Good day for Beltex at mart on Monday (From Craven Herald)

Good day for Beltex at mart on Monday

4:23pm Thursday 29th March 2012 in Countryfile

While of a more mixed quality than the previous week, prime sheep numbers again held up well at 3,168 head at Skipton Auction Mart’s weekly show on Monday, producing an overall average selling price of £88.69 per head, or 203.2p/kg.

Beltex were popular, comfortably heading the day’s per weight averages at 239.2p/kg, or £98.26 per head, with teenager William Watson, of Hellifield, presenting the top price pen at £118 each, or 302.6p/kg. Texels averaged £92.22 per head, or 207.7p/kg, with prices peaking at £115 apiece for a pen from David Grassam, Wetherby, while Jim Baines, Trawden, led the by weight prices at 272.6p/kg and 256.4p/kg. John Thwaite, of Thornton-in-Craven, presented the £101.50 per head top price Suffolk pen, by weight prices topping at 222.0p/kg for a quality pen from Joe Drinkall, of Chorley. The breed average was £93.39 per head, or 194.5p/kg.

A near 350-strong entry of cast ewes and rams saw the former average £64.10, with lowland prices peaking at £141.50 per head for a Beltex pen from David Findlay, of Coverham, and hill sheep at £97.50 each for a consignment of mules from Brian Watchorn, of Newark. Cast rams sold to a high of £142.50 a head from N Walker, of Preston, averaging £94.06 each.

As breeding sheep numbers begin to grow, a total of 229 ewes with lambs at foot offered plenty of choice. Correct Suffolk ewes with triplets sold to a high of £220 per outfit, Beltex ewes with twins to £225 and Texel shearlings and twins to £208.

Prime cattle met with slightly dearer trade, clean heifers under 30 months selling to a high of 174.5/kg for lighter weights – including £1,144 for a MRI heifer from L&A Watson, of Horton-in-Craven – and 168.04p/kg for heavier types. Prime steers sold to 179.5 p/kg. The overall selling average in the 30 to 48-month classes was 149.35p/kg, or £860, and to a high of £1,161, 163.5p/kg, for a Hereford from Martin Sharp, of Stainforth.

Cull cow trade was again exceptional, averaging £860 per head, or 127.88p/kg, with Paul Bolland, of Airton, topping the per head prices with a black and white at £1,118.