Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their Christmas Show and Sale of Prime Cattle in conjunction with their weekly sale of Prime Stock on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th November 2021. Forward were 221 Cattle, 2421 Sheep and 15 Pigs.
80 Prime Bulls sold to 320ppk or £2578
47 Prime Steers sold to 420ppk or £3108
92 Prime Heifers sold to 480ppk or £3000
1994 Prime Lambs sold to 370ppk or £166
427 Cast Ewes and Rams sold to £148
15 Prime Pigs sold to 85ppk or £68
With the new and improved arrangements the inaugural Wednesday evening show of clean cattle was combined with a Christmas Shopping Fayre and Charity (RABI) Carol Service, the show of bulls and also the sale of all cattle then took place on Thursday under the normal ‘red market’ rules.
A superb effort from all our supporters enabled us to raise over £1300 for RABI which will be added to their own impressive fund raising on the Wednesday. The event was a great success and attracted a gigantic crowd which not even the most optimistic of us here at DFAM could quite frankly have dreamed of, following the depressing Covid restricted start to life here at Humbleton Park the company and staff feel immensely blessed and humbled to have finally witnessed our mart at it’s best, uniting the community, showcasing the best livestock and most importantly providing the unique atmosphere and camaraderie that only a bustling mart can do.
Show Cattle
A very high quality 48 clean cattle were presented before our judge Mr Stephen Linsley of S K & A J Linsley Butchers, Shildon; we sincerely thank Stephen, brother Andrew and son Joe for making a thorough and professional job throughout. We thank every vendor who made considerable effort to partake in this event and put forward such a wonderful exhibition, the sponsors are as always invaluable to the success of these flagship shows, with the brilliant generosity of no less than fourteen supporting businesses we were delighted to offer a cattle prize fund close to £1500 with more superb funds up for grabs from the same generous sponsors at our sheep show on December 9th.
Thanks must go to Lloyd Ltd – Bishop Auckland, Fred Greenwood & Son, Vickers & Barrass, NFU Mutual – Durham District, Carrs Billington, Brockhills of Yorkshire, DHDT Driver Training, Chaplynns Country Store, Thornton Breakers, Peter Monkhouse Haulage, McGarry & Co Solicitors, Eden Farm Supplies, J M Bell & Son – Haulage and Dot’s Café.
With nine incredibly high quality classes to deliberate upon the judges duties on Wednesday evening were both enviable yet challenging at the same time, a perfect mix of immaculately presented beast hailed from all across the UK, in reality, several of the marvellous cattle presented could easily have taken the Championship sash, as is always the case however in the show ring only one can claim the 2021 title of Christmas Champion. The successor and winner of the much coveted Stephen Aitken memorial trophy was a fabulous Limousin crossed steer from the heavyweight class produced by Georgina Laws, High Village Farm, Hauxwell; purchased privately from the renowned breeder Alan Smith-Jackson, Haydon Bridge and sired by stock bull Hightown Jacko the wonderfully produced bullock is absolutely stacked with style, full of loin and the perfect shape for a modern butchers counter, despite the outstanding level of competition the steer was in our judges eyes ‘faultless’ and absolutely ‘full of meat from head to toe’. Reserve Champion and also best opposite sex went across the Pennines to one of our regular Cumbrian raiders Alan Barnett of Brinns Farm, Shap with his winner of the heavyweight Limousin heifer class; an incredible butchers heifer the wonderful example put another feather in the Northumberland breeders caps as she started life just a few miles away from our Champion at East Unthank Farm, Haltwhistle. Our third trophy presented was the Ben Craggs Memorial for the best homebred beast hailing from Durham or a neighbouring county and it duly brought about a ‘clean up’ for the Limousin breed, the winner this year came from regular contenders Jim and Heather Marks of Gilly Flatts, Bishopton with an absolutely superb heifer sired by their prolific stock bull Bassingbourn Malcolm. Magnificent beast from near and far were enjoyed by a monumental crowd, no silverware to polish this year yet very successful days were also enjoyed by last year’s victor Frank Page, Northamptonshire, the Renton Family of Morpeth and a strong challenge also came from Messrs Hall of Ainstable Hall, Carlisle.
The prime bull show on Thursday morning was expertly judged by Miles Worsley of Worsley Wholesale, Briestfield who was offered some super bulls to place, the outstanding results for Limousin cattle continued as our winning continental bull also carried the Lim lettering upon his passport, a tremendous bull from J J Kemp & Son, Elstob Hill Farm, Stillington fought off some very stiff competition. Congratulations also go to the winners of the Friesian bull class, week in week out few surpass the brilliant feeding of R Hall & Son, Kilton Hall, Brotton and they were again at the front of the pack.
Full show results are listed below, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank all buyers and underbidders, mart staff and hauliers without whom these memorable occasions would not be possible.
Continental Bull
1st JJ Kemp & Son, Elstob Hill Farm, Stillington sold for 320ppk and £2,400 to Worsley Wholesale Butchers Ltd, Liversedge
2nd J Layfield, Nackshivan Farm, Willington sold for 291ppk and £2,243 to Worsley Wholesale Butchers Ltd, Liversedge
3rd GK & KN Hird, Meadow View, Whashton sold for 308ppk and £2,236 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Middlestone Moor
Holstein Friesian Bull
1st R Hall & Son, Kilton Hall Farm, Brotton sold for 236ppk and £1,555 to A Wright & Son, Boston
2nd R Hall & Son, Kilton Hall Farm, Brotton sold for 237ppk and £1,407 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Middlestone Moor
3rd JK & CE Farming, Blue House Farm, Piercebridge sold for 231ppk and £1515 to Bowland Foods Ltd, Preston
Limousin or Blonde Steer (Unhaltered) Under 600kg
1st Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highways, Morpeth sold for 312ppk and £1868.88 to W Piper, Houghton Le Spring
2nd W Armstrong, Coxhoe sold for sold for 308ppk and £1808.80 to Thompson Wholesale Meat, Witton Le Wear
3rd A Tindale, Paradise Farm, Shadforth for sold for 282ppk for £1494.60 to W Piper, Houghton Le Spring
Limousin or Blonde Steer (Unhaltered) 600kg and above
1st A G Laws, High Village Farm, Hauxwell sold for 420ppk and £3108 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
2nd A Barnett, Brinns Farms, Shap sold for 318ppk and £2162.40 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
3rd Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highways, Morpeth sold for 290ppk and £1841.50 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Middlestone Moor
Other Breed Steer (Unhaltered) 600kg and above
1st A G Laws, High Village Farm, Hauxwell sold for 318ppk and £2289.60 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
2nd Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highways, Morpeth sold for 296ppk and £1924.00 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Middlestone Moor
3rd Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highways, Morpeth sold for 284ppk and £1959.60 to J Penny & Son, Rawdon
Limousin or Blonde Heifer (Unhaltered) Under 550kg
1st F Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington sold for 362ppk and £1855.00 to Thompson Wholesale Meats, Witton Le Wear
2nd MF Hall, Woodhill Farm, Ponteland sold for 350ppk and £1855.00 to Castlebank Butchers
3rd TN & J Hall, Ainstable Hall, Ainstable sold for 346ppk and £1799.20 to Thompson Wholesale Meats, Witton Le Wear
Limousin or Blonde Heifer (Unhaltered) 550kg and above
1st A Barnett, Brinns Farms, Shap sold for 480ppk and £3000 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
2nd MF Hall, Woodhill Farm, Ponteland sold for 334ppk and £1937.20 to J Penny & Son, Rawdon
3rd Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highways, Morpeth sold for 306ppk and £2034.90 to J Penny & Son, Rawdon
Other Beed Heifer (Unhaltered) Under 550kg
1st F Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington sold for 354ppk and £1929.30 to H Taylor & Son, Darlington
2nd TN & J Hall, Ainstable Hall, Ainstable sold for 344ppk and £1857.60 to Castlebank Butchers
3rd TN & J Hall, Ainstable Hall, Ainstable sold for 328ppk and £1558.00 to Thompson Wholesale Meats, Witton Le Wear
Other Breed Heifer (Unhaltered) 550kg and above
1st JL Marks, Gilly Flatts Farm, Bishopton sold for 338ppk and £2078.70 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
2nd A Barnett, Brinns Farms, Shap sold for 314ppk and £2135.20 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
3rd W Armstrong, Coxhoe sold for 310ppk and £1937.50 to J A Jewitt, Middlestone Moor
Haltered Steer Any Breed or Weight (not previously shown)
1st JL Marks, Gilly Flatts Farm, Bishopton sold for 300ppk and £2265.00 to Bowland Foods Ltd, Preston
2nd F Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington sold for 332ppk and £2091.60 to Thompson Wholesale Meats, Witton Le Wear
3rd JB Thompson, Stainby House, Stainby sold for 294ppk and £2131.50 to J Penny & Son, Rawdon
Haltered Heifer Any Breed or Weight (not previously shown)
1st JL Marks, Gilly Flatts Farm, Bishopton sold for 370ppk and £2312.50 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
2nd F Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington sold for 360ppk and £2070 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
3rd TN & J Hall, Ainstable Hall, Ainstable sold for 328ppk and £1787.60 to J Penny & Son, Rawdon
The Ben Craggs Memorial Trophy for the Best Home Bred Beast
Winner – JL Marks, Gilly Flatts Farm sold for 370ppk and £2312.50 to Kitsons Butchers & Five Houses Farm Shop
Champion Steer – Winner – A G Laws, High Village Farm, Hauxwell sold for 420ppk and £3108 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
Champion Heifer – Winner – A Barnett, Brinns Farms, Shap sold for 480ppk and £3000 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
Overall Champion – Winner – A G Laws, High Village Farm, Hauxwell sold for 420ppk and £3108 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
Reserve Overall Champion – Winner – A Barnett, Brinns Farms, Shap sold for 420ppk and £3108 to Linsleys Butchers, Shildon
Prime Bulls (80) – The blistering bull trade went forward again, the phenomenal returns seem to keep on increasing week in week out, today’s sale average soared to a sublime 253 pence per kilo, the show bulls did not have things all their own way as we burst the 300 pence barrier even aside from those kept for this occasion. Whilst our 1st prize bull from J J Kemp & Son, Stillington led the way at 320ppk other great bulls in the shape of our 3rd prize winner from G K, K N & G J Hird, Richmond and a superstar from A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford also sold beyond 300 pence, all 3 bulls in the 300 club were Limousin’s weighing between 725 and 750kg. Seven further bulls followed in the 290’s as a frenzied trade was without doubt one of the best we have ever witnessed. The gross value’s this week are to be seen to be believed, twenty bulls sold for £2000 and beyond, of those six sold in the £2100’s, three in the £2200’s, our 1st prize winner at £2400 was however remarkably muscled out of the top gross value by some margin; step forward K & A Harker of Worsall Grove Farm with an unbelievable 871kg Limousin which sold for 296ppk and a massive £2578. The more commercial bulls achieved the impossible and possibly lifted more than the super selling best bulls, the high flying Holstein Friesian’s averaged an almost ridiculous £1400 and 214 pence per kilo, kings of the black and white brigade were the terrific feeders R Hall & Son, Kilton Hall Farm, Brotton selling to 236ppk and £1555. Below are a select few of the insane returns we had the pleasure of seeing today.
J B Luck, Bowes sold 2 Bulls to average 298ppk and £2076
GK, KN & GJ Hird, Richmond sold 3 Bulls to average 283ppk and £1962
JH & M & NW Brown, Darlington sold 4 Bulls to average 276ppk and £1999
J Layfield, Willington sold 4 Bulls to average 276ppk and £1899
A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford sold 7 Bulls to average 274ppk and £2073
J J Kemp & Son, Stillington sold 4 Bulls to average 273ppk and £2008
Continental Bulls – Top prices ppk 320 267 263 JJ Kemp & Son. 308 270×2 GK KN & GJ Hird. 307 295 283 276 260 AG Watson & Sons. 299 298 JB Luck. 296 K&A Harker. 291 P Brannen. 291 276 J Layfield. 290 285 279 JH&M&NW Brown. 279 260 257 Lester Knight. 275 JC Johnson. 275×2 TW Clark & Son. 272 JK&CE Farming. 270×2 RS Hall & Sons. 270 266 254 WJ&AS Bowes & Sons. 264 JC Tallentire. 263 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 263 M Eagle. 260 JE Jordon & Son.
Lead Grossing Continental Bulls £2578 K&A Harker. £2400 £1933 £1906 JJ Kemp & Son. £2316 JE Jordon & Son. £2284 £2187 £2180 £2074 £2058 £2023AG Watson & Sons. £2231 £20614 £1851 J Layfield. £2236 £1892 GK KN & GJ Hird. £2178 £1857 £1879 WJ&AS Bowes & Sons. £2173 £1978 JB Luck. £2170 P Brannen. £2120 £1952 £1917 JH&M&NW Brown. £2079 £2062 £1919 £1905 TW Clark & Son. £2069 £1876 LS Staley. £1988 JC Johnson. £1955 £1868 Lester Knight.
Friesian Bulls – Top prices ppk 236 227 219 R Hall & Son. 231 JK&CE Farming. 208 204 196 188 J&JH Musgrave. 205 203 SH Watson & Son. 198 M Eagle. 194 JA&A Herbert.
Lead Grossing Friesian Bulls £1555 £1502 £1407 R Hall & Son. £1515 JK&CE Farming. £1449 £1400 SH Watson & Son. £1408 £1203 £1164 £1013 J&JH Musgrave. £1029 M Eagle. £1026 JA&A Herbert.
Native Breed Bulls – Top prices ppk 289 253 J Layfield. 258 239 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 236 JA&A Herbert. 210×2 N Howard.
Lead Grossing Native Breed Bulls £1867 £1833 JA&M Boyes Ltd. £1851 £1439 J Layfield. £1257 JA&A Herbert. £1094 £1062 N Howard.
Prime Clean Cattle (139) – As could be expected with the show cattle involved this week some absolutely immense averages are here to report, the heifers levelled up at 292ppk and the steers 276ppk; not just those however showing can afford to do the crowing as all weights, shapes and sizes were once again were in unbelievable demand. The top two beast in the show naturally took the spoils with our Champion from Georgina Laws the highest gross valued steer and highest per kilo whilst our Reserve Champion from Alan Barnett the highest gross valued heifer and top price per kilo on the day. The top averages listed below are naturally dominated by the show cattle; aside from those fresh from the judging ring mention should go to W J Scott Ltd, Low Leam who sold steers to £1934, A C Simpson & Son, McNeil Farm sold heifers to £1952, R S Hall & Sons, Ivy House sold steers to 277ppk and the ever consistent J V & J A Hodgson & Son, The Grange sold heifers to 319ppk and led the commercial cattle averages with 10 levelling at 306ppk and £1736.
A G Laws, Leyburn sold 2 Steers to average 369ppk and £2698
A Barnett, Shap sold 1 Steer & 2 Heifers to average 367ppk and £2432
F Page, Northants sold 1 Steer & 3 Heifers to average 351ppk and £2019
T N & J Hall, Carlisle sold 9 Heifers to average 334ppk and £1706
M F Hall, Ponteland sold 1 Steer & 2 Heifers to average 322ppk and £1882
J L Marks, Bishopton sold 2 Steers & 3 Heifers to average 321ppk and £2146
B Walker, Dalton-on-Tees sold 3 Heifers to average 312ppk and £1751
Steers – Top prices ppk 420 318 AG Laws. 332 Frank Page. 318 A Barnett. 312 296 290 284 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 310 300 JL Marks. 308×2 290 WA Armstrong. 306 300 MJ&EA Sedgewick. 294 JB Thompson. 295 277 265×2 259×2 256 234 RS Hall & Sons. 290 MF Hall. 282 Anthony Tindale. 279 T Greetham. 269 268 260×2 WJ Scott Ltd. 266 262 254×2 W Swinbank & Sons. 261 G&JY Marshall. 258 EW Grieves.
Lead Grossing Steers £3108 £2289 AG Laws. £2265 £2077 JL Marks. £2162 A Barnett. £2131 JB Thompson. £2091 Frank Page. £2050 £2040 MJ&EA Sedgewick. £2048 £1885 £1801 WA Armstrong. £1959 £1924 £1868 £1841 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £1934 £1736×2 £1731 WJ Scott Ltd. £1798 £1792 £1783 £1744 WJ Scott Ltd. £1629 £1615 £1610 £1567 £1523×2 RS Hall & Sons. £1602 TW&PT Moss. £1579 £1554 WR Thompson. £1571 G&JY Marshall.
Heifers – Top prices ppk 480 314 A Barnett. 370 338 JL Marks. 362 360 354 Frank Page. 350 334 MF Hall. 348 346 344 330×3 328×4 TN&J Hall. 328 306 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 319 316 311×2 310 309 308 300 JV&JA Hodgson. 318 JB Thompson. 314 312×2 B Walker. 310 WA Armstrong. 306 303TW&PT Moss. 305 T Greetham. 298 G&JY Marshall. 296 DW Humphrey. 296 288 WJ Scott Ltd. 293 292 M Eagle.
Lead Grossing Heifers £3000 £2135 A Barnett. £2312 £2078 £1998 JL Marks. £2082 JB Thompson. £2070 £1987 £1929 Frank Page. £2034 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £1983 DW Humphrey. £1952 £1889 £1793 AC Simpson & Son. £1937 WA Armstrong. £1937 £1885 MF Hall. £1857 £1799 £1787 £1757 TN&J Hall. £1847 £1794 £1787 £1780 £1728 JV&JA Hodgson. £1825 £1814 WJ Scott Ltd. £1821 £1778 B Walker. £1760 £1759 TW&PT Moss Ltd.
Prime Lambs (1994) – The lamb trade marches on, a moderate show of quality on the whole, the good lambs and fed lambs are in high demand, leaner meat slightly harder to accommodate. This time last year our sale average stood at £91.76 whereas the current purple patch has us sitting prettily at £118.73 today. As always in Darlington, we much prefer to place a zero than a hero on our weighbridge at the start of the day and still a marvellous sale average of 271ppk was achieved. Topping the pence per kilo this week were 6 beautiful 41kg Beltex from W & M Knaggs, East Newbiggin which sold for 370 pence per kilo, credit to the Knaggs run which achieved the top four prices per kilo today. Top gross value this week was a two way share; having watched their daughter set the cattle ring alight earlier it was certainly a fine day rounded off for Mr & Mrs Laws of High Village Farm as they took a share of top spot at £166 along with Gerrard Quinn of J E Suddes & Son, Rowley Farm. With the coin placed firmly in the loin the fed lambs are a flyer whatever the breed, fit Mules this week sold to a remarkable top of £136.
Lambs – Top prices ppk 370 358 346 341 W&M Knaggs & Son. 325 290 285×2 PJ&MP Gilhespy. 324 I&A Holmes. 323 JE Suddes & Son. 319 306 304 K&PM Lough. 317 301 Ian Kirk. 317 295 K&MM Henderson. 308 LD Laws. 306 294 291 G Thompson & Sons. 302 Tallentire. 301 MW Cook & Son. 300 R Lawson & Son. 299 292×2 Jack Barker. 298 Richard Bailes. 296 PRE Marwood. 293 292 EA Hinton. 292 CH Tindale. 291 AWSM Farms. 290 SM Donaldson. 289 F Kearton.
Lead Grossing Lambs £166 £145 £142 LD Laws. £166 £150 £149 JE Suddes & Son. £165.50 £144.50 £144 £142.50 EA Hinton. £159 £144 T Lawson & Son. £156 £152 £147 £140 W&M Knaggs & Son. £156 £150 M Hutchinson. £155 W Robson. £155 W Denham. £154 £140 W.K M.M Lamb. £152 £146.50 £146 £143 Jack Barker. £146 £138 Richard Bailes. £146 WA Dinsdale & Son. £144 £140 JK&CE Farming. £143 Ian Kirk. £142 K&MM Henderson. £141 D&PH Brown. £140 C Binks & Son.
Cast Ewes & Rams (427) – With the majority of the nations ewes busily looking for love at this time of year the trade is always expected to lift, currently it is not disappointing as the prices keep nudging that bit higher week by week. A plain show of quality averaged a very healthy £92. Top price came from P J & M P Gilhespy of Ponteland with a quality pen of eight Texel ewes, heavy Mule ewes regularly sold £110 to £125 with a top of £129 from R Lawson & Son, Home Farm and Swaledales sold as high as £75 from W R Barron, The Deans.
Lead Grossing Cast Sheep £148 £134 £102 PJ&MP Gilhespy. £140 £102 D&PH Brown. £138 £126 J Weighell. £136 D&J Hunnam & Son. £136 £132 £123 C Harle & Sons. £134 £132 JJ Horn. £132 JE Cruddas. £131 £129 R Lawson & Son. £130 £126 Jack Barker. £130 S&S Davies. £130 JK&CE Farming. £130 £129 G Thompson & Sons. £126 M&A Gaskin. £124 HT Davies & Partners. £124 JE Cruddas. £120 L Fowler
Prime Pigs (15) – Trade took a turn for the worse. It seems very harsh on the vendors as the cattle and sheep trades thrive and yet our porky pals are really suffering, act now, get behind them and treat yourself to a pigs in blanket binge throughout December.
Pigs – Top prices ppk 85×2 60 J Mitchell & Son.
Lead Grossing Pigs £85×2 £60 J Mitchell & Son.
CHRISTMAS FATSTOCK SHOW & SALE
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