Farm and Country news for Cumbria and the Lake District: South Lakes, Eden, North Lancashire, Dales

Farm prices - Penrith Auction Mart

1:03pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

PENRITH: Wednesday, May 2. Weekly sale of sheep. Forward: 3,921 prime sheep, comprising of 16 spring lambs, 3,062 prime hoggs and 843 cast ewes and rams. Prices - Prime lambs: Texel to £96 each, or 242 pence per kilo. Prime hoggs: Texel 98, 220; Suffolk 96, 203; Continental 94, 205; Cheviot 90.50, 218; Beltex 90, 218; Mule 88.50, 174; Charollais 86.50, 204; Masham 86.50; Scotch 85.50, 196; Cheviot Mule 84; Rough Fell 81.50; Swaledale 79, 191; Herdwick 78, 189. Cast ewes: Texel 134 (average £102.28); Beltex 128 (100.55); Bluefaced Leicester 116 (97.06); Suffolk 114 (101.43); Cheviot 98.50 (71.93); Continental 87 (77.86); Mule 86 (82.76); Masham 79 (79); Swaledale 74 (53.69); Herdwick 60 (42.82); Goat 53 (52.33); Scotch 50 (49). Cast rams: Suffolk 130 (106.29); Bluefaced Leicester 125 (114); Texel 123 (109.14); Swaledale 66 (61.20); Herdwick 60 (55.50).

Farm prices - Ulverston Auction Mart

1:04pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

ULVERSTON: Tuesday, May 1. Sale of livestock. Prices - Prime spring lambs: Suffolk to £113 each (average £113), or 251.11 pence per kilo (average 251.11p); Texel 115 (105), 261.36 (234.64). Hoggs: Blackface 52 (52), 157.58 (157.58); Charollais 83 (82.75), 165 (163.08); Cheviot 83.50 (77.09), 206.49 (180.4); Herdwick 74 (64.91), 198.76 (187.9); Jacob 60 (60), 187.5 (187.5); Mule 77 (67.06), 192.42 (164.41); Scotch 79 (73.50), 195.4 (189.56); Suffolk 81.50 (75.38), 186.49 (184.08); Swaledale 80 (75), 195.78 (176.17); Texel 85 (74.43), 194.44 (174.87). Prime cattle/OTM cattle - Steers: Limousin 196.5p. Heifers: Limousin 179.5; British Blue 191.5. OTM: Aberdeen Angus 131.5. Cast ewes/rams: Texel £106; Suffolk 117; Mule 86; Swaledale 76; Cheviot 106; Herdwick 74; Kerry 75; Charollais 86. Ewes with lambs at foot - Twins: Mule 168. Singles: Texel 130. Hoggs with single lambs at foot: Texel 123.

Farm prices - Bentham Auction Mart

12:55pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

BENTHAM: Wednesday, May 2. Weekly sale of dairy cattle, rearing calves and sheep with lambs at foot and evening sale of prime hoggs, feeding and cast sheep. Forward: 6 dairy, 1,222 breeding sheep with lambs at foot, 58 calves; 3,361 sheep, comprising of 277 spring lambs, 2,269 prime hoggs and 815 feeding and cast sheep. Prices. Dairy - Newly calved Black and White: Cows to £1,670 each (average £1,385); Heifers 2,250 (1,967.50). Breeding sheep with lambs at foot - Ewes (with twins): Continental 370 (208.88). (With singles): Continental 168 (114.10); Horned 115 (102.25). Broken Mouth (with twins): Continental 170 (146); Mule 174 (168.67); Horned 125 (108.33). (With singles): Continental 130 (112.67); Mule 115; Horned 85 (77.50). Shearlings (with twins): Continental 245 (197.50); Mule 230 (200.56); Masham 185; Suffolk 180. (With singles): Continental 200 (161.36); Mule 200 (190). Hoggs (with twins): Continental 215 (201); Mule 195. (With singles): Continental 260 (170.62); Mule 235 (197.53); Suffolk 190 (156.73). Gimmer hoggs: Continental 135 (100.03); Mule 112 (106.70); Cheviot 100 (96.32). Ram hoggs: Texel cross 190 (133.33). Calves - Bulls: British Blue cross 450 (360.40); Limousin cross 400 (306.67); Black and White 198 (83.44). Heifers (all crosses): British Blue 395 (359); Limousin 220 (205). Spring lambs (less than 36 kilograms): Continental cross £87, or (average 271 pence per kilo); Suffolk cross 76.50, (246). (More than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 110, (297); Suffolk cross 97 (236); Horned 90.50, (210). Prime hoggs (less than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 78, (222); Mule 67, (203); Horned 65, (203). (More than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 103, (235); Suffolk cross 90.50, (202); Mule 84, (195); Masham 83.50, (212); Horned 86.50, (211). Cast sheep - Ewes: Continental cross 125; Suffolk cross 138; Mule 105; Horned 88; Bluefaced Leicester 135. Rams: Polled 142; Horned 71.

Farm prices - Carlisle Auction Mart

12:56pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

CARLISLE: Wednesday, May 2. Weekly sale of livestock. Forward: 252 calves. Prices - Dairy: Holstein Friesian to £1,720 each; British Friesian 1,520; Holstein Friesian in calf 1,050. Bulling heifers: 950. Calves - Bulls: Limousin 530; British Blue 432; Simmental 385; British Friesian 310; Holstein Friesian 305; Aberdeen Angus 290. Montbeliarde 290. Heifers: British Blue 410; Limousin 350; Aberdeen Angus 332; Charolais 315. Store cattle - Bullocks: Limousin 1,310; British Blue 1,225; Charolais 1,265; Aberdeen Angus 1,135; Saler 1,110; Bazadaise 1,075; Holstein Friesian 945; British Friesian 930. Heifers: Charolais 1,050; Limousin 1,040; British Blue 985; Aberdeen Angus 965; Bazadaise 730; Hereford 720. Bulls: Limousin 900. Weanlings - Heifers: British Blue 1,100; Simmental 1,005; Limousin 890; Aberdeen Angus 855; Blonde d’Aquitaine 765; Charolais 765; Blue Grey 640. Steers: British Blue 1,035; Aberdeen Angus 885; Limousin 875; Montbeliarde 845; Charolais 825; Bazadaise 765; Hereford 750; Blue/Grey 720; Holstein Friesian 700; Beef Shorthorn 620. Bulls: Limousin 980; Montbeliarde 805; Parthenais 865; Simmental 735; British Blue 695; Holstein Friesian 590.

Farm prices - Hawes Auction Mart

12:58pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

HAWES: Tuesday, May 1. Weekly sale of livestock. Forward: 7 calves and 520 sheep, comprising of 4 spring lambs, 176 prime and lightweight hoggs, 153 cast ewes and rams and 187 ewes with 304 lambs at foot. Prices. Calves - Bulls: British Blue cross to £420 each; Limousin cross 365; Friesian 240. Heifers (all crosses): British Blue 400 (average £390); Limousin 382 (377). Spring lambs: Standard to 223 pence per kilo (average 222.1p), or £87 each. Prime hoggs: Lightweight 206 (172.5); Standard 210 (190.4); Medium 203 (193.3); Continental 210p, £86; Rough Fell 206, 77; Suffolk 194; Herdwick 192; Swaledale 186, 72.50; Bluefaced Leicester £81.50. Cast ewes: Horned £82 (average £45.79); Polled 95 (75.71). Cast rams: Horned 101; Polled 95 (94.33). Ewes (with twin lambs at foot): Mule 200 (170.24); Swaledale 172 (130.54). (With single lambs at foot): Texel 198 (180.50); Mule 195 (157.54); Swaledale 132 (90.46).

Farm prices - Kendal Auction Mart

12:59pm Tuesday 8th May 2012

KENDAL: Tuesday, May 1. Sale of ewes and lambs, spring lambs, prime hoggs and cast sheep. Prices - Spring lambs: Suffolk to £100 each; Charollais 101; Texel 95; Hampshire 93; Dorset 87. Prime hoggs: Suffolk 92; Charollais 77; Texel 93; Herdwick 65. Cast ewes: Suffolk 116; Continental 95; Hampshire 85; Masham 80; Mule 91; Swaledale 65; Rough Fell 88; Horned 85; Cheviot 112; Texel 112; Leicester 99; Herdwick 43. Cast rams: Continental 110; Swaledale 70; Rough Fell 88; Texel 98.

More trappers needed to tackle mole menace in Cumbria

1:10pm Wednesday 2nd May 2012

A SHORTAGE of trappers has led to an explosion of the mole population across Cumbria and north Lancashire.

Cumbria farmers' fury after milk prices are slashed

6:40pm Tuesday 1st May 2012

DAIRY farmers in Cumbria could be hit hard after a milk processor slashed its farmgate price by two pence per litre.

Lancaster Auction Mart - Prices May 3

12:03pm Tuesday 1st May 2012

LANCASTER: Friday, April 27. Weekly Sale of Store stock and Special Spring show of weaned suckled calves. Sponsors Wynnstay in associations with Pfizer. Judge Mrs Hannah Mason.

Penrith Auction Mart - Prices May 3

12:05pm Tuesday 1st May 2012

LANCASTER: Friday, April 27. Weekly Sale of Store stock and Special Spring show of weaned suckled calves. Sponsors Wynnstay in associations with Pfizer. Judge Mrs Hannah Mason.

Ulverston Auction Mart - Prices May 5

12:09pm Tuesday 1st May 2012

ULVERSTON: Tuesday, April 24. Special show and sale spring lambs/hoggs, weekly primestock sale. Forward 30. Judge: I. Brown. Results: 1 SG Benson, 2 & 3 A&C Park. Prices - lambs: Charollais to £117 each (average 106.67), or 265.91 pence per kilo (249.82); Dorset 87, (85), 209.76, (193.91); Suffolk 98, (91), 224.39, (209.78); Texel 103, (94), 223.91, (188.48). Hoggs: Charollais 78, 190.24; Cheviot 88, (82.30), 214.83, (197.31); Dorset 78, 159.18; Gritstone 61, 210.34; Herdwick 82, (69.94), 208.33, (195.61); Mule 83.50, (77.82), 204.96, (165.47); Suffolk 86, (77.50), 202.56, (186.22); Swaledale 76, (74), 206.46, (197.33); Texel 95, (79.33), 213.86, (186.64). Prime cattle: Limousin steer to 189.50 pence per kilo; Limousin heifer 215.50; British Blue steer 196.50; British Blue heifer 189.50; Limousin bull 179.50. OTM: Limousin cow 124.50; Hereford heifer 123.50. Dairy, beef breeding, calves and store cattle (steers) Limousin to £1,070 each; Blonde d’Aquitaine 880; Simmental 980; Friesian 800; British Blue 1,020; Aberdeen Angus 995; (heifers): Limousin 940; British Blue 920; Charolais 1,030; (bulls): Limousin 795; Aberdeen Angus 740; British Blue 505.

Carlisle Auction Mart Prices May 3

11:51am Tuesday 1st May 2012

CARLISLE: Wednesday April 25. Weekly sale of livestock. Forward: 314 calves, 442 weanlings. Prices - store cattle (bullocks): Limousin to 1,440 each; Charolais 1,205; British Blue 1,200; Saler 1,260; British Friesian 1,070; Aberdeen Angus 900; Holstein Friesian 750; (heifers): Brisish Blue 1,200; Limousin 1,140; Aberdeen Angus 1,000; Charolais 905; Simmental 770. Calves (bulls): Limousin 465; British Blue 465; Charolais 435; Aberdeen Angus 320; British Friesian 290; Hereford 360; holstein Friesian 285; Shorthorn 275; Brown Swiss 195; Guernsey 102; Danish Red 82; (heifers): British Blue 460; Limousin 435; Aberdeen Angus 355; Charolais 340. Weanlings (bulls): Limousin 1,175; Bazadaise 970; Simmental 970; charolais 915; British Blue 840; Montbeliarde 880; Aberdeen Angus 770; Longhorn 720; Saler 745; Holstein Friesian 620; (steers): Limousin 1,090; Charolais 1,025; British Blue 935; Salers 865; Aberdeen Angus 865; Holstein Friesian 815; British Friesian 790. hereford 780; (heifers): Limousin 1,010; British Blue 985; Charolais 790; Bazadaise 790-; Swedish Red and White 750; Aberdeen Angus 655. Dairy: Holstein Friesian 2,100; Ayrshire 1,600.

Hawes Auction Mart - Prices May 3

11:54am Tuesday 1st May 2012

HAWES: Tuesday, April 24. Weekly sale of livestock. Forward: 5 cull cows and 538 sheep comprising , 281 prime and lightweight hoggs, 139 cast ewes and rams, and 118 ewes with 210 lambs at foot. Prices - cull cattle: Continentals to 144 pence per kilo; Black and White cows 124 (average 119.3). Prime hoggs: Lights 218, (180.5); Standards 197, (191.7); Mediums 195, (188.7); Continentals 218 or £83 each; Mules 212, 70; Horned 197, 75. Cast ewes: Horned to £87 each (56.90); Polled 102, (84.81). Cast rams: Horned 72; Polled 119, (99.83). Ewes with twin lambs at foot: Swaledale 222, (153.29); Texel 210, (184.73); Mule 205, (184.75). Ewes with single lambs at foot: Swaledale 188, (105.14); Suffolk 130, (125).

Kendal Auction Mart - Prices May 3

11:56am Tuesday 1st May 2012

KENDAL: Thursday, April 26. Show and Sale of 10 to 12 month old cattle. Judge Louise Todd. Champion: 12 month old British Blue Bullock; Reserve Champion: 11 month old Blue Heifer both belonging to R and J Gorst and purchased by Louise Todd.

Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart - Prices May 3

11:59am Tuesday 1st May 2012

KIRKBY STEPHEN: Tuesday, April 24. Weekly sale of sheep. Forward: 996. Prices - Texel to £102 each or 225 pence per kilo; Beltex 96, 246.2; Charollais 90.30. Prime hoggs: Mule 98.80, 190.8; Texel 93.30, 198.1; Cheviot 83.80, 204.4; Suffolk 82.80; Swaledale 80.30, 193.2; Scotch blackface 77.80, 197.6; Rough Fell 75; Shetland 56.80. Cast ewes and rams: Texel 108; Lleyn 89.50; Bluefaced Leicester 86; Mule 81.50; Cheviot 76.50; Rough Fell 72; Swaledale 66.50; Jacob 52.50. Breeding sheep, ewes and lambs (twins): Texel 79; Suffolk 72; Mule 69; Mule Cheviot 60; (singles) Mule 62; Swaledale 41. Shearlings and lambs (twins): Texel 77.50; Beltex 73.50; Mule 66.50. Hoggs and lambs (singles): Texel 64.50; Mule 60.

Bentham Auction Mart - Prices May 3

11:47am Tuesday 1st May 2012

BENTHAM: Wednesday, April 25. Weekly sale and evening sale of livestock. Forward: 13 dairy; 710 breeding sheep with lambs at foot; 58 calves; 3,549 sheep, comprising of 119 spring lambs, 2,537 prime hoggs and 893 feeding and cast sheep. Prices - Newly calved Black and White: Cows to £1,880 each (average £1,650); Heifers 1,860 (1,732). Breeding sheep with lambs at foot. Ewes - with twins: Continental 242 (148.88); Mule 152 (144.32); Suffolk 140; Horned 165. With singles: Continental 155 (115); Suffolk 140; Horned 92. Broken mouth - with twins: Continental 148 (123.60). With singles: Continental 134 (103.29). Shearlings - with twins: Continental 135; Mule 225 (216.82); Suffolk 145 (144). With singles: Continental 120; Mule 135; Suffolk 125. Hoggs - with singles: Continental 170 (162.76); Mule 188 (166.50); Suffolk 150. Calves - Bulls: British Blue cross 475 (376.25); Limousin cross 342 (259.10); Aberdeen Angus cross 315 (302.50); Stabiliser cross 265 (226.50); Black and White 212 (98.12). Heifers (all crosses): British Blue 325 (298.33); Aberdeen Angus 190; Stabiliser 182 (177.33). Stirks: Black and White 250 (237.14). Spring lambs (less than 36 kilograms): Continental cross to £70 each, or 212 pence per kilo. (More than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 100, 251; Suffolk cross 90, 221. Prime hoggs (less than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 72, 206; Horned 66.50, 195. (More than 36 kilograms): Continental cross 101, 221; Suffolk cross 97, 195; Mule 90, 190; Masham 72.50, 175; Horned 85, 195. Cast sheep - Ewes: Continental cross 130; Suffolk cross 128; Mule 93; Masham 88; Horned 94; Bluefaced Leicester 105. Rams: Polled 101; Horned 72. Goats: 31.

Farm Prices Ulverston Auction Mart

1:22pm Tuesday 24th April 2012

ULVERSTON: Tuesday, April 17. Sale of livestock. Prices - Prime hoggs: Blackfaced to £83.50 each (average £83.50), or 196.47 pence per kilo (average 196.47p); Charollais 98 (91), 227.91 (205.79); Cheviot 96.50 (90.14), 230.31 (212.69); Herdwick 84 (80.25), 219.37 (208.4); Jacob 83.50 (83.50), 181.52 (181.52); Mule 85.50 (79.79), 202.13 (183.97); Scotch 89 (83.50), 206.9 (197.33); Suffolk 93 (83.67), 205 (199.26); Swaledale 86.50 (76.50), 203.85 (194.52); Texel 116 (87.65), 229.76 (186.37). Prime cattle - Heifers: Limousin 208.5p; British Blue 190.5. Bulls: Limousin 175.5. Ewes with lambs at foot - With twins: Mule £182 (average £175.60); Texel 182 (180). With singles: Mule 136. Cast ewes/rams: Texel 128; Suffolk 136; Mule 101; Swaledale 81; Cheviot 115; Herdwick 58; Charollais 121; Gritstone 70; Bluefaced Leicester 94; Zwartble 116.

Farm Prices Hawes Auction Mart

1:13pm Tuesday 24th April 2012

HAWES: Tuesday, April 17. Spring show and sale of rearing calves for the Bill Thompson Trophy and sale of sheep. Forward: 12 calves and 684 sheep, comprising of 475 prime and lightweight hoggs, 158 cast ewes and rams and 51 ewes with 87 lambs at foot. Judge: J Ramshay. Sponsor: Genus. Results - Continental Bulls: 1 (Champion) LC Scarr & Son (British Blue), £500; 2 Messrs Dent, 495; 3 A & W Hodgson, 485. Continental Heifers: 1 (Reserve Champion) JR Thwaites (Limousin cross), 450; 2 & 3 Messrs Dent, 385/390. Friesian/Holstein Bulls: 1 K Nicholson, 252. Prices - Bulls: British Blue cross to £500 each (average £493); Limousin cross 360; Friesian 252. Heifers: British Blue 398; Limousin cross 450 (378). Prime hoggs: Lightweight to 234 pence per kilo (average 211.1p); Standard 236 (211.2); Medium 220 (201.4); Continental 234p, or £98.50 each; Mule 215, 85; Horned 222, 83; Bluefaced Leicester £100. Ewes with lambs at foot - With twins: Swaledale £242 (average £197); Mule 175 (168). With singles: Swaledale 130 (103); Mule 150 (133). Cast ewes: Horned 80 (56.14); Polled 100 (85.90). Cast rams: Horned 84 (61.80); Polled 130 (108).

Farm Prices Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart

1:15pm Tuesday 24th April 2012

KIRKBY STEPHEN: Tuesday, April 17. Weekly sale of sheep. Forward: 1,060 sheep. Prices - Prime lambs: Texel to £122.80 each, or 318.4 pence per kilo; Suffolk 100.30, 233.3. Prime hoggs: Suffolk 111.30, 194.1; Charollais 106, 199.6; Rouge de l’Ouest 104.80; Bluefaced Leicester 101.80; Texel 94.80, 215.5; Cheviot 90.30, 209.9; Scotch Blackface 84.80, 204.3; Rough Fell 80.30, 180.4; Mule 80, 193.6; Swaledale 77.80, 190.3; Herdwick 71.80; Beltex 217.9p; Kerry Hill 197.4. Cast ewes and rams: Bluefaced Leicester £137.50; Texel 115.50; Rouge de l’Ouest 105; Suffolk 96.50; Mule 95; Charollais 90; Lleyn 81.50; Cheviot 79.50; Swaledale 77.50; Rough Fell 70.50. Ewes and lambs: Texel (correct below with twins) 75.50.