FARMING

By Neale McQuistin

Harrison & Hetherington sold 56 clean cattle, 65 cast cows, 2,083 prime

lambs and 407 cast sheep at St Boswells yesterday.

Nineteen prime bullocks sold to 268p/kg and averaged 251p (+8p), while 31 prime heifers peaked at 273p to average 252p (+2p). Six young bulls sold up to 222p/kg and averaged 194p.

In the cast ring cows peaked at £1,806 and 207p to average 156p (-5p), while four cast bulls sold to £1,525 and 135p to average 126p.

Prime lambs sold to £128 and 267p/kg for Beltex to average £98 or 220p/kg (-7p).

Heavy cast sheep sold to a top of £189 for a Texel to average £108 (-£3), while light ewes peaked at £95 for North Country Cheviots to average £50 (-£1).

The firm also sold 15 prime heifers at Carlisle yesterday which peaked at 279p/kg to average 224p (-41p), while 21 beef-bred bullocks sold to 261p and levelled at 245p (+5p).

Forty-nine, beef-bred young bulls peaked at 267p and averaged 218p (n/c), while 48 dairy-bred young bulls sold to 215p and levelled at 177p (-4p).

In the rough ring 103 cast beef cows peaked at 238p to average 153p (+3p), while 254 cast dairy cows sold to 199p to average 110p (-11p). Seven cast bulls sold to 180p to average 132p (+6p).

There were also

1,799 prime lambs

that sold to £149 or 333p/kg to average 229p (n/c).

Lowland cast ewes (539) peaked at £158 for a Texel to average £66 (-£28), while 76 hill ewes sold to £104 for a Hill Cheviot to average £59 (+£17).

Messrs Craig Wilson sold 1,920 prime lambs and 1084 cast sheep at Ayr yesterday.

It was another mixed offering of lambs this week with well finished lambs still selling to a premium.

Trade was much

better than expected to average 216p (-10p) or £96.

Top price was £129 for a pair of Beltex with a pen of four Beltex not far behind at £128 and top price per kilo at 270p.

There was a larger show of ewes this week with a top price for Texels at £142.

Mules peaked at £99, while Blackfaces were less on the week at £76.

Caledonian Marts sold 243 store cattle at its fortnightly sale at Stirling yesterday.

Bullocks sold to £1,260 for a pen of Limousins from A McKenzie & Partners, Ardgate and up to 261p/kg for a pen of Lincoln Reds from M & H Donald, Rhynaclach to average 222p overall.

Heifers peaked at £1,140 for a single Limousin from

A & J Orr and at 253p/kg for a pen of Limousins from A & A Black to average 212p overall.

Black and Whites sold to 210p/kg and to £1,130.