Farming markets
By Neale McQuistin
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd had a large show of prime lambs at Newton Stewart yesterday.
However, in line with the national trend, they came to less money on the week to average 278p/kg (-7p). Once again, the heaviest types (45kg plus) were easiest to sell with lighter lambs, in particular the leaner ones, in very low demand. Top price per head was £156 for Texels from I & K Fisher, Spittal, while top per kilo was Beltex from R Templeton & Co, Carslae, which made 306p/kg. Cast sheep were easily sold and peaked at £175 for a Roussin tup with Beltex leading the ewes at £157 for Beltex. J Drennan, Balgracie led the Mules at £125 with Blackfaces topping out at £102.
At C&D Auction Marts’ weekly primestock sale in Dumfries yesterday, prime cattle sold to a top of 295p/kg from John Jardine, Yett, to R. Johnston Butchers, Annan, and 250p/kg from W. Wallace, Fingland, to W. Lindsay Butchers. Beef type OTM cattle sold to £1722 and 205p/kg for Limousins, while dairy types peaked at £1608 and 222p for Fleckvieh. There were also 828 prime and cast sheep through Dumfries yesterday. Prime lamb numbers increased on the week to 723 but with more lambs coming forward the trade eased off to average 269p overall. There were 11 lambs (32.1kg to 39kg) sold to £108 for Texels to average 318p.
The 482 lambs weighing between 39kg and 45.5kg peaked at 295p/kg and £132 for Texels to average 273p. There were 185 lambs weighing between 45.6kg and 52kg that sold to 283p and £140 for Suffolks to average 270p. The 46 lambs that were 52kg+ peaked at 247p and £131 for Texels to average 235p. There were also 105 cast ewes and hoggs that easily maintained recent rates for a smaller show. Heavy ewes (85) sold to £144 for Cheviot Mules to average £124, while 19 light ewes peaked at £102 to average £79.
Caledonian Marts Ltd sold 940 prime lambs and cast sheep at Stirling on Tuesday. The heat resulted in lambs being harder to cash, although they were still 30p/kg ahead of the same week last year.
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