Darlington Farmers Auction Mart were privileged to conduct the ‘Kitsons Stars of 25’ sale of fifty expertly selected modern bulling and show heifers on the evening of Friday 3rd October 2025.
A wonderful crowd assembled in support of these stunning heifers from A Kitson & Sons, Five Houses Farm Shop, Crathorne. Few could possibly be surprised at the excellent standard on offer as the Kitson name has become synonymous with quality beef animals over many years, Kitson’s butchers and Five Houses Farm shop have supported high-end sales of beef cattle across the United Kingdom for many years and its was both fitting and reassuring to see so many buyers and bidders in attendance in recognition of their continued affiliation with the industry.
Bidders were in attendance from all four corners of the UK, fuelled by a pre-sale Kitson’s pork pie they bid freely to result in the fifty marvellous heifers eventually heading as far north as the Scottish Highlands and as far south as Worcestershire with a pleasing average of 3523 guineas (£3699) per head.
Leading the prices at 7200 guineas was the terrific lot 10, a 17-month-old black Limousin cross heifer; bred originally at the prolific J Robertson & Company, Newton of Logierait, Perthshire this out and out superstar will now journey back over the border in to the Highlands as she was knocked down to Callum Maciver, Easter Strath, Killen
Lot 10
Selling for 7000 guineas was the excellent lot 13, a 19-month-old pure Limousin heifer, she was originally produced by breeders who need no introduction on the showing scene in this part of the world J W Wilkinson, Leyburn and was bought by a buyer who wished to remain undisclosed.
Lot 13
Bidding online through the Mart Eye app the Maciver’s of Killen secured themselves a second stunner when successfully buying lot 25, a 17-month-old British Blue cross heifer for 4900 guineas; this one was bred originally by Messrs Brass of Bridge End Farm, Soulby.
A very classy Charolais cross, lot 20, followed next at 4500 guineas, she will now take up residence with renowned calf producers GC & KJ White & Son, Rigg Farm, Middleton-in-Teesdale; she’s another with heritage from over the border, bred by Stewart Youngston, Aberdeenshire..
The sale had opened with a bang when lot 1, a black Limousin cross entered the ring; this one at 23-months-old was another with a Scottish origin, she was bought at the Aberdeen & Northern Marts spectacular from G & J Greenlaw, Balgairn Farms and sold on this occasion to the commercial showing herd of Dean Allen, Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire for 4800 guineas.
Three more top heifers bred in Scotland then followed at 4200 guineas, lot 5 another classy black Limousin cross was bought back by her original breeders the Robertson’s of Logierait. Lot 12, a super red Limousin bred by the Hendry family of Keith was knocked down to Rodney Brothers, Masham and then another breeder showing faith in his own genetics and buying one back was G Cameron, Argyllshire with the picture-perfect grey-roan Limousin cross heifer, lot 29.
Five further heifers fetched bids of 4000 guineas on what proved to be a truly memorable night in Darlington Farmers Auction Mart. The sale was held on the eve of our annual North East Live show of commercial livestock, an event which naturally attracts some of the finest show stock in the country. The Kitson’s class of 25 sale and the North East Live show went hand in hand, two events with potential to be major features in the commercial beef world in the future.
The directors, auctioneers and staff at DfAM would like to thank everyone concerned at Kitson & Sons, Five Houses Farm Shop for the opportunity to conduct this sale. Thanks also go to the sale sponsors Tithebarn and I’Anson Quality Feeds.
