Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of Primestock on Thursday 13th May 2021. Forward were 272 Cattle, 1467 Sheep and 7 Pigs.
171 Prime Bulls sold to 266ppk or £2113
47 Prime Steers sold to 270ppk or £2004
54 Prime Heifers sold to 286ppk or £1701
385 New Season Lambs sold to 265ppk or £152
724 Prime Hoggs sold to 329ppk or £205
358 Cast Ewes & Rams sold to £140
7 Prime Pigs sold to 115ppk or £89.70
Prime Bulls (171) – A large show averaged a terrific 221ppk, once again some outstanding returns for the professional feeders as the bull beef remains in demand. Often wearing the yellow jersey in our bull race are brothers Cliff and Terry of A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford and today was another successful one as they led the way with a superb Limousin selling for 266ppk, twice more the Watson consignment sold at 260ppk or beyond, the only other seller to join them in the 260 plus club on the day were R P & D L Hutchinson, Newark. Four vendors today sold bulls over £2000 as a tremendous Charolais from M & J Hayhurst, Malton was joined by Limousin’s from L S Staley, Marwood; C & J C Stephenson, Woodland and the pick of them all from Renton Highlaws, Morpeth as their quality 888kg bull realised £2113. A further 8 bulls today sold in the £1900’s as weight is no problem to the live ring buyers. Numerous native breeds again in attendance with the Aberdeen Angus winning that fight on the day as regular sellers A S & S M Kemp, Sherburn sold to 248ppk and J A & M Boyes Ltd, Cleatlam also with an Angus realised a whopping £1868. Business as usual in the dairy breeds for the terrific feeding of R Hall & Son, Brotton as they sold a Friesian to 203ppk. The top gross priced dairy bull was somewhat more unusual as a monstrous Swedish Red and White from the fast becoming familiar face of J M Stuart & Son, Preston, Lancashire sold for an unbelievable £1766.
J B Luck, Bowes sold 3 Bulls to average 256ppk or £1955
L S Staley, Marwood sold 2 Bulls to average 243ppk or £1965
M & J Hayhurst, Malton sold 2 Bulls to average 228ppk and £1925
J & A Moralee, Bardon Mill sold 3 Bulls to average 242ppk and £1808
D Richardson & Co, Melsonby sold 8 Bulls to average 242ppk and £1808
J W Holmes & Son, Notts sold 7 Bulls to average 240ppk and £1732
J A & M Boyes Ltd, Cleatlam sold 10 Bulls to average 238ppk and £1706
A G Watson & Sons, Rushyford sold 7 Bulls to average 251ppk and £1682
Continental Bulls – Top prices ppk 266 260×2 249 248 AG Watson & Sons. 262 254 RP&DL Hutchinson Ltd. 259 S&J Dent & Son. 258 256×2 JB Luck. 258 250 WI Suddes & Son. 256 254 J&A Moralee. 256 249 248 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 254×2 250 JW Holmes & Son. 254 C&JC Stephenson. 252 LR Welsh & Co. 252 250×3 AS&SM Kemp. 250×2 249 248×2 D Richardson & Co Ltd. 249 LS Staley. 248 GH Farms Ltd. 248 J&A&DA Horn.
Lead Grossing Continental Bulls £2113 Renton Highlaws Ltd. £2105 C&JC Stephenson. £2003 £1927 LS Staley. £2003 £1848 M&J Hayhurst. £1994 £1940 £1932 JB Luck. £1958 £1795 £1768 RW&R Henry. £1956 £1896 £1895 £1877 £1847 £1827 D Richardson & Co Ltd. £1936 WI Suddes & Son. £1925 £1830 J&A Moralee. £1874 £1859 JW Holmes & Son. £1826 £1746 JA&M Boyes Ltd. £1819 £1786 AS&SM Kemp. £1810 £1791 £1744 AG Watson & Son. £1794 £1721 LR Welsh & Co.
Friesian Bulls – Top prices ppk 203 202 188 R Hall & son. 200 180 172×2 J&JH Musgrave. 200 196 188 D&CA Henry. 199 190 184×2 JM&S Walton. 198 164 162 160 154×2 D Walker. 198 187 162 WE&CA Anderson. 196 FS Sturrock. 188 184 GW Dobson. 180 178 162 JB&LM Knight. 180 GS Dowson. 172 JM Stuart & Son. 154 R Carter & Son.
Lead Grossing Friesian Bulls £1472 £1267 £1261 £1221 JM&S Walton. £1407 FS Sturrock. £1372 £1248 £1188 D&CA Henry. £1291 JM Stuart & Son. £1285 £1190 GW Dobson & Son. £1282 £1208 £1203 R Hall & Son. £1234 £990 £933 £889 J&JH Musgrave. £1144 GS Dowson. £1135 £1112 £1002 JB&LM Knight. £1085 £967 £929 £923 D Walker. £1004 £999 WE&CA Anderson.
Native Breed Bulls– Top prices ppk 248 228 AS&SM Kemp. 224 JA&M Boyes Ltd. 219 GS Dowson. 214 JW Holmes & Son. 210 M Hutchinson. 208×2 PJ&ES Rogerson. 206 203 JT Layfield & Sons. 206 M Ord & Sons. 206 D&CA Henry. 199 FS Sturrock & Sons. 180 WR Barron.
Lead Grossing Native Breed Bulls £1868 JA&M Boyes Ltd. £1654 JW Holmes & Son. £1612 £1429 AS&SM Kemp. £1564 M Hutchinson. £1470 £1408 PJ&ES Rogerson. £1438 WR Barron. £1429 JT Layfield & Sons. £1423 M Ord & Sons. £1361 D&CA Henry. £1343 FS Sturrock & Sons. £1189 GS Dowson. £1186 JT Layfield & Sons.
Clean Cattle (101) – Numbers tighter, a very eclectic mix however a home easily found for all types, cattle forward from every step of the EUROP grading sheet, in particular today a fabulous trade was had for the butcher spec cattle with a magnificent 7 selling 280ppk or beyond. The gold medal this week was a share between tremendous Limousin heifers from J V & J A Hodgson, Summerhouse and J B Luck, Bowes at 286 pence per kilo, the latter also turned out the top gross price for a heifer at £1701. Somehow left wearing the bridesmaid’s dresses this week were superstars from regulars M F Hall and B Walker who had both picked out sensational beast which were worthy of topping many a sale, the top ten heifers today were a real credit to all of our committed supporters. Some super steers presented today, none better than 3 peaches from J L Marks, Bishopton which peaked at 270 pence per kilo with a lovely Limousin; top gross valued steer today was also a Limousin and belonged to regular visitor to the top slot J E Suddes & Son, Cornsay Colliery as the pick of their tremendous run sold for £2004.
J E Suddes & Son, Cornsay sold 5 Steers to average 252ppk and £1858
W J Scott Ltd, West Woodburn sold 7 Steers to average 243ppk and £1635
J L Marks, Bishopton sold 3 Steers to average 266ppk and £1553
J R & B Anderson & Son, Manfield sold 2 Steers to average 257ppk and £1502
J B Luck, Bowes sold 3 Heifers to average 283ppk and £1575
B Walker, Dalton-on-Tees sold 3 Heifers to average 271ppk and £1574
M F Hall, Ponteland sold 6 Heifers to average 271ppk and £1422
J V & J A Hodgson, Summerhouse sold 8 Heifers to average 260ppk and £1563
R Hirst, Neasham sold 5 Heifers to average 259ppk and £1420
Continental Steers – Top prices ppk 270 266 263 JL Marks. 257 253×2 244 240 230 WJ Scott Ltd. 256 254 252 250 249 JE Suddes & Son. 248 247 238 230×2 228 RA&BA Ridley & Son. 244 Askwiths.
Lead Grossing Continental Steers £2004 £1930 £1840 £1791 £1724 JE Suddes & Son. £1853 £1832 £1808 £1794 £1618 £1598 RA&BA Ridley & Son Ltd. £1747 £1708 £1662×2 £1642 £1601 WJ Scott Ltd. £1568 Askwiths.
Friesian Steers – Top prices ppk 178 175 166×2 152 148×3 148 140 JM Stuart & Son.
Lead Grossing Friesian Steers £1120 £1115 £1062 £1040 £1013 £985 £979 JM Stuart & Son.
Heifers – Top prices ppk 286 285 278 JB Luck. 286 270 265 263 260 256 250 236 JV&JA Hodgson. 285 276 254 B Walker. 284 283 280 278 275 MF Hall. 271 J&SE Bainbridge. 268 264 262 252 250 R Hirst. 260 248 227 G Moore. 258 256 226 Renton Highlaws Ltd. 248 T Watson. 248 TM&A Bellas & Son. 240 G Beadle.
Lead Grossing Heifers £1701 £1554 £1470 JB Luck. £1688 TM&A Bellas & Son. £1667 £1602 £1571 £1567 £1560 £1544 £1517 JV&JA Hodgson. £1665 £1556 £1478 Renton Highlaws. £1641 £1562 £1518 B Walker. £1559 £1513 £1497 £1417 MF Hall. £1463 £1461 £1451 £1401 R Hirst. £1415 JM Stuart & Son. £1325 G Moore. £1322 T Watson. £1310 JB Bell & Son.
New Season Lambs (385) – A competitive trade once more as the numbers begin to appear, the class of 2021 look in safe hands as this week last year a sale average of £115 was very pleasing, therefore todays average of £130 certainly, it would appear, bodes well for the coming months. Topping the sale for the second week running was J C Simpson of Caldwell with a terrific trio reaching £152, the classy Caldwell collection today averaging 339ppk and £145. Top price per kilo went to regular supporters A S & G Donaldson of Little Langton as they peaked at 356ppk; 48 lovely handy weighted lambs from this home also averaged 339ppk and £128.
Lambs – Top prices ppk 365 356 348 345 335 328 327 317 AS&G Donaldson. 350 342 339 323 JC Simpson. 337 334 331 322 318 P Tindale. 335 331 M&A Gaskin. 335 I Hedley. 331 GP Addison. 330 Melissa Donaldson. 329 Anna Herbert. 329 317 JE Suddes & son. 328 321 315 RA Patterson & Son. 327×2 323 317×2 TW&PT Moss Ltd. 325 J Bolton. 324×2 BR&R Routledge. 321 JS Davison. 319 JA&B Nappey. 316 A&EJ Dobinson.
Lead Grossing Lambs £152 £146 £144 £140 JC Simpson. £151 £144×2 TW&PT Moss Ltd. £151 £141 W Kirk & Sons. £150 £140 £135 JS Davison. £146×2 £139 £136 AS&G Donaldson. £142.50 £142 £135 JE Suddes & Son. £141 £136 £135 M&A Gaskin. £140 £137 £136 £135 P Tindale. £139 GP Addison. £139 JW&DW Laing. £135 Anna Herbert. £135 RA Patterson & Son. £135 D Chapman. £134 I Hedley. £134 JA&B Nappey. £134 PK&HC Dowson. £133×2 BR&R Routledge.
Prime Hoggs (724) – Still the hoggs are in demand, as we often see in May the box of ‘Celebrations’ needs a shake before making your choice, whilst a few Maltesers remain the percentage of Bounty’s is on the increase. As ever the ridiculously consistent Mark Simpson of A C Simpson & Son, Witton-le-Wear produced the goods, top price today for Mr. Consistent a wonderful £205, the 40 today averaging a pleasing £173. Top price per kilo went to the familiar face of M Robinson & Sons, Staindrop as they produced a pen of beautiful Beltex reaching 329ppk. A superb run from R H Thompson & Son, Whins Farm saw their 128 predominantly Charollais hoggs average £166.
Hoggs – Top prices ppk 329 325 320 312 306 300 278 M Robinson & Sons. 315 307 300 298×2 292×2 290 283 J Hicks. 311 NA Miller. 310 298 282 CH Tindale. 305 304 303 302 Potter. 301 288 281×2 280 279 278 AC Simpson. 296×2 294×2 288 282 278×2 RH Thompson & Son. 289 J Musgrave. 281 KM Boanas. 281 SC Brown. 280 278 PJ&MP Gilhespy. 279 M Hogg. 278 LD Laws. 276 O&LW Welford. 276 A&CA Stanwix. 275 W Kirk & Sons.
Lead Grossing Hoggs £205 £195 £194 £185 £182 £179 £175×2 £170×2 £162 AC Simpson & Son. £184 £180×2 £179 £178×2 £174 £171 £170 £167 £166 £165 £163×2 RH Thompson & Son. £179 TE Dobson. £175 £166 WR Wilson & Partners. £174 £168 J Woodward & Sons. £169 KM Boanas. £166 CJM Hedley. £163 A&CA Stanwix. £162 £150 J Hicks. £151 M Hogg. £150 £147 M Robinson & sons. £150 NA Miller. £149 PJ&MP Gilhespy. £149 J Musgrave.
Cast Sheep (358) – With Ramadan over many looked at the ewe trade and expected a freefall, not the case in Darlington today as the ewes averaged £96 and the tups a whopping £120. Topping the sale at £140 were C S & V Whitfield of High Castledene with their tremendous Beltex / Texel ewes, nice to see the double jagged Colin Whitfield back in attendance today to see stock sold as we edge out of the Covid nightmare. Mule ewes this week sold regularly £95 to £105 with the fleshy horned ewes £70-£90 and peaking at £97.
Lead Grossing Cast sheep £140 £130×2 £124 £122 CS&V Whitfield. £138 TE Dobson. £130 LE Harrison. £130 H Foster. £128 £120×2 BR&RI Routledge. £127 P Tindale. £126 £120 AS&G Donaldson. £123 I Hedley. £122 WR Wilson & Partners. £122 T Grix. £122 TW&PT Moss. £120 LD Laws. £120 Swalebank Farms Ltd. £120 IM Maughan. £120 C&E Gaskin. £119 RA Patterson & Son. £118 D Chapman. £118 PRE Marwood. £118 M&A Gaskin.
Pigs (7) – The great Darlington pig boom ended today, trade similar however so few forward I took the liberty of naming them. (Grumpy, Dopey, Doc, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy and Sleepy)
Pigs – Top prices ppk 115 90 J Mitchell & Son.
Lead Grossing Pigs £89 £68 J Mitchell & Son.
