croft Barn, £156, £150 Lambrigg Head Farm, £143 Swallowmire. BLUE TEXEL: £158 Leck Fell House. MASHAM: £134 Mosergh Farm. CONTINENTAL: £128 Gilpin Farm, £124, £100 Greaves Farm, £100 Croft Foot Farm, £84 Broadhead, £80 Gilpin Farm. DALESBRED: £126 Calderside Farm, £93 Holme House Farm. CHEVIOT: £114 Swallowmire, £94 Nook Farm, £84 Outrake Foot, £76 Slack Farm. ROUGH FELL: £110 Swallowmire. SWALEDALE: £106 Dale End, £102 Nether House Farm, £101 Holme House Farm, £99 Calderside Farm, £98 Dale End, £96 Hareden Farm. GRITSTONE: £100 Hebblethwaite. HERDWICK: £86 Gilpin Farm, £78 Low Mill House, £74 Gilpin Farm, £66 Low Mill House. HORNED: £72 Gate Beck Cottages. Cast Ram Top Prices: HAMPSHIRE: £173 Hollins Farm, £120, £108 Croft Foot Farm. TEXEL: £160 Low Newton Farm. BELTEX: £156 Hebblethwaite, £124, £80 Tranthwaite Hall. LEICESTER: £152 Tills Hole, £118 Leck Fell House, £86 Low Garths Farm. CHAROLLAIS: £132 Croft Foot Farm, £100 Gilpin Farm. DALESBRED: £130 Calderside Farm. SUFFOLK: £126 Hebblethwaite. SWALDALE: £110 Tailbert. HERDWICK: £86 Cockley Beck Farm.
Lancaster Auction Mart: Sale of Prime Lambs & Cast Sheep, Monday 30th December 2024.
Lancaster leads the way locally, with all lambs selling to a market average of 340p/kg. Vendors travelled from four counties, with new and additional buyers in attendance at the popular Monday morning sale.
Prime Lambs
A prompt sale start of 10am was greeted with buyers approval, which were all in attendance to fill orders. Vendors must be complimented on the lambs presented and thanked for their efforts to support this sale, all left well suited with prices achieved. The sale topped at £180 and 409p/kg not for a single, but a ring full of Beltex lambs from J Twigge, Lindale. Other well finished pens of Texel and Beltex cross lambs sold to £179 and £178 from GM&A Jackson, Little Eccleston and AG Butler, Hambleton at £176 and £175. Endless pens were £165 to £170. Standard weights sold to £165 from T&E Burrow, Slyne, with others at £161 from KA Purtill, Wigan and £160 from M&S Purtill, Wigan. The best lighter weight lambs sold to £155 and 400p/kg for Beltex from CD&HL Mason, Caton with others at £138 from A Clark & Johnson, Windermere. Well bred and fed lambs were keenly competed for and regularly 365p/kg to 380p/kg. The best first cross lambs were 340p/kg to 360p/kg, with all weights keenly competed for. Hill bred lambs sold to £154 for Cheviots from GM&J Jackson, Little Eccleston and 352p/kg again for Cheviots from P Prickett, Hutton Roof with others nicely £140 to £148 and 342p/kg to 348p/kg. Mashams sold to £153 for a ring full from T&D Wright, Wray. Mules coming forward in greater numbers, with a ring full of Cheviot Mules to £148 from P Whitton & Son, Burneside. North Country Mules sold to £144 from R Lawrence, Grange Over Sands. Other Mules at 45kg to 48kg, were generally £136 to £145, depending on finish. Mules sold to a top of 322p/kg, with others generally 305p/kg to 315p/kg.
Prime Lamb Top Prices: BELTEX: £180 Holmelands, £169, £168 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £166 Throstle Grove Farm, £160 Holmelands, £155 Mearsbeck Farm. TEXEL: £179, £178 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £176 Park Farm Barn, £175 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £175 Park Farm Barn, £174 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage. CHAROLLAIS: £163 North Farm, £162 (x2), £160 Broseley Hall Farm. SUFFOLK: £160 Dillicar, £156 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £155 Dillicar, £148 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £148 Higher Fair Snape Farm, £147 Pilling Hall Farm. CONTINENTAL: £160 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £157 North Farm, £143 Birch House Cottage. ZWARTBLE: £160 Holmelands. CHEVIOT: £154 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £152 Holmelands, £148, £147 Hutton Roof Hall. MASHAM: £153 Allcocks Farm. CHEVIOT MULE: £148 High Tenement Farm. MULE: £144 Greaves Farm, £142 High Tenement Farm, £141 Thornbush Farm, £138 Bank Farm, £138 Dillicar, £138 High Tenement Farm. LEICESTER: £123 Old Parkside Farm.
Cast Ewes
All classes of cull sheep continue to sell to a fast pace and high rates, with an overall average today of £131.80. Strongest first cross ewes sold to £192 from R&B Parker, Killington with others to £182 from PD Anderston, Scorton. The best mediums sold to £168 from DR Preston, Caton. Other continental ewes were regularly £145 to £160. North Country Mules sold to £152 for a ring full from J Burr, Quermore who sold other at £151 and £148, with other selling £151 from Pilling Hall, Pilling. Mediums Mules were regularly £130 to £145, with several lighter weights £118 to £125. Pure hill ewes sold to £136 for Cheviot from DR Preston, Caton who sold others at £134 with Swaledale to £118 from A&L Huddleston, Wray with other at £115 from W&A Cornall, Barnacre. Other medium horned ewes were £85 to £102.
North West Auctions would like to thank all their customers for their continued support on a Monday morning, with the next sale of prime hoggs and cull sheep being on Monday 6th January, for any sale enquires please contact Matthew Probert and Andrew Butler.
Cast Ewes Top Prices: TEXEL: £192 High Hallbeck, £182 Wyre Farm, £168 Hutton Roof Hall, £168 Pilling Hall Farm, £164 Wyre Farm, £162 Higher Fair Snape Farm. CONTINENTAL: £168 Ellers Farm, £152 Little Fell, £136, £100 Ellers Farm. MULE: £152 Little Fell, £151 Pilling Hall Farm, £151, £148 Little Fell, £147 Ellers Farm, £146 Holmelands. CHEVIOT: £136, £134 Ellers Farm. SWALEDALE: £119 Overhouses, £115, £110 Bank Farm, £104, £92 The Hawthornes, £81 Overhouses. RYELAND: £100 Wyre Farm.
Cast Ram Top Prices: TEXEL: £164 Little Fell.
J36 Rural Auction Centre: Fortnightly Sale of Store Hoggs, Thursday 2nd January 2024.
Store Hoggs
A sharp start to the store hoggs season, saw an abundance of local and travelled buyers in attendance, keen to secure all classes and types of hoggs. 1623 forward today sold to an overall average of £107.22. The sale peaked at £161 for a quartet of Beltex cross from JA Chapman, Kendal with other Beltex cross selling to £160 from C Parsons, Old Hutton. Well bred longer keep lambs sold to £145 for Beltex cross from JA&KJ Allen, Ings with others at £140 from R Allen, Ings and a ring full of Texels also £140 from DR&C Galbraith, Grayrigg. Other well drawn pens of level medium keep Continental lambs were regularly £130 to £140, with the next draw down £112 to £125 and several pens of smaller lambs £88 to £100. Suffolks sold to £129 from S Robinson, Penrith and JW Robinson & Son, Farleton. Other medium keep Suffolks were £116 to £124. Mules sold to a top of £123 from JM&NJ Strickland, Whinfell with others at £122 from JT Park, Broughton in Furness and £120 for a ring full of Scotch Mule from G&ID Postlethwaite, Howgill. Medium Mules were £105 to £115, with smaller longer keeps £90 to £99. Other pure hill breeds saw a pen full of Herdwicks to £118 from Messrs Robinson, Old Hutton, Swaledales to £116 from CI Briggs, Ambleside. SBF sold to £113 from G&ID Postlethwaite, Howgill with other horned lambs to
£111 from JT Park, Broughton in Furness and £110 from GT Hodgson, Witherslack. Several feeding ewes forward today sold to £122 for Mules and £110 for Rough Fells. A pygmy billy goat sold at £94.
Store Hogg Top Prices: BELTEX: £161 North Lodge, £145 St Annes Farm, £140 Corner Cottage, £137 St Annes Farm, £134 Yealand Manor, £124 Thrang Crag. TEXEL: £160 Town House, £140 Sunny Bank, £139 Thrang Crag, £139 School Hill, £139 Killington Drive, £137 High Underbrow Farm. SUFFOLK: £139 Bowkerstead Farm, £129 Thrang Crag, £129 Green Close, £124 Thrang Crag, £124 Ackenthwaite Farm, £122 Middle Birkby Farm. DUTCH SPOTTED: £126 Black Syke. MULE: £123 The Borrans, £120 Riddings, £120 The Borrans, £120 Low Newton Farm, £119 Riddings, £118 The Borrans. HERDWICK: £118 Strickley, £87 High Biggarsbank, £80 Oxen Park Farm, £72 Bowkerstead Farm. SWALEDALE: £116 High Wray Farm, £83 Higher Watson House, £80 Meadow View, £74 Aisgill Farm. BADGER FACE: £116 School Hill. CONTINENTAL: £115 Bowkerstead Farm, £112 Oxen Park Farm, £111 Riddings, £110 Black Syke, £107 High Underbrow Farm, £96 Aisgill Farm. CHAROLLAIS: £115 High Underbrow Farm. SCOTCH BLACKFACE: £113 Riddings. HORNED: £111 Oxen Park Farm, £110 High Low Wood. DORSET: £100 High Biggarsbank. GOAT: £94 Black Syke. KERRY HILL: £84 Fell House.
Store Sheep Top Prices: MULE: £122 Oxen Park Farm. ROUGH FELL: £110 Oxen Park Farm
Lancaster Auction Mart: Sale of Calves, OTM Cattle & Store Cattle. Friday 3rd January 2024.
BOOM – Who needs fireworks at new year, when you can have them at Lancaster’s opening sale, with all three rings seeing a rocketing trade.
Leading Store Cattle Consignment averages (for four or more cattle):
- J Lamb £2140
- DE&SM Moorhouse £2105
- KG&LM Park £2010
- WJ&LA Barker £1855
- MJ Waller £1805
Calves & Weanlings
80 calves forward for Lancaster’s first sale of 2025, with vendors leaving feeling prosperous for the year ahead. The sale peaked at £750, not once but four times for eleven to twelve month old Hereford bulls from TE&MM Kidd, Ellel. Other bulls sold to £700 for a ten week old Charolais bull from J&G Thornley, Kirkham, with an additional two from this home at £660. Also reaching £660 was a British Blue bull from SH&M Batty, Quernmore. RE&P Miller, Garstang reaching £630 for a British Blue and topped the native sired bulls with an Angus at £550. Heifers topped at £615 and £600 for weaned Aberdeen Angus cross from A Shepherd, Preesall with rearing heifers to £570 for Charolais cross from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale. TE&MM Kidd, Ellel continued their good run of Hereford cross, with heifers to £560 and £550 (x3). Younger heifers sold to £350 for British Blue cross from Pickervance Farms, Kirkham with only the very smallest less than £300.
Heifer Calves Top Prices: CHAROLAIS: £570 Catshaw Hall Farm. BRITISH BLUE: £530, £470 Tills Farm, £380 Walkers I’th Fields, £355, £350, £345 Roseacre Hall. ANGUS: £360 Tills Farm, £150 Roseacre Hall. LIMOUSIN: £250 Catshaw Hall Farm. HEREFORD: £230 Forton Hall Farm.
Bull Calves Top Prices: CHAROLAIS: £700, £660 Derby Lodge Farm. BRITISH BLUE: £660 Friars Moss, £660 Derby Lodge Farm, £630 Lower Lingart Farm, £580 Walkers I’th Fields, £570 Walkers I’th Fields, £560 Tills Farm. ANGUS: £550 Lower Lingart Farm, £540 Derby Lodge Farm, £400 Walkers I’th Fields. HEREFORD: £350 Catshaw Hall Farm, £340 Lower Lingart Farm, £300 Forton Hall Farm. LIMOUSIN: £320, £315, £305, £275 Forton Hall Farm. FREISIAN: £160 Catshaw Hall Farm.
Bull Stirk Top Prices: HEREFORD: £750 Booth Hall, £690 Booth Hall.
Heifer Stirk Top Prices: ANGUS: £615 Muffys Platt Farm, £600 Muffys Platt Farm, £560 Muffys Platt Farm. LONGHORN: £590 Muffys Platt Farm, £520 Muffys Platt Farm. HEREFORD: £560 Booth Hall, £550 Booth Hall.
Store Cattle
Well what can I say, it needed seeing to be believed, with many vendors who came to watch the first sale of 2025 wishing they’d brough a trailer load with them.
David Moorhouse, Natland saw his usual run of quality cattle topping at £2260 for a 24 month Limousin steer, who also sold another 22 month Limousin at £2200. Not far behind was regular Lancaster supporters J Lamb, Old Glasson with a pen of four 26 month old British Blues at £2140. A pair of Aberdeen Angus steers from MJ Shepherd, Carnforth saw a final bid of £2060. KG&LM Park saw his pair of British Blues to £2040. WJ&LA Barker, Arkholme sold a run of twenty cattle, topping at £1980 for a pen of Charolais steers. Dairy bred steers sold to £1640 from MJ Waller, Carnforth for Friesian and MJ Shepherd, New Biggin.
Store heifers saw no let up in trade, with David Moorhouse, Natland taking top spot again for a single British Blue at £1860. WJ&LA Barker, Arkholme continued their good days trading with a trio of 20 month old Charolais heifers at £1840. Aberdeen Angus heifers from L Parson & Sons, Levens saw his trio to £1840, with others at £1800 from MJ Waller, Carnforth. A pen of six from WJ&LA Barker, Arholme sold to £1780.
Away from the headlines prices saw young steers very much in demand, with new faced round the ring looking for cattle. 16 month old Aberdeen Angus steers sold to £1660 from TH Wensley & Son, Kirkham with 16 month old British Blue steers at £1560 and heifers at £1460.
Store Cattle Statistics: Steers averaged £1709 Heifers averaged £1633
Store Bullocks Top Prices: Limousin: £2260 High House, £2200 High House, £1460 Buck Bank, £1380 Corney Hill Farm. British Blue: £2140 Old Glasson, £2100 High House, £2040 Low Fell End, £1800 Barker Knott, £1680 Windy Hill, £1560 Plumpton Hall. Angus: £2060 Gaskell House, £2020 Brown Edge, £1980 Brown Edge, £1980 Low Fell End, £1920 Low Levens, £1880 Brown Edge. Charolais: £1980 Brown Edge, £1960 Carlingwha, £1720 Brown Edge. Flekvieh: £1920 Carlingwha. Friesian: £1640 Gaskell House, £1640 Carlingwha, £1600 Plumpton Hall, £1480 Gaskell House. Hereford: £1480 Corney Hill, £1460 Edenmount Well Lane. Norweigian: £780 Sunderland Brows.
Store Heifer Top Prices: British Blue: £1860 High House, £1780 Carlingwha, £1480 Parrox Hall, £1480 Lee End, £1460 Plumpton Hall, £1420 Buck Bank. Angus: £1840 Low Levens, £1800 Carlingwha, £1780 Brown Edge, £1760 High Snab, £1680 Lee End, £1560 Low Levens. Charolais: £1840 Brown Edge, £1560 Low Levens. Limousin: £1740 Pilling Hall. Shorthorn: £1000 Lundholme.
Store Bull Top Prices: Friesian: £1000 Plumpton Hall.
OTM Cattle
OTM cattle saw a pleasing average of 204p/kg, with numbers short of buyers requirements. Hitting the headlines today was O Butler, Esprick with Aberdeen Angus steers at 309p/kg or £1983.90, who also had OTM heifers at £1736.70 and 309.5p/kg. Other OTM heifers from A&FM Bolland & Sons, Ellel achieved £1826.75 and 289.5p/kg for Montbéliard’s, who also sold Friesians at £1784 or 274.5p/kg.
OTM cows saw Limousins at £1891 or 274.5p/kg from RHM&S Boyren, Colton who also had other Limousins at £1618 or 289.5p/kg. Friesian cows saw a top of £1761 or 200p/kg from Lawsons Farm, Cockerham with other Friesian cows at 249.5p/kg from J&G Thornley, Kirkham.
More cattle are required next week to fulfil buyers orders.
OTM Cow Top Prices: LIMOUSIN: 289.50, 274.50 Hill Park, 249.50 Pilling Hall Farm. STABILISER: 264.50 Old Parkside Farm. FRIESIAN: 249.50 Derby Lodge Farm, 199.50 Ackenthwaite Farm, 199.50 Sweetings Farm, 194.50 Cote Farm, 191.50 Westfield House Farm, 184.50 Hole of Ellel. BRITISH BLUE: 244.50, 239.50, 224.50 Wilson Wood, 204.50 Yealand Manor. ANGUS: 229.50, 224.50 Yealand Manor, 224.50 Black Bull Cottage, 214.50 Old Parkside Farm. FLECKVIEH: 197.50 Hawkin Hall. NORWEIGEAN RED: 144.50 Greenalls Farm.
OTM Heifer Top Prices: ANGUS: 309.50 (x2), 304.50 Elm Bank Farm. MONTBELIARDE: 289.50 Yeat House. NORWEIGEAN RED: 277.50 Greenalls Farm. FREISIAN: 274.50 Yeat House, 254.50 Greenalls Farm, 184.50 Higher Broadwood Farm.
Cast Steer Top Prices: ANGUS: 309.50 Elm Bank Farm, 209.50 Black Bull Cottage. SIMMENTAL: 269.50 Black Bull Cottage.
Next Week's Upcoming Sales
Monday 6th
Lancaster: 10am Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Cast Sheep
J36: 9am-4pm Machinery Drop Off
Tuesday 7th
J36: 9am-4pm Machinery Drop Off
1pm Weekly Sale of Prime Lambs & Cast Sheep
Thursday 9th
J36: New Year Show & Sale of Store Cattle
10am Fortnightly Sale of Rearing & Weaned Calves
10:30am Fortnightly Sale of OTM/Cast Cattle
11am Fortnightly Sale of Stirks & Store Cattle
Friday 10th
Lancaster: 10:15am Weekly Sale of Rearing & Weaned Calves
10:30am Weekly Sale of OTM/Cast Cattle
11:15am Weekly Sale of Store Cattle
J36: Online Machinery Sale commences
9am-4pm Machinery Viewing
Saturday 11th
J36: 9am-12noon Machinery Viewing
