Round-up

Prime lamb numbers at Ayr were down yesterday and trade was broadly similar to last week at an average of 301p/kg or £132/head and a peak of £172/head for a pen of Suffolks from Laigh Borland or 331p/kg for Texels from Farden. Cast sheep were also a similar trade to last week with ewes peaking at £221/head for pure Texels from from Fairlynne and Beltex tups from Laigh Borland led the mules at £187/head. The best of the Cheviots sold to £139 for Aitkenhead while Hawhill led the Blackies at £98.

Bullocks at St Boswells yesterday averaged 290p/kg and sold to 318p/kg, while heifers averaged 300p/kg and sold to 322p/kg, and cast cows averaged 203p/kg and sold to 270p/kg or £1955 gross. Lambs rose by 6p on the week to an average of 308p/kg or £135/head and peaked at £185 for Beltexes or 398p/kg for Texels. And cast sheep averaged £131/head and sold to £245 for a Charolais, while heavy Ewes averaged £155 and light ewes sold to £127 for Cheviots and averaged £109/head.

Calves at Dumfries yesterday sold to £370 for a heifer from Ballagan. Normane cross bulls sold to £175, with British Friesian bulls peaking at £155.

Prime beef-bred heifers at Lanark yesterday fell by 11p on the week to an average of 301p/kg and sold to 330p/kg for a Limousin, while bullocks rose by 24p on the week to an average of 272p/kg and sold to 336p/kg, again for a Limousin, and cast beef cows were largely unchanged at 189p/kg. However, cast dairy cows met with less demand, falling by 19p to an average of 152p/kg, and new season lambs averaged 307p/kg and sold to 351p/kg or £188/head. Cast ewes dropped by £5 a head to an average of £109/head and sold to £302 for a Texel, with Blackie ewes selling to £114/head.

Prime beef-bred bullocks at Carlisle yesterday rose12p on the week to an average of 293p/kg and sold to 325p/kg, while beef-bred bullocks dropped by 14p to an average of 280p/kg, and young bulls were largely unchanged at an average of 242p/kg. Prime lambs achieved a healthy average of 313p/kg and sold to an impressive 500p/kg, with hill and lowland ewes averaging £83/head and £140/head respectively.

Lawrie & Symington Ltd conducted the 89th Scottish Area Show & Sale of Suffolk Sheep on Friday on behalf of the Scottish Area Branch where 173 entries were forward for sale with an 86% clearance rate and with six prices crossing the five-figure barrier to a peak of 40,000gns for a tup lamb from the Solwaybank flock. The same vendor also achieved 25,000gns for his the tup lamb’s full brother, while Finn Christie of the Maidenstone flock won the female championship as well as first prize in the Novice, Reserve Male, Scottish Breed and Reserve championships.

Lambs sold for 10.000gns twice, firstly for Messrs Sharp, Tenbury Wells and secondly for Messrs Innes, Strathbogie.