CALVES

A smaller entry of calves were forward, with some vendors holding off for the annual Christmas Show in a fortnights time. A sharper trade was seen today with more buyers a round the ring, once again a wonderful run of British Blue calves from JW&TE Sharp, Lyth topped the market at £425, with others from the same good home selling to £415. British Blue bulls were regularly selling away at the £350-£380 mark, with an overall averaged achieved of £358. Native bred bull calves sold to a fast trade with Aberdeen Angus bulls selling to £390 from JAH Walton & Son, Kirkby Stephen. A run of strong Hereford bulls from J Hornby & Sons, Stank sold to £270 and £250. A keen interest was shown for heifer calves suitable for further breeding with a top of £380 twice, firstly for a Limousin heifer from RJ&KR Wilkinson, Levens followed by a British Blue from FB Dunning & Son, Orton. Other British Blue heifers sold to £345 from JW&TE Sharp, Lyth and £340 from A Pickthall, New Hutton.

WEANED CALVES

A small entry of weaned calves were forward with 5 month old British Blue bullocks selling to £480 from Messrs Young, Lindale who also sold Aberdeen Angus bullocks to £480. A run of weaned Black and White bulls from Messrs Dennison, Ulverston sold to £370.

STORE CATTLE

There was no chill in the store ring, as young store cattle sold to red hot prices. Topping at £1300 for a Blonde bullock from RJ&R Holden, Silecroft, who also sold Simmental bullocks to £1230. British Blue bullocks sold to a top of £1230 from R&J Dodgson, Natland who also sold Limousin Bullocks to £1145. Many of the Continental bullocks between 16-20 month old were regularly selling well over the £1100 mark. A run of thirty 6-8 month old Limousin suckler bred calves from B Heys, Merseyside sold to £900, with many of his run of Limousin bullocks selling to the high eight hundreds. A keen interest was shown for all native bullocks with Herefords selling to £1160 from DJ Dickinson, Haverthwaite with Aberdeen Angus selling to £1145 from M Allen, Carnforth.
Heifers sold to another solid trade at J36 with Charolais’s topping at £1230 from RJ&R Holden, Silecroft. A consignment of Limousin heifers from B Heys, Merseyside topped at £1090. With Aberdeen Angus’s selling to £1080 from JE Wightman, Carnforth.

OTM CATTLE

Cull cows saw a top price of 159.5p/kg achieved for a Limousin x from RH Thexton, Sedbergh. Charolais x cows sold to 157p/kg from M Allen, Carnforth, who also sold Aberdeen Angus x cows at 154p/kg. Today a keen interest was shown for beef cows suitable for further finishing, with them regularly selling at 130-145p/kg depending on age and quality. Dairy cows sold to a top price of 141p/kg for a British Friesian from G Cuthbertson, New Hutton, with Holstein Friesian selling to 137p/kg from Jenkin Cragg Farms, Kendal. Medium dairy cows generally sold between 122-135p/kg, with parlour types 110-120p/kg and the leaner cows 95-108p/kg.
Top grossing cow today was a Holstein Friesian achieving £1156 from Jenkin Cragg Farms, Kendal, with beef cows selling to £1054 for an Aberdeen Angus from J Scott & Co, Clark in Cartmel. All cull cows today averaged 128p/kg.
OTM heifers saw a top price of 179p/kg and £1211 for a Holstein Friesian from R Morris-Eyton & Son, Millom, with others from the same home achieving 174p/kg and £1119.
OTM steers sold to 217p/kg and £1294 for a British Blue x from JW Robinson & Son, Farlton.
A single cull bull today achieved 139p/kg and £1442 for a Hereford from RJ&J Gardner, Kendal.
The next sale of cull cows is on Thursday 9th December, which includes the Christmas competition for highest price and grossing cattle, please advise entries to the office.