Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held special Anniversary shows and sales of store cattle and rearing calves in conjunction with their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock on Monday 22nd September 2025. Forward were 412 cattle, 2133 sheep and 65 calves.
71 Cast Cows/OTM sold to 396ppk or £3047
1 Stock Bull sold to 230ppk or £2803
10 Breeding Cattle sold to £2280
9 Stirks sold to £1180
84 Young Bulls sold to £2660
116 Store Steers sold to £2390
121 Store Heifers sold to £2450
1861 Store Lambs sold to £154
272 Feeding Ewes sold to £188
65 Rearing Calves sold to £1060
Cast Cattle – The cow trade cracked on very well with more flesh forward to average 269ppk and £1753 per head; the best cows would look every bit as sharp as we have seen them in recent times. Topping the sale per kilo were three cracking Limousin’s from T W Clark & Son, Frankland Park Farm; this great home sold a heifer at 396 pence and followed up with two cows at 378 and 374 pence. Top price in the lump was a wonderful Limousin from W Swinbank & Sons, Greystones when she tipped the scales to 983kg and realised £3047. Native breeds were led by a Beef Shorthorn OTM from Messrs Tallentire at 340ppk and £2193 whilst amongst the cows it was success for an Aberdeen Angus from A P Greenshields, Stoney Gate Farm at 318ppk and £2896. Some meat around in the dairy breeds also today saw the Willey family of Broomfield Farm grab the headlines with Montbéliard’s to 296ppk and £2053 and Friesian cows to £2180. A solitary South Devon stock bull this week hailed from G W Chapman, Sawmill Cottage and clocking in at 1219kg he added up nicely to £2803.
Cast Cows – Top prices ppk 396 378 374 TW Clark. 340 Tallentire. 328 300 MW Reed. 324 312 G Corner. 324 P Tindale. 318 302 300 292 AP Greenshields. 318 308 GA Willey. 310 306 W Swinbank & Sons. 306 G&JH Tomlinson & Son. 298 276 JJ Horn. 296 284 282 A Willey. 294 GW Chapman. 294 S Beeforth. 294 280 GE&MG Dixon. 288 W Denham. 286 RE&BJ Potter. 280 T Hodges. 276 C Everitt. 276 PT Stephenson.
Lead Grossing Cast Cows £3047 £2268 £2242 W Swinbank & Sons. £2974 £2593 £2517 TW Clark & Son. £2896 £2190 £2062 £1838 AP Greenshields. £2436 £2155 G Corner. £2432 G&JH Tomlinson & son. £2299 GW Chapman. £2193 Tallentire. £2187 P Tindale. £2180 £2053 £1981 £1979 £1951 £1829 A Willey. £2069 £1863 MW Reed. £2053 W Denham. £2044 T Hodges. £1969 JJ Horn. £1940 PD Shepherd. £1832 £1810 PT Stephenson & Son.
Cast Bulls – Top prices ppk 230 GW Chapman.
Lead Grossing Cast Bulls £2803 GW Chapman.
Show of Store Cattle
Thanks go to Graham Callender of Whinney Hill who capably undertook the judging duties at our five-year anniversary show and sale of store cattle. The championship rosette was awarded to an excellent 15-month-old Limousin steer from J & MJ Walton, West Shotton Farm whilst the reserve headed away with a shapely 13-month-old Limousin heifer from CN Bentley, The Gables. Credit to all the vendors who produced a smart offering whilst thanks must also go to our sponsors who are, as always, listed at ringside.
Store Cattle show results as follows:
Champion:
J&MJ Walton, West Shotton Farm, sold to £1900
Reserve Champion:
CN Bentley, The Gables, sold to £1880
Class 1 – Steer:
1st J&MJ Walton, West Shotton Farm – Limousin, sold to £1900
2nd GE&M Dixon, Hill Top Farm – British Blue, sold to £1880
3rd GE&M Dixon, Hill Top Farm – British Blue, sold to £1500
Class 2 – Heifer:
1st CN Bentley, The Gables – Limousin sold to £1880
2nd P Tindale, Paradise – Limousin sold to £1800
3rd RA&S Wearmouth, Middle Town Farm – Limousin sold to £1700
Sale of Store Cattle
A pleasing 57% increase in numbers on the year met with a super trade, all classes are up around £500 on 12-months ago, particularly the smaller cattle and the stronger shorter keep sorts appeared to be in excellent form throughout. Beginning with the bulls and an absolute bonanza saw them average a miraculous £1642. Leading the way were some strong 16-month-old Limousin’s from T W West, Picket Howe Farm who hit the dizzy heights of £2660 and followed with four others between £2360 and £2480. S & J Dent & Son, Great Burdon Farm kept the Limousin flag flying with yearling bulls to a top of £2180 whilst the native trade topped at £2020 for a Hereford from W & R Kemp & Son, Wigdon Walls Farm. The barnstorming bull trade was available for all ages, a super run of 5-6-month-old Limousin, Charolais and Aberdeen Angus bulls from C Peckitt & Son, College Farm bagged themselves a stunning trade to top at £1960 and the run of thirty averaged £1636 whilst ten smart young bulls from P Tindale, Paradise Farm also looked well rewarded with an average of £1622 on the day.
The steers averaged £1558 and the heifers £1572. Topping the trade was an excellent 18-month-old Limousin heifer from Ian Potts & Sons Ltd, Hedley Park Farm when she sold for £2450. Next in the rankings was a well fleshed Limousin heifer from WO Grix & Partners, Hillhead Farm at £2400 just in front of our top steer which was a 17-month-old Limousin from RG Richardson, East Farm at £2390. Native breeds were again in demand selling to a top of £2220 for a pair of Aberdeen Angus from D Walker, High Woodifield Farm East whilst native heifers topped at £2140 for a Beef Shorthorn heifer from WO Grix & Partners. The under-year suckler bred beast are beginning to appear and on this evidence can expect a good kick of the ball over the next couple of months, tops today went to JJ Horn, Bushy Park with a 10-month-old British Blonde heifer at £2020 and to KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook with an 11-month-old Limousin steer at £1980.
Bull Stirks £720×2 H Murray.
Steer Stirks £1180 H Murray. £1120 £950 GW Chapman.
Heifer Stirks £870 £850 £820 £800 GW Chapman.
Cows & Calves £2280 T Hodges. £1920 £1700 J Brearley. £1730 P Suddes. £1720 A Willey.
Store Bulls £2660 £2480 £2420 £2360×2 TW West. £2280 £2100 £2000 £1960 S&J Dent & Son. £2020 £1480 £1420×3 W&R Kemp & Son. £1960 £1950 £1900×4 £1860×7 £1780 £1700×2 £1670×4 £1410×2 C Peckitt & Son. £1900×2 £1810 OJ Kendall. £1880 £1740×2 £1700×2 £1500 Wilkinson & Son. £1840 £1780 £1740×3 P Tindale. £1760×2 JJ Seaman. £1740 £1700 A Tindale. £1440×2 AP Taylor. £1420×3 JK Gregory.
Store Steers £2390 RG Richardson. £2270 TW West. £2220 £2180 D Walker. £1980 KO Stones. £1960 A Willey. £1950×4 £1890×3 £1800×2 £1780×2 £1700×2 JH&C Limited, Oulton. £1940 £1800 I Potts & Sons Ltd. £1900×6 MH Hodgson. £1900 J&MJ Walton. £1880 JS Foster & Son. £1860 £1580 £1520GM Elstob. £1800 C Everitt. £1790 T Hodges. £1780 £1750 £1660 GE&MG Dixon. £1700 RA&SL Wearmouth. £1670×2 K Metcalfe. £1640 PD Shepherd. £1610×2 R&W Todd. £1600×2 K Mitchelson.
Store Heifers £2450 £1950 £1880 £1700 I Potts & Sons Ltd. £2400 £2200 £2140 £2120 £2080 £2000 £1980 £1900 WO Grix & Partners. £2360 £1920 J&F Hartley & Sons. £2120×2 RG Richardson. £2070 £2060×3 £1900×3 £1880×2 TW West. £2020 £1800 £1710 JJ Horn. £1920 K Mitchelson. £1880 CN Bentley. £1820 £1740 A Willey. £1820 £1760 GE&MG Dixon. £1800×2 JS Foster. £1800 P Tindale. £1720 J&MJ Walton. £1700×2 £1660 RA&SL Wearmouth.
Store Sheep – Plenty of numbers forward and with the recent rain bringing new buyers forward on mass the trade would be up another fiver at the very least, a show largely containing long-keepers average £104.19. Top of the day were half a dozen cracking Beltex lambs from JE Holliday & Son, Woodland House Farm when they sold for £154 apiece. Stacks of the strong lambs travelled £120 to £140 whilst the runners set for roots relished the biggest reward with £100 to £115 easily attained. Suffolks sold to £122, Cheviot lambs topped at £120 and Mules made three figures as the sheep situation looks absolutely superb this week. The high-flying lambs were preceded by a fabulous feeding ewe trade as warts and all they averaged £95. A dozen delicious Texel’s from A & R Thompson, Dimmingdale Farm set the bar the highest when they sold for £188 each, the heavier lowland ewes motored along between £140 and £170 with great regularity. Mule ewes sold to a top of £138 whilst the hottest of the hill ewes were a pair of Herdwick’s from RG & CS Wise, Todds House at £88.
Store Lambs:
Beltex – £154 £140 £130 £128 JE Holliday & Son.
Texel – £142 £117.50 W love Ltd. £140 £132 £120 KO Stones. £134 £131 £118 PJ Anderson & Son. £132 £130 £126 £119 T Hodges. £130 £121 £116 JR&J Crowe. £128 £118 £112 R Worthy. £121 M Hogg. £120 MW Cook & Son. £120 £111 K Sayer. £119 A Williamson. £119 £116.50 £114 JD&MS Mortimer. £118 RA Patterson & son. £118 B Lowson. £114 £111 GH Lister. £114 D Watson. £112 WH Brown. £112 D Alderson.
Continental – £128 RRC Andrew. £114 F&A Gilchrist.
Suffolk – £122 £115 GW Dobson & son. £122 JE Holiday & Son. £121 JR&J Crowe. £117 £110 KT Anderson & Son. £111 D Alderson. £110 RG McNeal.
Cheviot – £120 £116 £115 KO Stones.
Feeding Ewes:
Texel – £188 £172 £152 £132 £130 £106 A&R Thompson. £158 £138 M Lindley. £152 GP&A Carter. £148 RG McNeal. £140 T Hodges. £136 RA Patterson & son. £122 MC Rutter. £118 £106 JL Alderson.
Beltex – £170 £142 JE Holliday & Son.
Continental – £151 £120 WB Rutter & Sons. £146 E Wilson. £140 A&D Heyes. £135 C Harle & Sons. £128 Bowes Bros. £126 M Lindley. £121 £118 GP&A Carter.
Mule – £138 PJ Anderson & Son. £126 £110 MC Rutter. £116 D Watson. £114 Bowes Bros.
Suffolk – £118 D Watson.
Rearing Calves
Today marks five years since DfAM’s move to Humbleton Park and below is the report for the anniversary show & sale of rearing calves. Many thanks go to Mr Jack Sewell of Knavesmire Farm, for expertly judging the calves today. Champion calf went to Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides farm, with a fantastic Limousin bull calf which reached a fantastic £1060, Reserve champion was also received by this same home with a terrific British Blue Bull calf, making £980. Top priced British Blue Heifer went to HM Dent, East Farm, making £730, followed by CN Bentley of The Gables, reaching £640. J&A Stevenson, Blue House Farm topped the Inra95 Bulls at £640, whilst Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd showed a terrific run of one-month-old Inra95’s, with their bulls topping at £490 and heifers at £400. Parthenais Heifers topped at £670 from HM Dent and Limousin Heifers topped at £490 from Wilkinson & Son. S Beeforth of High Crookleith, reached £460 with a Hereford Heifer, whilst GW Chapman, Sawmill Cottage, topped at £500 with a South Devon Heifer. A fantastic run of Friesian bulls were also forward from P&CA Harrison, Breckney Hill, who topped at £390.
Show Results:
British Blue Bull under 42 days old
1st– J&A Stevenson & Sons, Blue House Farm
British Blue Bull Over 42 days old
1st– Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
2nd – G Thompson & Sons, Softley Farm
British Blue Heifer over 42 days old
1st– Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
2nd– HM Dent, East Farm
Any Other Continental Bull under 42 days old
1st– J&A Stevenson & Sons, Blue House Farm
2nd– Baysleap Dairy Farm
Any Other Continental Bull over 42 days
1st– Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
2nd– HM Dent, East Farm
Any Other Continental Heifer under 42 days
1st– Baysleap Dairy Farm
2nd– Baysleap Dairy Farm
Any Other Continental Heifer over 42 days
1st– Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
2nd– Haig Murray, The Beeches
Native Bull under 42 days old
1st– G Thompson & Sons, Softley Farm
Native Bull over 42 days old
1st– G Thompson & Sons, Softley Farm
Native Heifer over 42 days old
1st– GW Chapman, Sawmill Cottage
2nd– S Beeforth, High Crookleith Farm
Friesian Bull under 42 days old
1st– P&CA Harrison, Breckney Hill
2nd– P&CA Harrison, Breckney Hill
Friesian Bull over 42 days old
1st– P&CA Harrison, Breckney Hill
2nd– P&CA Harrison, Breckney Hill
Champion- Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
Reserve Champion- Wilkinson & Sons, Carrsides
Bulls:
Limousin- £1060 Wilkinson & Son. £540 Haigh Murray.
British Blue- £980 £690 £640 Wilkinson & Son. £810 £690 £540 HM Dent. £700 G Thompson & Sons. £630 J&A Stevenson & Sons. £510 CN Bentley.
Parthenais- £670 HM Dent.
Inra95- £640 J&A Stevenson & Sons. £490 £470 £360 Baysleap Dairy Farm LTD.
Friesian- £390 x2 £295 £200 £195 £170 x2 P&CA Harrison. £250 x2 G Thompson & Sons. £215 CN Bentley.
Heifers:
British Blue- £730 £545 £510 x2 £490 £450 £420 £410 HM Dent. £640 CN Bentley. £500 Wilkinson & Son. £470 £415 G Thompson & Sons.
Limousin- £490 Wilkinson & Son.
South Devon- £500 GW Chapman.
Hereford- £460 S Beeforth.
Inra95- £400 x2 £390 £385 x4 £380 £375 x2 £370 x3 £330 x2 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
