Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle and store stock and their fortnightly sale of fodder on Monday 22nd December 2025. Forward were 78 cattle, 267 sheep and 236 lots of fodder.
33 Cast Cows/OTM sold to 372ppk and £2797
3 Young Bulls sold to £1150
21 Store Steers sold to £2210
21 Store Heifers sold to £1800
184 Store Lambs sold to £146
83 Feeding Ewes/Rams sold to £212
236 lots of Fodder sold to £120
Cast Cattle – The cows ended 2025 in the same fast form we have become accustomed to during the year with all classes from finished to feeders in strong demand once again. Top of the day was a stunning 4-year-old Limousin from WI Suddes & Son, South Farm when she sold for a pleasing 372ppk and £2797. Five further cows sold over £2500 on the day. Leading the native breeds per kilo was a tidy Aberdeen Angus cow from JD & G Hugill at 286ppk whilst the best in the lump proved to be a Beef Shorthorn from ME & TD Tailford which sold for £1988. Friesian trade was topped by a lovely heifer from regular supporters G Thompson & Sons, Softley Farm when she sold for an excellent 312ppk and £2037. The next sale of cast cows will be held on Monday 5th January 2026, thank you to everyone for their continued support and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Cast Cows – Top prices ppk 372 350 322 WI Suddes & Son. 334 306 JC Johnson. 320 PM Hill. 312 224 200 G Thompson & Sons. 294 W Wearmouth & Son. 286 JD&G Hugill. 286 230 218 J&O Harrison & Sons. 280 242 238 ME&TD Tailford. 272 W&C Iceton. 241 R Nattrass & Sons. 232 224 B&J Donald. 232 214 J Bennison. 208 J&G Clark. 206 HM Dent.
Lead Grossing Cast Cows £2797 £2791 £2530 WI Suddes & Son. £2671 £2655 JC Johnson. £2585 PM Hill. £2037 G Thompson & Sons. £1988 £1744 £1602 ME&TD Tailford. £1966 W Wearmouth & Son. £1961 J&G Clark. £1961 W&C Iceton. £1821 R Nattrass & Sons. £1707 J&O Harrison & Sons. £1635 JD&G Hugill. £1509 HM Dent. £1480 B&J Donald.
Store Cattle – The marvellous store cattle trade has held firm right through the calendar year and the final offering were absolutely no different as all breeds and sizes remained keenly bid for. Leading the way were a strong run of first dairy crossed steers from K Buckle, Brooklyn Farm producing Hereford’s to a top of £2210 and Aberdeen Angus to £2160. Top of the heifers was a tidy Stabiliser from C Harle & Sons, Brandon Hall at £1800 whilst a scattering of young bulls topped at £1150 for an Inra 95 from JK Gregory, Porch House. Sales of store cattle resume on Monday 5th January 2026. Wishing all vendors and buyers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Store Bulls- £1150 £1080 JK Gregory.
Store Steers- £2210 x3 £2160 x3 K Buckle. £1980 £1830 GL&M Steel. £1900 x2 OS Laws. £1420 DJ Harrison. £1390 £1320 E Peacock. £1350 x3 £1330 x2 JD&G Hugill. £1350 x2 £1330 G Williamson.
Store Heifers- £1800 £1630 £1500 £1420 £1320 1300 £1240 £1200 C Harle & Sons. £1760 £1740 £1490 £1480 £1470 £1390 I Newton & Son. £1460 £1340 £1200 JD&G Hugill. £1460 £1120 DJ Harrison. £1350 E Peacock. £1330 G Williamson.
Store Sheep – Not so many forwards found themselves a flyer, trade without doubt every bit as good as we have seen at any point during 2025. Topping twice at £146 were Texel lambs from LW Richardson, Moorburn House; the small running lambs look simply terrific with £110-£120 easily achievable for some very long-term projects. Feeding ewes were also in serious festive spirit, Beltex ewes to £212 from GP Addison, Hayberries; the same good home sold four Zwartbles to £178 whilst Mule ewes topped at £157 for a pen of fifteen from L Daley, 8 Wear View. The next Monday sale of store lambs will be held on 5th January 2026; we will be holding sales of prime lambs and cast ewes under a green market licence on Sunday 28th December and Sunday 4th January. Thank you to everyone for their continued support and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Store Lambs-
Texel- £146 x2 LW Richardson. £120 £116 £113 GP Addison. £114 £108 £106 O Moss.
Beltex – £122 NG Beveridge.
Continental- £114 £78 C Longstaff. £110 £89 GP Addison. £96 £85 O Moss. £82 ABM Farms.
Mule- £109 £97 £68 R&RE Everitt.
Blue Faced Leicester- £106 John Robert Carter.
Cheviot- £85 John Robert Carter.
Feeding Ewes- £212 £190 £178 £142 £135 £70 GP Addison. £188 B Cowton. £160 £142 £112 GL&M Steel. £157 £92 £114 L Daley. £156 JS Simpson. £150 x2 CJM Hedley. £128 £102 NG Beveridge. £122 J Walton. £116 £80 £76 £73 £72 O Moss.
Fodder – A ferocious festive fodder auction was very well supported. Four 450kg bags of rolled oats sold at £120 each, mini-Heston seed hay bales topped at £72, round bale silage sold at £45 whilst straw traded at £34 for rounds and £53 for quadrants. More fodder can be sold at our fortnightly offerings, please contact Megan (07471 823606) to discuss marketing options. The next sale will be on Monday 5th January 2026. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
