Beltex breeders’ show notches up a record price

Best shearling ewe and supreme champion came from Croppers of Accrington and sold for 3,700gns to Jim and Diane Wood of Horton in Ribblesdale, on behalf of 19-year-old daughter Hannah.

Richard Geldard of Kendal produced the champion in the Charollais Society show and sale of commercial rams. His winning ram lamb, first in class at Westmorland County Show, sold for 800gns to David Smith of Lothersdale.

But best price was 850gns for a shearling ram from Cyril Dougherty of Kirby Misperton, Malton, selling to Messrs Sandham of Bradford Waste Traders, East Carlton, Yeadon.

David Coates of Coniston Cold had the first-prize pen of 10 Mules for the third year in succession at the annual sale of gimmer shearlings at Skipton. But he was pipped to top price by Jerry Horn, Kelbrook, who got £178 a head.

The Rare & Native Stock Breeder Auctions at Skipton incorporated the annual events of the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders and the Northern Jacob Sheep Breeders.

The Wensleydale championship fell to a shearling ram from Mark Elliott’s flock at Ferrensby, Knaresborough, which sold for 360gns. The reserve champion, a shearling ewe from John and Shelagh Prescott of Longhorsley, Northumberland, fetched 430gns.

A Jacob ewe lamb from Jackie Lewis, of Alderbury, Shrewsbury, made 580gns from Scottish buyer Linda McKendrick of Cupar, Fife. And a ram lamb bred by Pat & Trevor Black of Gowthorpe, York, sold for 700gns to Messrs Denton & Bramwell of Holmfirth

Ryedale ewes sold to a high of £390, with Ryedale rams peaking at £290 and Kerry Hill ewes £230.

In the cattle classes, Belted Galloway heifers sold to a high of £590.

At Bakewell on Monday, a turn-out of 951 cattle proved that “cattle trade remains outstanding” according to auctioneer Bagshaws. At Kirkby Stephen NEMSA last Friday, Harrison & Hetherington sold 10,344 NEMSA gimmer lambs for an average £115.01 (up £23.60 on the year).

n Beef and sheep farmers have seen production “cost per kilo” figures rise across almost all enterprises, according to the annual EBLEX Business Pointers survey.

Beef was 5.75p per kilo (2.6 per cent) more expensive to produce over 2010-2011 than in 2009-2010, while sheep production costs were up 12.6p per kilo (6.6 per cent). But price rises since April have more than compensated, says Eblex.