Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their Great Annual show and Sale of Suckled Calves alongside their weekly sale of cast cattle and store sheep and their fortnightly sale of rearing calves. Forward were 528 cattle, 2391 sheep and 128 calves.
58 Cast Cattle/OTM sold to 376ppk or £3146
114 Suckled Bull Calves sold to £2000
162 Suckled Steer Calves sold to £3000
194 Suckled Heifer Calves sold to £3500
1718 Store Lambs sold to £160
673 Feeding Ewes/Rams sold to £190
128 Rearing Calves sold to £790
Suckled Calf Show
Sincere thanks go to Mr Trevor Foster, Rye Hill, Carlisle for expertly judging the Great Annual Show this morning. An enjoyable yet unenviable task in some ways as the quality within the show was arguably the highest ever seen at this fixture. Congratulations to the dedicated group of vendors who put on a tremendous display, a show of cattle genuinely worth their place at the top table at any calf sale in the land.
The hard-earned championship rosette was eventually awarded to a wonderful February born Limousin steer from JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort Farm, Neasham. The superstar steer from these excellent annual consignors is sired by Barron’s Scirocco and was duly brought out and shown to perfection by Kate Swinbank under the watchful, and undoubtedly proud eye of father Nigel.
Reserve champion went to a stunning January born Limousin heifer from ME Dowson, Croglin House, Barnard Castle and B Cowton, Low West House, Tow Law. The classy lassie named ‘Miss Dior’ is sired by Ashview Nectar and was bred at Low West House; the serially successful heifer was in fact the winner of the baby beef championship at our recent event here in Darlington, North East Live.
Champion – JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort sold to RS Hall & Sons, Ivy House for £2500
Reserve Champion – ME Dowson, Croglin House & B Cowton, Low West House sold to S Marsh, Frith Farm for £3500
A full run down of the class results and sale prices is listed below, red rosettes also headed away with the returning NG Beveridge, Low West House and also highly valued regular supporters A Wilson, Calf Close; KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook and T & C Smith, Thorsgill.
Best Bull Calf
1st – T & C Smith, Thorsgill sold to East Newbiggin Farm for £1810
2nd – A Wilson, Calf Close sold to N Leighton, Fairfield Farm for £2000
3rd – A Wilson, Calf Close sold to J Marshall, Viewley Hill for £1690
Best Limousin Heifer Calf
1st – ME Dowson, Croglin House & B Cowton, Low West House sold to S Marsh, Frith Farm for £3500
2nd – RA & SL Wearmouth, Middletown sold to A Tindale, Paradise for £2850
3rd – JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort sold to Brown & Mason, Keasdon Head for £2700
4th – KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold to M&B Coulthard, Bridge End for £1700
Best British Blue Heifer Calf
1st – NG Beveridge, Low West House sold to Five Houses for £2000
Best Any Other Breed Heifer Calf
1st – A Wilson, Calf Close sold to PJ & MP Gilhespy, Low House for £1920
2nd – Liv Dent, Newton Ketton Farm sold to E Grieves, Oakdene for £1400
3rd – A Wilson, Calf Close sold to Grace Tallentire, Carlton Grange for £1210
Best Limousin Steer Calf
1st – JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort sold to RS Hall & Sons, Ivy House for £2500
2nd – JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort sold to NC Wilson, Quarry House for £2000
3rd – KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold to C Moralee & Sons, Blackburn for £2180
4th – NG Beveridge, Low West House sold to RS Hall & Sons, Ivy House for £2400
Best British Blue Steer
1st – KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold to RS Hall & Sons, Ivy House for £2020
2nd – MJ Marley, Holywell sold to C Moralee & Sons, Blackburn Farm for £2160
3rd – NG Beveridge, Low West House sold to CN Bentley, The Gables for £3000
4th – KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold to WR Thompson, Sloshes for £2120
Sale of Suckled Calves (all 12m and under)
Everything was up on the year, more buyers as seventy actively operated, more vendors who brought with them many more calves; up significantly went the trade too, in fact the returns look nothing short of exceptional at this fabulous flagship sale on our calendar.
Bulls – The buoyant young bulls averaged £1270 which is a pleasing increase of £278 with 23 more sold. The bull buyers in attendance appeared keen to fill yards, it was the Limousin breed which led the way churning out the top six and nine of the top ten. Top of them all at £2000 was a tremendous 7-month-old bull from loyal DfAM supporters the Wilson family of Calf Close Farm, Easington; following the Wilson wonder bull in to the winner’s enclosure were a quality quartet from another longstanding family of customers, the Scott’s of Middridge Grange Farm.
Steers – With the bulls behind us the steers were in supersonic form as they galvanised their way to a £1712 average which is up a staggering £452 on the year for 54 more sold. Top call of £3000 went to a cracking 9-month-old British Blue from NG Beveridge, Low West House; the smart sort was knocked down to CN Bentley, The Gables, Kepwick and will hopefully come out a success on the show scene next year. Following at £2500 was our worthy champion calf from the Swinbank’s, an onslaught queued in the wings as an unbelievable forty-two other steer calves sold between £2000 and £2400.
Heifers – Red hot were the heifers and in plentiful supply, a marvellous 103 more on the year averaged £1446 which is a rise of £364. Three sweethearts from the Limousin sired show class stole the limelight, top at £3500 was the reserve champion from Low West House, following at £2850 was a wonderful cow maker from RA & SL Wearmouth, Middletown Farm and snapping at her heels at £2700 was a superstar in the making from the Swinbank team at Cold Comfort. A baker’s dozen followed over £2000 and a score more between £1800 and £2000 as the confidence from feeders and breeders alike was apparent from start to finish.
Listed below are some of the days top pen averages, none bettered the wonderful Wearmouth’s who turned out a fabulous run of twenty impeccable calves.
RA & SL Wearmouth, Middletown sold 20 averaged £2036 (+£745)
NG Beveridge, Low West House sold 19 averaged £2031 (N/A)
JN Swinbank, Cold Comfort sold 54 averaged £1959 (+£663)
L Booton, Manor Farm sold 13 averaged £1872 (+£521)
KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold 21 averaged £1834 (+£527)
MJ Marley, Holywell sold 13 average £1721 (+£486)
Leading Prices (top 50’s)
Bull Calves – £2000 £1690 £1520 £1510(x2) £1500(x2) £1480 £1470 £1460(x3) A Wilson. £1920(x4) £1420(x5) £1410 £1380 E Scott & Sons. £1880 NG Beveridge. ££1810 £1540 T & C Smith. £1780 KO Stones. £1620 B Watson. £1620 Tallentire. £1600 £1560(x2) £1520(x4) £1490 £1480 £1300 C Peckitt & Son. £1540 £1400 £1350 RL Carter. £1520(x2) M Radford. £1480 £1450(x2) £1410 JW Richardson. £1370 May Tree Farm. £1320 Duell Partners.
Steer Calves – £3000 £2400 NG Beveridge. £2500 £2180 £2060(x3) £2020(x4) £2000(x7) £1980 £1960(x4) JN Swinbank. £2400 £2160(x2) £2100(x2) £2090(x2) £2080 £2060(x2) £2000 £1960 RA & SL Wearmouth. £2340 £2300 £2000 L Booton. £2240 £2180 £2120 £2070(x2) £2020(x2) £2000(x3) KO Stones. £2160 £2080 MJ Marley.
Heifer Calves – £3500 ME Dowson & B Cowton. £2850 £2000 £1820 £1780(x2) RA & SL Wearmouth. £2700 £2040(x3) £2020(x4) £2000 £1950(x2) £1900(x2) £1830(x3) £1800 £1780(x2) £1760(x3) JN Swinbank. £2260 £2000 £1740 £1700 JE Jewitt. £2000(x2) £1980 £1900 £1850(x2) £1800 £1780 £1750 NG Beveridge. £1920 A Wilson. £1880 £1750 WM Bainbridge. £1800(x3) £1680 D Robson & Sons. £1700 KO Stones. £1700 MJ Marley.
Cast Cattle – A few less cows forward saw trade far sharper with high levels for all classes, a larger percentage of dairy cows kept the averages static at 255ppk and £1706 per head but make no mistake, they are dearer. Top per kilo at an excellent 376 pence was a smashing 7-year-old British Blue cow from KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook. Following at 346ppk was our top grossing cow as a thumping 879kg Limousin from WA Richardson Ltd, Hutton Fields added up to a mighty £3146. Beef Shorthorn cows led the native prices as LW Martin, Wayworth sold to a top of 290ppk and PT Stephenson & Son, Moorhen Farm reached £2428. Flying the Friesian flag this week were AR & C Booth & Sons, Village Farm at £1968 and another from the same home topped the pence per kilo at 280.
Cast Cows/OTM Leading PPK – 376 KO Stones. 358 308 284 WA Richardson Ltd. 340 WJ & AS Bowes & Sons. 318 G Calvert & Sons. 318 316 298 L Booton. 314 NG Beveridge. 311 AM Beadle. 310 GK, KN & GJ Hird. 292 W & J Herbert. 290 LW Martin. 286 PT Stephenson & Son.
Cast Cows/OTM Leading Gross – £3146 £2604 £2531 WA Richardson Ltd. £2767 AM Beadle. £2638 WJ & AS Bowes & Sons. £2616 KO Stones. £2454 £2230 £2139 L Booton. £2430 NG Beveridge. £2428 PT Stephenson & Son. £2390 £2047 LW Martin. £2304 ENB Farming. £2250 GK, KN & GJ Hird. £2008 W & J Herberet. £1968 AR & C Booth & Sons.
Store Sheep – No languishing in the lambs as the trade goes from strength to strength, more buyers ringside once again and another £110 average may have included some strong sorts at the top but undeniably a larger proportion of very long-term projects below them. Beltex brought the days top prices, a super smart sort from MW Cook & Son, Park Farm led the way at £160 whilst a pair from JE Holliday & Son, Woodland House followed at £159 and a trio from WB Rutter & Sons, Grouse Lodge followed at £153. The strong lambs sit £120 to £145 dependant on cover whilst the healthy runners trade £105 to £120 and prices under three figures are solely reserved to those we won’t see again until the very end of the hogg season next year.
Feeding ewe trade is still fast and furious as another mammoth show descended on DfAM. Strong, fit lowland ewes are selling anywhere £140 to £190 whilst the better Mules are £120 to £145. Leaner ewes with some frame about them are typically £90 to £120 and horned ewes with any kind of cover on them traded £45 to £85.
Leading Prices
Store Lambs
Beltex – £160 £116 MW Cook & Son. £159 JE Holliday & Son. £153 £130 WB Rutter & Sons.
Texel – £140 £124 CA & J Kipling. £133 £123 JE Holliday & Son. £131 B & J Bainbridge. £131 RI Jones. £130 £128 £121 PJ Anderson & Son. £128 £121 T James. £127 Beckwith. £125 £124(x2) H & P Hutchinson. £124 £123 TE Dobson. £121 W & C Iceton. £120 JR & J Crowe.
Continental – £146 £114 A Bloomfield. £130 £118 JL Anderson. £128 £122 MG & WD Burton. £128 £119(x2) £114 A & R Thompson. £123 £118 £115(x2) EG Bulman. £120 RRC Andrew. £119 £115 K Mowbray. £118 G Bolton. £117 Robert Brett. £117 JH Johnson. £114 Petch Farms.
Suffolk – £128 £123 JH Johnson. £122 JE Holliday & Son. £111 RG McNeal. £106 J & KA McLaughlin.
Mule – £109.50 £96 MG & WD Burton. £106 S Beeforth. £98 R & RE Everitt. £96 GA & RJ Lambert. £95 D Rutter. £92 GS Dixon.
Swaledale – £70 £40 GA & RJ Lambert.
Feeding Ewes/Rams
£190 £168 GH Lister. £185 £134 T & A Walton. £175 A Elliot. £168 Beckwith. £168 £136 A & R Thompson. £166 £140 £132 RO Gilson. £162 Namens Leases Farm Ltd. £158 EG Bullman. £156 £138 Kelly Rafferty. £145 £140 D Walker. £135 JH Johnson. £132 J Butterfield & Son.
Rearing Calves – 128 calves sold today saw a much younger show across the board, however trade still remained strong. Top price of today goes to A Wilson, Calf Close farm, with a terrific Limousin Bull reaching £790, whilst this good home had another limousin following at £690. Inra95 Bulls reached heights of £635 from J&A Stevenson & Sons, Blue House Farm. Angus Bulls topped at £620 from R&L Farming, Long Green Farm, whilst Simmental Bulls topped at £490 from JE&MP Else, Grange Farm. Hereford bulls from Baysleap Dairy Farm made £430. DA Howie reached £350 with a Friesian Bull.
Top priced heifer calf today went to R&L Farming, Long Green Farm, with an Angus reaching £475. INRA95 Heifers reached £450 from Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd, whilst Herefords topped at £400 from this same home. A young Limousin heifer from GW Chapman, Sawmill Cottage, also made £320.
Bull Calves:
Limousin – £790 £680 A Wilson.
Inra 95 – £635 J&A Stevenson & Sons. £600 £545 £510 £500 £490 £480×2 £470 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
Angus – £620 R&L Farming. £430 £420×3 £410 £400×2 JL Miles & Sons. £380 JE&MP Else. 320×2 £300×4 Deerness Valley Dairy. £570 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
Fleckvieh – £560 R&L Farming.
Simmental – £490×4 £470 £460×3 £400 £380×2 £315×2 £300 JE&MP Else.
Hereford – £430 £410 £330×2 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £360 £310 WD Richardson.
Friesian – £350 DA Howie. £310×4 £280×3 £270×5 WD Richardson. £300×5 May Tree Farm. £265×2 £250 £200×2 £180 SJ Kellett & Son. £160 J&A Stevenson & Sons.
Ayrshire – £350×2 DA Howie.
Brown Swiss – £200 JE&MP Else.
Heifer Calves:
Angus – £475×3 R&L Farming. £400×2 £390×2 £380 JL Miles & Sons. £380 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £310×2 £300×2 Deerness Valley Dairy.
Inra 95 – £450 £430 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
Limousin – £320 GW Chapman.
Hereford – £400×3 £330 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £350×2 £340 WD Richardson. £330×2 JE&MP Else.
Friesian – £120 WD Richardson.
