Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held a Special Anniversary Show and Sale of Prime Stock on Thursday 23rd September 2021. Forward were 230 Cattle, 2409 Sheep and 7 Pigs.
128 Prime Bulls sold to 276ppk or £2202
41 Prime Steers sold to 296ppk or £2047
61 Prime Heifers sold to 350ppk or £2163
2027 Prime Lambs sold to 344ppk or £155
382 Cast Ewes & Rams sold to £120
7 Prime Pigs sold to 110ppk or £121
Charity Hats – The memorable anniversary week came to a fitting end today as the final half dozen hats sold in aid of Darlington Mind, the weeks total for 20 hats and some very generous donations now stands over £3500; thanks to Cotton Eye Sew for gifting the hats, to all buyers, bidders and donators your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Show Cattle – Some wonderful beast were displayed in front of our judge Mr Paul Garthwaite of regular buyers H Taylor & Sons Butchers, Darlington; credit must go to all vendors who embraced the opportunity to support our anniversary show and sale. Last years Christmas show winner Frank Page of Lodge Farm, Northamptonshire was again on top of the DFAM podium and heads back South with another tri coloured sash, the quality we always see from Frank certainly suggests he could well be the keeper of a super-sized trophy cabinet. An absolutely magical 20 month old home bred Limousin heifer was the day’s Champion and few could argue, she went on to sell to the judge for a wonderful 350 pence per kilo. Reserve Champion today went to the steer class victor, another fantastic home bred Limousin, this one from regular raiders from the North Messrs Renton of High Highlaws Farm, Morpeth, a family who are so often there or there abouts on show days; credit to all who showed, a great collection of cattle today certainly saw the honours spread far geographically; the Renton Family and Frank Page reside some 225 miles apart. The good day for the Highlaws team continued as they also won the bull class, on this occasion a home bred British Blue.
Anniversary Beef Championship generously sponsored by Worsley Wholesale & JA Jewitt Ltd
Champion – F Page, Lodge Farm, Elkington, Northamptonshire.
Limousin Heifer 618kg 350ppk & £2163 purchased by H Taylor & Sons, Skinnergate, Darlington.
Reserve Champion – Renton Highlaws Ltd, High Highlaws, Morpeth, Northumberland.
Limousin Steer 593kg 284ppk & £1684 purchased by H Taylor & Sons, Skinnergate, Darlington.
Cattle show results as follows:
Class 1 – Best Steer: generously sponsored by CXCS Agricultural Compliance & Farm Safety Specialists
1st Renton High Highlaws – 593kg @ 284ppk & £1684 purchased by H Taylor & Sons, Skinnergate, Darlington.
2nd F Page, Lodge Farm – 533kg @ 274ppk & £1460 purchased by George Bolam Foods Ltd, Sedgefield.
3rd A Barnett, Brinns Farm – 670kg @ 270ppk & £1809 purchased by JA Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor.
Class 2 – Best Heifer: generously sponsored by CXCS Agricultural Compliance & Farm Safety Specialists
1st F Page, Lodge Farm – 618kg @ 350ppk & £2163 purchased by H Taylor & Sons, Skinnergate, Darlington.
2nd N White, Barf House – 582kg @ 300ppk & £1746 purchased by John Penny & Sons, Rawdon.
3rd M Robinson & Sons, East Alwent Farm – 501kg @ 317ppk & £1588 purchased by Bowland Foods Ltd, Preston.
Class 4 – Best Bull: generously sponsored by CXCS Agricultural Compliance & Farm Safety Specialists
1st Renton High Highlaws – 725kg @ 269ppk & £1950 purchased by JA Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor.
2nd AG Watson & Sons, Nunstainton Grange – 721kg @ 265ppk & purchased by Worsley Wholesale Meats, Liversedge.
3rd J&A Moralee, Hardriding Farm, – 668kg @ 264ppk & £1763
Prime Bulls (128) – More numbers forward and nobody disappointed as the sale levelled up over 230 pence per kilo, the show bulls were clearly in the mix however not quite at the top of tree; not in time for the show therefore arriving late but selling great were the so often top performing Limousin’s from A C Simpson & Son, McNeil Farm, Witton-le-Wear as the pick of them sold for 276ppk and £2202. Another from the McNeil pen was also in the £2k plus club as was a hefty boy from J R Tiplady, Boldron. Today six bulls sold over 260 pence with a further nineteen 250 to 259ppk. The black and white feeding accolades this week again go to R Hall & Son, Kilton Hall as a perfectly finished Friesian sold for a brilliant 211ppk and £1411. Details below of the top performers today as usual, a mention also seems appropriate for first time vendor Stephen Allardyce all the way from Aberdeenshire with a super consignment of 35 well finished bulls.
A C Simpson & Son, Witton-le-Wear sold 2 Bulls to average 270ppk and £2137
Renton Highlaws, Morpeth sold 3 Bulls to average 258ppk and £1799
J & A Moralee, Bardon Mill sold 4 Bulls to average 255ppk and £1739
W J & A S Bowes & Sons, Stainton sold 2 Bulls to average 254ppk and £1656
A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford sold 6 Bulls to average 251ppk and £1919
Continental Bulls – Top prices ppk 276 265 AC Simpson & Son. 269 256 250 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 265 256 255 253 246 AG Watson & Sons. 264 259 250×2 J&A Moralee. 261 248×2 J Layfield. 259 N White. 258 251 WJ&AS Bowes & Sons. 257 256 246 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 256 254 JF Gibson & Son. 256 LR Welsh & Co. 254×2 R&W Todd. 253 WC Stones. 250 JJ Kemp & Son. 248×2 JF Cornforth & Sons. 248 D Richardson & Co Ltd. 245 JJ Horn
Lead Grossing Continental Bulls £2202 £2072 AC Simpson & Sons. £2031 JR Tiplady. £1971 £1864 £1778 £1768 J Layfield. £1958 N White. £1953 £1945 £1932 £1918 £1910 £1856 AG Watson & Sons. £1950 £1776 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £1920 £1866 £1827 £1759 D Richardson & Co Ltd. £1886 £1868 PI Harker. £1884 £1757 JJ Horn. £1848 JA&M Boyes Ltd. £1817 £1809 LR Welsh & Co. £1815 £1784 JJ Kemp & Son. £1785 £1762 R&W Todd.
Friesian Bulls – Top prices ppk 211 192×2 187 R Hall & Son. 193×2 187 186 183 C&M Atkinson & Sons.
Lead Grossing Friesian Bulls – £1411 £1326 £1314 £1221 R Hall & Son. £1145 £1026 £1009 £931 £903 C&M Atkinson & Sons.
Native Breed Bulls – Top prices ppk 221 177 R Hall & Son. 219 185 GS Dowson. 207 205 C&M Atkinson & Sons. 204 JA&A Herbert.
Lead Grossing Native Breed Bulls £1493 GS Dowson. £1401 £1173 R Hall & Son. £1193 JA&A Herbert. £1159 £1115 C&M Atkinson & Sons.
Clean Cattle (102) – Even aside from the show cattle a really nice yard of beast gathered, luckily the live ring is supported by wonderful butchers and wholesalers who sell fresh meat with little or no need for manufactured carbon dioxide, praise be to the traditional butcher and it is with thanks to these good folk that our heifers averaged 269ppk and the steers 242ppk. Needless to say the leading priced heifer was our worthy champion today, 8 others broke 300 pence and 13 more chipped in between 290 and 299ppk. Joining Frank Page at the business end were regular local sellers Michael Robinson, Staindrop; J B Luck, Bowes; Neil White, Marrick and Jim & Heather Marks, Bishopton. Issuing the challenge from the West today was Peter Rogerson, Great Asby whilst reivers from across the border also challenged hard as both Robert Neill and Brian Fleming made successful pilgrimages out of Roxburghshire. The steer race per kilo went to regular leaders J L Marks, Bishopton with a beautiful Limousin, chasing him home was the Renton superstar followed again by Robert Neill and not far behind another raider from the West Alan Barnett of Shap. No steer race is complete without the might of Barker Farming Partnership, Scorton and the best of their big lads today chipped in at a whopping £2047. Some top performers are listed below.
Frank Page, Northamptonshire sold 2 Heifers, 1 Steer to average 309ppk and £1800
J B Luck, Bowes sold 3 Heifers to average 301ppk and £1745
M Robinson & Sons, Staindrop sold 2 Heifers to average 297ppk and £1769
N White, Marrick sold 2 Heifers to average 296ppk and £1744
W M Flemming, Kelso sold 3 Heifers to average 296ppk and £1719
P J & E S Rogerson, Cumbria sold 3 Heifers to average 290ppk and £1625
J L Marks, Bishopton sold 2 Heifers, 2 Steers to average 284ppk and £1575
Steers – Top prices ppk 296 284260 259 258 240 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 287 261 JL Marks. 274 Frank Page. 274 270 258 251×2 249 236 Robert Neill & Partners. 270 A Barnett. 269 240 232×2 225 224 Barker Farming Partnership. 259 247 G&JY Marshall. 246 243 240 I Bosworth. 240 TN Callender. 234 227 G Bird & Sons.
Lead Grossing Steers £2047 £2033 £1842 £1778 £1763 £1713 Barker Farming Partnership. £1809 A Barnett. £1776 £1726 £1719 £1715 £1673 £1621 Robert Neill & Partners. £1719 £1596 TN Callender. £1684 £1645 £1624 £1598 £1586 £1562 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £1652 £1621 JL Marks. £1601 I Bosworth. £1525 £1484 G Bird & Sons.
Heifers – Top prices ppk 350 300 Frank Page. 317 284 M Robinson & Sons. 306 302 297 JB Luck. 303 286 281 PJ&ES Rogerson. 303 293 JL Marks. 300 294 N White. 300 299 291 WM Fleming. 299 295 290 288 Robert Neill & Partners. 298 285 DW Humphrey. 295 294 288 269 265 G&JY Marshall. 291 274 A Crowder. 290 283 280 279 R Hirst. 284 280 A Barnett. 274 JH&M&NW Brown. 261 JF Gibson & Son.
Lead Grossing Heifers £2163 £1779 Frank Page. £1951 £1588 M Robinson & Sons. £1897 £1817 A Barnett. £1827 £1711 £1620 WM Fleming. £1771 £1752 £1712 JB Luck. £1767 DW Humphrey. £1749 £1693 £1664 £1658 Robert Neill & Partners. £1746 £1743 N White. £1742 £1701 PJ&ES Rogerson. £1734 £1638 A Crowder. £1731 £1632 £1608 JH&M&NW Brown. £1632 JJ Kemp & Son. £1595 £1581 G&JY Marshall. £1587 R Hirst.
Show Lambs – Some of the best lambs seen in Darlington for a long time tested our judge Peter Monkhouse of Wolsingham to the maximum, a very close race between outstanding Beltex lambs from both Martin Gaskin and Harry Askwith eventually went to the Gaskin consignment, the near perfect carcasses will hang proudly next week in Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton whilst the Reserve Champions headed away with Darlington stalwart Willis Piper Quality Butchers, Houghton-le-Spring.
Pen of 5 Lambs – generously sponsored by CXCS Agricultural Compliance & Farm Safety and Ali Shan of Yorkshire Halal Meats
1st – M&A Gaskin, Holdsworth Farm, Egglestone, Barnard Castle 45kg @ 344ppk & £155 purchased by Roots Farm Shop Home Farm, East Rounton, Northallerton.
2nd Askwiths, Middle Mown Meadows, Crook Co Durham 48kg @ 316ppk & £152 purchased by W Piper, High Street, Easington Lane, Houghton – Le Spring.
3rd C&E Gaskin, Hillingdon Farm, Marwood, Barnard Castle 47kg @ 251ppk & £118 purchased by Worsley Wholesale Meats, Liversedge.
Prime Lambs (2027) – Despite some worrying reports from other centres this week our lambs levelled up at a very pleasing 222 pence per kilo, once again the coin lies firmly in the loin as the lean meat is nobody’s treat. The sale toppers were of course the Champions with the Reserves close behind, credit to the two mentioned prize winning vendors as between them they left today with the 7 top prices per kilo.
Lambs – Top prices ppk 344 297 296 252 M&A Gaskin. 316×2 280 Askwiths. 300 251 245 C&E Gaskin. 263 248 William Tindale. 262 255 252 G Thompson & Sons. 256 254 251 244 243 239 J&A Layfield. 254 239 MW&M Skidmore. 254 246 JJ Horn. 252 241 K&PM Lough. 250 248 242 LD Laws. 250 SM Donaldson. 250 CH Tindale. 248 247 J Hird. 248 242 239 AWSM Farms. 246 WR Thompson. 246 Gillian I’Anson. 239 D&J Hunnam. 238 PRE Marwood.
Lead Grossing Lambs £155 £133.50 £131 £123.50×2 M&A Gaskin. £152×2 Askwiths. £140 K Liversedge. £139 £130 DC Dent. £134.50 W Denham. £134 £122×2 £118×2 J&A Layfield. £126.50 William Tindale. £125 AG Laws. £124.50 £122.50 D&J Hunnam. £122.50 £120 £118 C&E Gaskin. £121 LD Laws. £120.50 K&PM Lough. £120 AWSM Farms. £119.50 £116 JJ Horn. £118.50 £118 £117.50 G Thompson & Sons. £118.50 MW&M Skidmore. £118.50 C Orton. £117 J Hird.
Ewes & Rams (382) – Trade marginally firmer, lean ewes holding their own for the time of year. Top price of £120 was shared and went to a tremendous Charollais ewe from P Langstaff, Caldwell and a Texel from J A & B Nappey, Whitby. Mule’s reached £100 on an isolated occasion with plenty £85 to £95. Horned ewes remain good to sell with £40-£60 the going rate for anything other than the decrepit.
Lead Grossing Cast Sheep £120 P Langstaff. £120 JA&B Nappey. £115 GH&RG Stobbs. £112 £102 S Pyebourne. £109 £104 £101 Anthony Tindale. £106×2 £100 M Hutchinson. £105 £104 Northfield Farms. £104 £100 IR Appleton. £104 RA Patterson & Son. £103 GW Maw. £101 DC Dent. £101 AWSM Farms. £100 CH Tindale. £99 CJM Hedley.
Pigs (7) – No show classes were held for the pigs at the anniversary sale as our numbers each week would take us many, many years to justify the cost of a trophy. Trade staying the same.
Pigs – Top prices ppk 110×2 90 C Weightman.
Lead Grossing Pigs £121 £94.50 £82.50 C Weightman.
