Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their Christmas Prime Lamb Show and Sale in conjunction with their weekly sale of Prime Stock on Thursday 9th December 2021. Forward were 281 Cattle, 2471 Sheep and 10 Pigs.
2065 Lambs sold to 755ppk or £370
118 Prime Bulls sold to 267ppk or £2204
41 Prime Steers sold to 294ppk or £1952
119 Prime Heifers sold to 320ppk or £1910
3 Cull Cows sold to 134ppk or £966
406 Cast Ewes & Rams sold to £195
10 Prime Pigs sold to 105ppk or £86
Show Lambs – Firstly we must relay our extreme gratitude to today’s sponsors who ensured a terrific prize fund, thanks 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.
Secondly a huge vote of thanks must go to the long suffering Mrs Parkin of Parkin Family Butchers, Howden for allowing husband Philip the valuable time needed to join us today and give his much appreciated time and judging expertise. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, the brilliance throughout our show today was littered with the next generation, DFAM’s future lies in capable hands.
Champion Lambs came from Harry and Charlie Askwith of Low Mown Meadows, Crook with their winning trio of Beltex; some of the best lambs we have ever seen were absolutely faultless to handle and presented to perfection by the boys leaving both father and grandfather happily placed as proud onlookers. Reserve Champion lambs were the winning pen of Texel’s from another team of young brothers Ben and Jack Moralee of Hardriding Farm, Bardon Mill whose dedication and presentation did also not go unnoticed. Mention must also go to previous champions Northfield Farms, the Dent Family were again incredibly hard to beat and pressed the leaders all the way to the line, two enthusiastic sons Callum and Matthew are also very much part of team Dent just reinforcing the strength we can expect for many, many years to come.
Final mention must go to our fabulous buyers who again did us proud today, butchers, farm shops and wholesalers who support us 52 weeks of the year dug deep to buy quality, the fantastic 32 pens of three forward to show averaged a wonderful 372 pence per kilo and £176.78 with £200 broken on five occasions.
Champion Lambs
Askwiths, Crook 49kg sold for £370 to Worsley Wholesale, Briestfield
Reserve Champion Lambs
J & A Moralee, Bardon Mill 46kg sold for £220 to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton
Best Beltex
1st Askwiths, Crook 49kg sold for £370 to Worsley Wholesale, Briestfield
2nd Northfield Farms, Bowes 61kg sold for £250 to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton
3rd J & A Moralee, Bardon Mill 47kg sold for £190 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor
Best Texel
1st J & A Moralee, Bardon Mill 46kg sold for £220 to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton
2nd Askwiths, Crook 60kg sold for £225 to Thompson Wholesale, Witton-le-Wear
3rd Callum Dent, Northfield Farms 49kg sold for £175 to Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton
Best Suffolk
1st C Moralee & Sons, Langley Park sold for £190 to Thompson Wholesale, Witton-le-Wear
2nd Cole Hill Farms, Elwick 49kg sold for £165 to WMH Farm Fresh Meats, Haydon Bridge
3rd R Tookey & Son, Butterknowle 47kg sold for £130 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor
Best Any Other Breed
1st G W Dent, Cockfield 47kg sold for £175 to Thompson Wholesale, Witton-le-Wear
2nd W Denham, Langleydale 47kg sold for £135 to J A Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor
3rd W Denham, Langleydale s50kg sold for £150 to Thompson Wholesale, Witton-le-Wear
Prime Lambs (2065) – A commercial show outside of the showstoppers met another superb trade, a weighed straight all in sale average of 276ppk and £123.50 keeps the wheels turning very nicely. The top prices are obviously dominated by the show lambs however hundreds more topped 300 pence and an impressive 200 lambs today sold at £150 and beyond.
Lambs – Top prices ppk 755 375 334 333 324 322 319 Askwiths. 478 416 404 383 334 320 316 J&A Moralee. 414 372 345 344 GW Dent. 409 398×2 387 Northfield Farms. 370 323 LD Laws. 370 325 322 320 G Simpson. 362 309 Anthony Tindale. 357 C Dent. 355 348 EW Grieves. 349 333 JD Brannen. 345 C Moralee & Sons. 342 MF Hall. 336 M&A Gaskin. 336 316 Cole Hill Farm Ltd. 330 316 G Thompson & Sons. 330 JE Stobbs. 327 MW Cook & Son. 324 W Denham. 317 D&M Lowes. 315 AS&G Donaldson.
Lead Grossing Lambs £370 £225 £174 £166 £164 £162 £155.50 £151.50 Askwiths. £250 £215 £195 £190 Northfield Farms. £220 £190 £180 £175 £152 J&A Moralee. £192 Anthony Tindale. £190 £150.50 C Moralee & Sons. £185 £152 G Simpson. £185 JD Brannen. £178 £165 LD Laws. £175 £170 £155 GW Dent. £175 C Dent. £172 Ivan Walker. £165 Cole Hill Farm Ltd. £165 D&M Lowes. £165 TE Dobson. £164.50 £162 G Thompson & Sons. £163 £162 W Denham. £162 LM Lithgow. £161 £159 £157 RE Dickson.
Prime Bulls (118) – More forward and more of the same as the bull average remains high at 216 pence per kilo, last weeks bonanza was partially down to a great show however with less of the better end on offer still impressive returns were very apparent. Top price per kilo went to the brilliantly consistent local feeders A G Watson & Sons, Nunstainton Grange at 267ppk with strong showings also coming from regulars D Richardson & Co, Melsonby and first time vendors W M Dick & Sons, Mains of Thorsk, Stirling. Ten terrific bulls bullied their way beyond £2000 today as three from the above-mentioned Richardson run joined two from A C Simpson & Son, Witton-le-Wear, one apiece for the Watson’s at Nunstainton Grange and John Burnett & Sons who were also on the Stirlingshire express; it was however the aforementioned Mains of Thorsk pen which scooped the winners medal, all three super Limousin’s from this good home sold over £2000 with the best a massive £2204. Awesome Aberdeen Angus were this week our native breed winners as super sorts from J Layfield, Willington peaked at 238ppk and £1713 whilst to find our top Friesian feeder we just hit copy and paste as the incredible R Hall & Son, Brotton once again couldn’t be caught. See bully’s special prize board below as usual.
W M Dick & Sons, Stirling sold 3 Bulls to average 259ppk and £2141
D Richardson & Co, Melsonby sold 10 Bulls to average 255ppk and £1950
J H & M & N W Brown, Darlington sold 5 Bulls to average 251ppk and £1730
A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford sold 10 Bulls to average 249ppk and £1860
A C Simpson & Son, Witton-le-Wear sold 3 Bulls to average 248ppk and £2089
Continental Bulls – Top prices ppk 267 264 260×2 257 245 244 AG Watson & Sons. 265 264 261 260 259 255 252 D Richardson & Co Ltd. 260 259×2 WM Dick & Sons. 258 255 250 247×2 JH&M&NW Brown. 257 JJ Horn. 256 IR Appleton. 256 254 AC Simpson & Son. 244 237 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 240 JC Thwaite & Son. 238 J Layfield. 237 John Burnett & Sons. 234 S Allerdyce.
Lead Grossing Continental Bulls £2204 £2132 £2087 WM Dick & Sons. £2170 John Burnett & Sons. £2160 £2145 £1963 AC Simpson & Son. £2085 £1950 £1924 £1893 £1859 £1830 £1814 £1804 AG Watson & Sons. £2052 £2003 £2000 £1993 £1971 £1939 £1927 £1905 £1898 D Richardson & Co Ltd. £1878 JJ Horn. £1867 JC Thwaite & Son. £1827 IR Appleton. £1812 £1795 £1746 £1736 JH&M&NW Brown. £1713 J Layfield.
Friesian Bulls – Top prices ppk 206 200 185 R Hall & Son. 200 JK&CE Farming. 187 JA&A Herbert. 185 184 173 164 FS Sturrock & Sons. 180 169 167 160 J&JH Musgrave. 180 144 139 C&M Atkinson & Sons. 150 GW Dobson & Son.
Lead Grossing Friesian Bulls £1357 £1250 £1244 R Hall & Son. £1307 £1050 £1038 £929 FS Sturrock. £1284 JK&CE Farming. £1204 £910 £825 C&M Atkinson & Sons. £1026 GW Dobson & Son. £1015 £1007 £915 J&JH Musgrave. £923 JA&A Herbert.
Native Breed Bulls – Top prices ppk 238 222 218 210 207 J Layfield. 219 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 215 182 181 160 FS Sturrock & Sons. 194 JA&A Herbert. 194 S Allerdyce. 163 MG Betney.
Lead Grossing Native Breed Bulls £1713 £1611 £1527 £1526 £1519 J Layfield. £1572 JA&M Boyes Ltd. £1503 S Allerdyce. £1425 £1234 £1008 £932 FS Sturrock. £1076 JA&A Herbert. £1059 MG Betney.
Clean Cattle (160) – It seems that the list of things we can and cannot do coming from Westminster do not yet include eating beef this Christmas, perhaps not the humdinger of a trade we witnessed last time of asking however with the steers averaging 242ppk and their sisters a whopping 276ppk with no less than 22 heifers over 300 pence we have little to complain about once again. Two heifers achieved 320ppk, both Limousin’s, the first a 574kg cracker from Robin and Imogen Hirst of Neasham, hottest today though were arguably the inform Renton Family of High Highlaws as they produced 4 of the top 6 heifers per kilo including our other superstar at 320ppk; recent successor from the Border’s W M Fleming was this weeks nearly man at 319ppk whilst some top quality from Team Low Leam at W J Scott Ltd, West Woodburn were also in the running. Nine of the 41 steers sold beyond 270 pence this week with strong offerings from many sources, the Low Leam team again ran a strong race however Limousin’s from Gordon A Mackie, Angus and two toppers from Robert Neill & Partners, Jedburgh ensured that the Scotland flag was well and truly raised at the steer medal ceremony this week. Gross value’s now, starting with the steers, F & R Simpson of Quebec sold over £1900 however it was two unmentioned as of yet raiders from the North who stole the limelight when J & J P Sim of Brechin reached £1937 and Walter Dandie & Son, Broxburn led at £1952. An impressive 25 heifers tallied beyond £1800 however just a pair of them broke £1900, second best was again the reliable Renton’s of Morpeth whilst our winner at £1910 came from W Swinbank & Sons, Caldwell. Below are some of the stand out consignors of the week.
Renton Highlaws, Morpeth sold 8 Heifers to average 309ppk and £1797
A C Simpson & Son, Witton-le-Wear sold 2 Heifers to average 297ppk and £1834
W M Fleming, Kelso sold 6 Heifers to average 293ppk and £1752
J R & B Anderson, Manfield sold 3 Heifers to average 293ppk and £1816
R Hirst, Neasham sold 10 Heifers to average 286ppk and £1641
W Swinbank & Sons, Caldwell sold 1 Steer & 2 Heifers to average 281ppk and £1796
W J Scott Ltd, West Woodburn sold 5 Steers & 7 Heifers to average 279ppk and £1756
Steers – Top prices ppk 294 289 270 268 233 Robert Neill & Partners. 289 272 PJ&MP Gilhespy. 281 245 223 210 Gordon A Mackie. 279 270 250 249×2 WJ Scott Ltd. 275 259×2 250 244 F&R Simpson. 270 Walter Dandie & Son. 263 240 WA Armastrong. 260 250 J&JP Kincraig. 255 250 WL Robinson & Partners. 250 W Swinbank & Sons. 224 215 MG Betney. 218 TN Hodgson & son.
Lead Grossing Steers £1952 Walter Dandie & son. £1937 £1750 J&JP Kincraig. £1932 £1864 £1755 £1688 £1629 F&R Simpson. £1877 £1738 £1705 £1701 £1685 WJ Scott Ltd. £1840 £1800 £1688 £1636 Robert Neill & Partners. £1802 W Swinbank & Sons. £1685 £1682 WA Armstrong. £1666 £1550 £1522 Gordon A Mackie. £1660 £1654 WL Robinson & Partners. £1612 £1583 PJ&MP Gilhespy. £1545 TN Hodgson & Sons.
Heifers – Top prices ppk 320 317×3 312 308 295 290 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 320 307 298 297×2 R Hirst. 319 300 292 290 WM Fleming. 316 311 298 290 289 288 WJ Scott Ltd. 314 JH&M&NW Brown. 311 AC Simpson & Son. 311 PJ&MP Gilhespy. 306 302 295 292 WA Armstrong. 305 298 JR&B Anderson & Son. 304 299 W Swinbank & Sons. 303 290 J&JP Kincraig. 301 289 Walter Dandie & Son. 300 Gordon A Mackie. 299 WF Hustwit. 299 298 296 290 Robert Neill & Partners. 290 DL&D Lovegreen.
Lead Grossing Heifers £1910 W Swinbank & Sons. £1908 £1872 £1829 £1819 £1811 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £1895 £1848 JR&B Anderson & Son. £1890 £1842 £1803 £1802 £1791 WJ Scott Ltd. £1878 £1821 £1782 £1708 WM Fleming. £1857 £1853 £1847 £1844 £1841 £1759 Robert Neill & Partners. £1856 £1851 £1818 £1769 £1768 £1762 Walter Dandie & Son. £1856 £1836 J&JP Kincraig. £1853 £1814 AC Simpson & Son. £1836 £1749 £1725 £1719 R Hirst. £1799 £1752 £1751 £1735 £1734 £1722 WA Armstrong.
Cast Ewes & Rams (406) – A top trade again, today’s leader was a Blue Faced Leicester tup from W A Dinsdale, Harkerside at a massive £195, an absolute monster he could easily have passed for a donkey at the school nativity, alas, we are dedicated slaughter on a Thursday; he’s missed his calling. Top ewes were a brace of hefty Suffolk’s from Cole Hill Farms at £172 whilst Mule’s sold to £128 and Swaledale’s regularly £60-£70.
Lead Grossing Cast Sheep £195 WA Dinsdale. £172 Cole Hill Farm Ltd. £172 Cole Hill Farm Ltd. £160 W Denham. £155 £152 C Longstaff. £150 £140×3 JW&J Collin. £146 £126 J Hird. £144 JC Simpson. £138 £128 D&M Lowes. £138 A&V Wade. £138 RE&L Frank. £136 D Chapman. £130 AWSM Farms. £128 I Marshall & Sons. £126 £116 J Milbank & Sons. £126 IM Maughan. £124 R&RE Everitt. £124 £118 GP&A Carter. D Richardson & Co Ltd.
Pigs (10) – Swine remains good value, the Turkeys are alive and well waiting in the departure lounge, it’s not too late to have a change this Christmas, think pig. Apologies to the poultry farmers for this blatant hambush on your seasonal trade.
Pigs – Top prices ppk 105×2 100 J Mitchell & Son.
Lead Grossing Pigs £86 £78×2 J Mitchell & Son.
SHEEP CHRISTMAS PRIME STOCK SHOW & SALE
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