Weekly Report and Newsletter - 28th February 2025
Lancaster Auction Mart: Sale of Prime Hoggs & Cast Sheep, Monday 24th February 2025.
Final February fling sees hoggs sell to £202 and 447p/kg and cull ewes to £240.
Prime Hoggs
The popular Monday morning sale of prime hoggs was once again well supported by loyal and new customers, which saw a market SQQ of 341p/kg for an entry ranging from 28kg to 64kg. Well-bred and well finished hoggs continue to sell to a premium, with the day’s sale peaking at £202 for a pair of Texels from AG Butler, Hambleton. Closely followed by JE Parkinson & Son, Quernmore selling Beltex cross at £194 and £192. Others achieved £188 from M&L Preece, Kirkby Lonsdale and £180 from KA Purtill, Wigan. Well finished level pens of hoggs were regularly £162 to £170. The best grass finished hoggs sold to £161 for Texel cross, with others regularly £152 to £158. Several pens of light weight hoggs were keenly competed for selling to £139 from A V A Thornton, Cockerham with others selling at £124 to £133. Just a handful of hill bred hoggs saw Mashams to £167 from T&D Wright, Wray with Cheviots £155 from A Collier, Chorley, Dalebreds £152 and Mules £150. JE Parkinson & Son, Quernmore led today’s sale with an outstanding pen of Beltex cross hoggs achieving 447p/kg, with another pen from this same good home at 441p/kg. Other vendors to break the 400p/kg barrier included AJ Lyons, Wigan, AG Butler, Hambleton, KA Purtill, Wigan and G Beresford & Son, Kirkby in Furness. Othe pens of well finished standard weight hoggs were regularly selling at 355p/kg to 380p/kg, with the next draw down 330p/kg to 350p/kg.
Prime Hoggs Top Prices: TEXEL: £202 Park Farm Barn, £194, £192 Castle Mill Farm, £188 Park Farm Barn, £188 High House Farm, £174 Park Farm Barn. BELTEX: £180 Oak Aveune, £178 Park Farm Barn, £177, £170, £168 Mill Farm, £167 Angerton Hall Farm. CHAROLAIS: £168 Park Farm Barn, £165 Oak Aveune. MASHAM: £167, £152 Allcocks Farm. CONTINENTAL: £157 Angerton Hall Farm, £149 (x2) Brabiner House Farm, £139, £138 Little Crimbles, £136 Moss Gate Farm. CHEVIOT: £155, £151 Manston Grove, £126 Little Crimbles. DALESBRED: £152 Allcocks Farm. MULE: £150, £136 High House Farm, £135 Hill Farm, £132 Brabiner House Farm, £124 High House Farm, £107 Moorcock Hall Farm. SUFFOLK: £148 Angerton Hall Farm, £140 Little Crimbles, £131 Wellington Crag Farm. CHEVIOT MULE: £140 North Farm.
Cast Ewes
91 cull sheep sold to an animated trade, with an overall market average of £142. Just a handful of the stronger end continental forward today, sold to £240 from AJ Lyons, Wigan. Others achieved £212 from Hill Farm, Lancaster and £206 CM&CA Jackson, Caton. Other stronger end first cross ewes were regularly £170 to £200 and mediums £140 to £165, with large framed lean ewes £115 to £130. Mules sold to a top of £172 from PM Sidebottom, Warton with other stronger Mules £160 to £170, mediums £135 to £150 and leaner end £102 to £115. Pure hill ewes sold to £164 for Cheviots, £148 Dalesbred and medium Swaledales to £94. Stronger end cull rams sold to £192 with other continentals generally £130 to £170, depending on quality and strength.
Cast Ewes Top Prices: TEXEL: £240 Mill Farm, £212 Hill Farm, £206 Forgelands Estate, £192 Hill Farm, £188 Kellamergh Farm, £178 Hill Farm. LEICESTER: £200, £160 Hill Farm. CHAROLAIS: £174, £142 Hill Farm. CONTINENTAL: £174 Kellamergh Farm. MULE: £172 Kellamergh Farm, £168 Mill Farm, £164 Hill Farm, £160 Castle Mill Farm, £158 Burrow Heights Farm, £152 Kellamergh Farm. CHEVIOT: £164 Hill Farm, £158 Burrow Heights Farm, £140 Oak Aveune, £114 Moorcock Hall Farm. SUFFOLK: £158 Hill Farm, £152 Moss Gate Farm. DALESBRED: £148, £125 Allcocks Farm. MASHAM: £124 Allcocks Farm. JACOB: £116 Hill Farm. SWALEDALE: £94 Castle Mill Farm.
Cast Ram Top Prices: TEESWATER: £192 Allcocks Farm. TEXEL: £132 Old Waterslack Farm. JACOB: £105 Hill Farm.
J36 Rural Auction Centre: Sale of Pigs, Prime Hoggs & Cast Sheep, Tuesday 25th February 2025. Pigs
As with all sales there was a wide range of pigs on offer at this sale. Well finished pigs attracted keenest attention with Pietrain x gilts selling to £205 with other white gilts £195, £185 & £180. Coloured pigs and boars heavily discounted. Top of 182p/kg this sale.
Weaners and stores sold to £60 for gilts with others generally £40-£50. Over 50% of todays sale turned up unentered, it is in the interest of the vendors to pre-enter pigs for each sale by 12noon on the Monday prior to the sale.
Prime Hoggs- Prime hoggs met with a furious trade J36 held its weekly sale of prime sheep which resulted in buyers paying an arm and a leg for all types, with especially the handy weight hoggs seeing unparallel demand. AG Butler, Hambleton topped the day on his royal return at £210. While the top pence per kilo on the day went to Messrs Rogerson, Appleby who sold a pen of eight Beltex to 430p/kg. Three Texels were just short behind that at 429.5p/kg from RJ Byron, Preston. A typical show of sheep here at Kendal including many hill, horned and out of specification hoggs, a very desirable overall average of 349p/kg was achieved. Cheviots sold to 395p/kg from GM&A Jackson, Great Eccleston and Dorsets to 375p/kg from M&RW Stirzaker, Milnthorpe. Runs and runs of Texels, Beltex and continentals sold over the 400p/kg mark, resulting in a very good day all round. Do not hesitate to ring us up and enquire about next week’s sale. Contact Joel McGarva on 07920009097.
Prime Hoggs Top Prices: Texel: £210 £200 Park Farm Barn, £200 Helm Croft, £196 £195 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage, £194 £190 Park Farm Barn. Charolais: £196 £168 Tongue House Farm, £165 Halton Park Farm, £164 £162 Arklid Farm, £159 Preston Patrick Hall. Beltex: £193 £189 Mason Gill, £186 £82 £177 £164 Helks Farm, £161 Lane Ends Farm. Suffolk: £190 Halton Park Farm, £184 Helm Croft, £180 Station Hotel Farm, £175 £170 Helm Croft, £170 £167 Netherhouses Farm. Mule: £178 Nether House Farm, £170 £160 Netherhouses Farm, £156 Halton Park Farm, £155 Arklid Farm, £152 Halton Park Farm. Continental: £176 £168 £151 £150 Little Eccleston Hall, £140 The Crescent. Cheviot: £170 £161 Little Eccleston Hall, £155 Berryholme, £154 £149 Helks Farm, £147 Outrake Foot, £145 Little Eccleston Hall Cottage. Dutch Spotted: £170 Little Eccleston Hall, £140 Lane Ends Farm. Scottish: £157 Little Eccleston Hall. Rough: £148 High Swinklebank Farm, £142 High Borrowbridge, £140 £133 High Swinklebank Farm, £128 Millriggs, £122 High Borrowbridge. Swale: £146 £142 Netherhouses Farm, £142 Arklid Farm, £140 Nether House Farm, £134 Tills Hole, £131 Hazel Head Farm. Dorset: £135 Station Hotel Farm. Horned: £134 £113 £111 High Salter. Herdwick: £129 £120 Hazel Head Farm, £110 Green Cottages. Dalesbred: £128 Brown Brook.
Cast Ewes
The call for ewes was answered with another large entry forward, selling to an animated trade with an extremely impressive averaged of £123.31, for an entry comprising of half hill ewes. The strongest continental ewes sold to £265 on two occasions for Texel cross from LM Dickinson, Haverthwaite and Charollais cross from J Twigge, Lindale. Endless pens of the strongest ewes were £200 to £240, with the best first cross £180 to £210 and mediums £155 to £180. Mules sold to £194 from JET & AAE Hull, Winmarleigh. Other heavy Mules were £180 to £190, meated medium £150 to £170 and the smaller sorts £125 to £145. Pure hill ewes sold to £140 for Rough Fells, £130 for Cheviots, £118 for SBF, £108 for Swaledales and £100 for Herdwicks. Medium hill ewes were regularly £80 to £100, with smaller lighter weights £55 to £70.
An abundance of cull rams saw BFL sell to £245 and £235 from Bank House Farms, Leck. The strongest continentals achieved £232 for Texel, with other regularly £190 to £220 and mediums £150 to £180, with pure hill rams to £210 for Cheviots.
Cast Ewes Top Prices: CHAROLLAIS: £265.00 Holmelands, £240.00 Tongue House Farm, £240.00 Lane Ends Farm, £205.00 Holmelands, £180.00 Lane Ends Farm. TEXEL: £265.00 Lane ends Farm, £220.00 Holmelands, £215.00 Ackenthwaite Farm, £215.00 Holmelands, £210.00 Holme Park Farm, £210.00 Slack Farm. LEICESTER: £240.00 Bank House Farms, £188.00 Tongue House Farm. HAMPSHIRE: £240.00 Bradleyfield House, £145.00 Curlew Rock. SUFFOLK: £238.00 Netherhouses Farm, £212.00 Ackenthwaite Farm, £210.00 Ackenrthwaite Farm, £208.00 Hare Tarn Farm, £180.00 Holmelands, £175.00 Ackenthwaite Farm. CONTINENTIAL: £210.00 Preston Patrick Hall, £165.00 Preston Patrick Hall, £148.00 Curlew Rock, £148.00 Hare Tarn Farm, £118.00 West Plain Farm, £112.00 Slack Farm. DORSET: £200.00 Hallbeck Farm. BELTEX: £195.00 Hare Tarn Farm. MULE: £194.00 Gibstick Hall Farm, £192.00 Station Hotel Farm, £188.00 Halton Park Farm, £180.00 Riddings, £175.00 Ackenthwaite Farm, £165.00 Ghyll Farm. DUTCHSPOTTED: £180.00 Green Cottages. CHAROLLAISXMULE:£145.00 Ghyll Fram, £122.00 Hare Tarn Farm. ROUGH FELL: £140.00 Riddings, £112.00 Ghyll Farm. CHEVIOT: £130.00 Moser Hill, £128.00 Sella Farm, £116.00 Nibthwaite Grange, £100.00 Kilnstones, £98.00 Lackslot, £96.00 The Park. RYELAND: £120.00 Abbots Reading Farm. SCOTCHBLACKFACE: £118.00 Riddings. SWALEDALE: £108.00 High Borrowbridge, £108.00 Nether House Farm, £96.00 Bank House Farms, £90.00 Ghyll Farm, £90.00 Bank House Farms, £88.00 Nether House Farm. MASHAM: £105.00 Green Bank Farm. JACOB: £100.00 Raw End Farm. DALESBRED: £100.00 Millriggs Farm, £88.00 Millriggs Farm. HERDWICK: £100.00 Far Kiln Bank, £78.00 Sella Farm.
Cast Ram Top Prices: LEICESTER: £245.00 Bank House Farms, £235.00 Bank House Farms, £225.00 Bank House Farms, £140.00 Riddings, £90.00 Brown Edge. TEXEL: £232.00 Nook Farm, £205.00 Netherhouses Farm, £190.00 Wreay Syke, £185.00 Bradleyfield House, £162.00 Curlew Rock, £160.00 Wreay Syke. DUTCHSPOTTED: £230.00 Curlew Rock. CHEVIOT: £210.00 Low Cregg Hall. CHAROLLAIS: £180.00 Green Cottages. BELTEX: £128.00 Sella Farm.
J36 Rural Auction Centre: Fortnightly Sale of In Lamb Ewes & Store Hoggs, Thursday 27th February 2025.
Breeding Sheep
Breeding sheep trade continues to please vendors here at Junction 36. One to two crop ewes from IT Richardson, Catforth topped the day’s trading at £265, with Mule ewes carrying triplets from M Allen, Yealand reaching £255. Texel hoggs scanned for singles sold to £170 from F Jackson, Clifton with horned ewes looking well sold at £138 for four crop Swaledale’s in lamb to the Texel.
In Lamb Shearling Top Prices: MULE: £245.00 Yealand Manor
In Lamb Ewe Top Prices: CHEVIOT: £265.00 West View Farm, £240.00 Yealand Manor, £225.00 West View Farm, £205.00 West View Farm. MULE: £255.00 Yealand Manor. TEXEL: £182.00 Low Dubbs Farm, £170.00 Bainbridge Gate, £165.00 Yewbarrow.
SWALEDALE: £138.00 High Haulme, £135.00 High Haulme, £115.00 High Haulme.
Store Hoggs
Today marked the penultimate Thursday sale of store hoggs at Junction 36. A total of 650 store hoggs of varying types came to an average of £98.62. Trade topped today for a pen of Suffolks making £141 from Mr Jordan, Bishop Auckland closely followed by another pen of the same goods from M&S Leech, Grange Over Sands achieving £140.
Plenty of Suffolk and continental type hoggs were hitting the £120 plus mark, providing the quality and size was good enough.
There was a similar trade for Mule compared to the previous weeks, in relation to the quality of hoggs. Mules topped at £125 from G Guy, Penrith.
A large number of Swaledale, Herdwick and Rough Fell hoggs made up the largest proportion of today’s show, trade for these varied depending on quality.
Next fortnight will be the final sale on a Thursday for store hoggs, all entries welcome. Do not hesitate to contact the office or auctioneers for more information or with entries.
Store Hogg Top Prices: Suffolk: £141 West View Farm, £140 Somme Avenue, £136 High House Farm, £123 Peil Street, £122 Kate Farm, £122 High Fell Gate. Texel: £137 Hylton Holme, £137 Roundthwaite, £136 Mireside Farm, £134 High Fell Gate, £134 Mason Gill, £133 High House Farm, £132 Carlton House, £131 Bainbridge Gate. Continental: £132 Green Close, £130 Woodfold Lane, £120 Somme Avenue, £119 Lunesdale House, £116, £110 The Borrans. Mule: £125 Lunesdale House, £123 Thornbush Farm, £112 Hill Top Farm, £110 Stakes Moss Farm, £110 Dragon Croft, £110 Higher Watson House. Rough Fell: £83 St Annes Farm, £70 Dragon Croft, £66 Stakes Moss Farm. Swaledale: £76 Thrang Crag, £72 Saddlers Croft, £65 Lunesdale House.Herdwick: £68 Hill Top Farm.
Lancaster Auction Mart: Sale of Calves, OTM Cattle & Store Cattle. Friday 28th February 2025.
Calves & Weanlings
105 calves and weaned stirks forward today, selling to £1050 for three Aberdeen Angus steers from G&D Ball, Little Eccleston with Aberdeen Angus heifers to £930 from this home. Weaned bulls sold to £910 for British Blues from TD&A Gardner, Great Eccleston with others from this consignment to £900 and black and whites to £880. Four month old Aberdeen Angus heifers sold to £810 from Raby Farms, Preesall with others to £790 and £780.
Rearing calves sold to £770 for a seven week old Charolais bull from AD&R Milner, Brock with T&CM Kelsall, Chipping close behind at £760 again for a Charolais bull. Other bull calves sold to £700 for a British Blue born on the 22nd January 2025 from Barber Farms, Brock with another from this home born 3rd February 2025 reaching £640. Heifer calves sold to £590 for Charolais from T&CM Kelsall, Chipping with Aberdeen Angus closely behind at £540 from Wallbank Farms, Over Wyresdale. Other Aberdeen Angus sold to £500 on three occasions from Hannah Kent, Cockerham with Limousin to £460 from AD&RL Milner, Brock.
Heifer Calves Top Prices: ANGUS: £930 (x2) Woodstock, £810 Fern Hill Farm, £790 Cobble Hey Farm, £600 Fern Hill Farm, £540 Tills Farm. LIMOUSIN: £730 Fern Hill Farm, £460 Lane Head Farm, £360, £220 Hudsbrook Farm. CHAROLAIS: £700 Cobble Hey Farm, £590, £370 Brown Brook. BRITISH BLUE: £380, £370 Manor House Farm. HEREFORD: £330, £250 Bolton Fold Farm, £105 Coat Green Farm.
Bull Calves Top Prices: BRITISH BLUE: £910, £900 Larbreck Hill Farm, £700 Manor House Farm, £690 Catshaw Hall Farm, £640, £590 Manor House Farm. FRIESIAN: £880 Larbreck Hill Farm, £640 Lane Head Farm, £265 North Farm, £100 Lower Lingart Farm. HEREFORD: £850 Larbreck Hill Farm. ANGUS: £790, £780, £770 Fern Hill Farm, £490 Tills Farm, £490 Brown Brook, £380 Gibstick Hall. CHAROLAIS: £770 Lane Head Farm, £760 Brown Brook.
Store Cattle & Stirks
Over 50% of stores £2000 or more.
Lancaster weekly sale of store cattle was once again a fierce trade, with averages only other centres would dream of, for a predominantly dairy bred offerings.
Bullocks averaged £2103.10
Heifers averaged £1802.32
Overall average £1978.65
The sale topped at £2620 for a pair of Aberdeen Angus cross bullocks from Lancaster regular J Lamb, Glasson with Charolais to £2450 from H Chapman & Son, Middleton and £2420 from DJ Townley, Lancaster. Limousin sold to £2400 on three occasions, twice from H Chapman & Son and once from T&D Wright, Wray. British Blues reached £2380 for four from SH&LE Birkett, Nether Kellet with Black and Whites to £1900 from MJ Waller, Lupton. Heifers on fire, topping at £2200 for a pair of Charolais from WA Hodgson, Whinfell with Aberdeen Angus cross to £2150 from Jim Clark Ltd, Preston. British Blue heifers sold to £2050 from JW&DL Park, Ellel and Limousin to £2000 from CD&HL Mason, Caton.
The monthly addition of stirks were forward today, which saw seven to eight month old Simmental cross from WJ&EA Woodhouse, Nateby reach £1250 on three occasions. R&J Parkinson, Preesall sold Aberdeen Angus heifers to £1060, with Aberdeen Angus steers from JR Gorst, Dolphinholme reaching £1020.
Store Bullocks Top Prices: Angus: £2620 Old Glasson Farm, £2400 New Hall Farm, £2380 New Hall Farm, £2320 Allcocks Farm, £2280 New Hall Farm. Charolais: £2450 Millbeck, £2420 Whinney Carr Farm, £2350 Whinney Carr Farm, £2000 Staffords Farm. Limousin: £2400 Millbeck, £2400 Allcocks Farm, £2350 Carlingwha, £2180 Birch Croft, £2180 High Tenement Farm, £1600 Abbotson Farm. British Blue: £2380 Stubb Hall Farm, £2300 Castlehill, £2300 Millbeck, £2280 Low Fell End, £2220 Carlingwha, £2180 Windy Hill Farm. Simmental: £2300 Stubb Hall Farm, £2000 Station Hotel Farm, £1850 Station Hotel Farm, £1250 Gibsons Farm, £1220 Gibsons Farm. Hereford: £2180 Carlingwha, £900 Well House Farm. Flekvieh: £2150 Carlingwha, £930 Sunderland Brows Farm. Friesian: £1900 Carlingwha, £1850 Plumpton Hall Farm, £1780 Castlehill, £1600 Boundary House, £1400 Middle Ridge Farm. Montbelliarde: £1440 Moss House Farm. Norweigian: £930 Sunderland Brows Farm.
Store Heifer Top Prices: Charolais: £2200 Whelpside Farm, £2120 Whelpside Farm, £2100 Whinney Carr Farm. Angus: £2150 New Hall Farm, £2060 Lodge Farm, £2050 New Hall Farm, £1900 Staffords Farm, £1900 Wood Nook Farm, £1820 Hare Field House. British Blue: £2050 Hare Field House, £1980 Hare Field House, £1950 Windy Hill Farm, £1920 Old Hall Farm, £1900 Mearsbeck Farm, £1800 Wood Nook Farm. Limousin: £2000 Mearsbeck Farm, £1800 Pinewood, £1600 Abbotson Farm. Hereford: £1280 Park Farm Barn.
Store Bull Top Prices: Angus: £2450 Norbreck Farm, £2050 Norbreck Farm, £1150 Eskew Beck.
OTM Cattle
Cows once again saw a rise in trade, with an overall market average of 231p/kg. The best beef cows were regularly 260p/kg plus today, topping at 319.5p/kg for a seven year old Limousin from Z Ward, Carnforth. Medium feeding beef cows were 230p/kg to 250p/kg, with only a handful less. Top grossing today was £2268, with endless stronger beef cows £1700 to £1900.
Well fleshed dairy cows sold to 239.5p/kg for a Fleckvieh from B&AC Barnes, Killington, Montbeliarde MD Close & Son, Arkholme and black and white from France Bros, Littledale. Others were generally 215p/kg to 230p/kg. Parlour types were 185p/kg to 210p/kg, with only a handful less. Top grossing today was £1992, with the best cows £1600 to £1750 and mediums generally £1200 to £1400.
OTM beef heifers sold to 329p/kg and £2240 for a Hereford cross from D&E Whittaker, Quernmore, with dairy heifers to 294p/kg and £1946 from JT&B Fox, Quernmore.
OTM beef steers sold to 339.5p/kg and £2155 for a Limousin cross.
Several cull stock bulls forward today, selling to 239p/kg and £2550.
OTM Cow Top Prices: LIMOUSIN: 319.50, 289.50 Intack Farm, 269.50 (x2) Rose Farm, 269.50 Hill Park, 264.50 Gill Garth. CHAROLAIS: 299.50 Gill Garth, 239.50 Rose Farm. HEREFORD: 279.50 Shorrocks Farm, 219.50, 214.50, 199.50 (x2) Primrose Hill Farm. SIMMENTAL: 269.50 Littlewood Hall Farm. BRITISH BLUE: 249.50 Rose Farm. ANGUS: 249.50 Highthorn Farm. FLECKVIEH: 239.50, 229.50 Hawkin Hall. MONTBELIARDE: 239.50 Docker Hall Farm. FRIESIAN: 239.50 Crossghyll, 237.50 Walkers I’th Fields, 234.50 Higher Broadwood Farm, 234.50 Lower Langthwaite Farm, 229.50 Docker Hall Farm, 229.50 Kitchen Ground Farm. NORWEIGEAN RED: 219.50 Docker Hall Farm. OTHER: 189.50, 179.50 (x2) Cobble Hey.
OTM Heifer Top Prices: HEREFORD: 329.50 Little Fell Farm. FRIESIAN: 294.50 Blackwood End, 289.50 Berryholme, 284.50 Priory Farm, 274.50 Boundary House, 124.50 Sweetings Farm. ANGUS: 289.50 Kitchen Ground Farm, 249.50 Park Farm Barn.
Cast Steer Top Prices: LIMOUSIN: 339.50 Hutton Roof Hall. HIGHLAND: 299.50 Hutton Roof Hall. BRITISH BLUE: 289.50 Gulf Farm.
Cast Bull Top Prices: ANGUS: 239.50 Brades Farm. CHAROLAIS: 219.50 Gill Garth. HEREFORD: £2150 Lawsons Farm.
Next Week's Upcoming Sales
Monday 3rd
Lancaster: 10am Weekly Sale of Prime Hoggs & Cast Sheep
11:30am approx Sheep with Lambs at Foot
J36: 9am-4pm Machinery Drop Off
Tuesday 4th
J36: 9am-4pm Machinery Drop Off 1pm Weekly Sale of Prime Hoggs & Cast Sheep
Thursday 6th
J36: 10:15am Fortnightly Sale of Stirks
10:15am Fortnightly Sale of OTM/Cast Cattle
11am Fortnightly Sale of Feeding Bulls & Store Cattle
11:30am Fortnightly Sale of Rearing Calves
Friday 7th
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 8th
J36: 9am-12noon Machinery Viewing
