As we get ready to head into April, preparations are under way at Broughton Auction Mart for our show and sale of store cattle - our April Fair.

Taking place on Tuesday, April 14, this is the mart’s largest cattle sale of the year. It will be full to capacity with entries expected to be in the region of 600 head of store cattle, primarily from the surrounding area. Prior to the sale there is a show with classes for bullock, heifer and an overall champion and reserve.

As the highlight cattle sale of the year this is an important date in the calendar for buyers looking for quality store cattle to fatten and breed with. They will be attracted from the local area and beyond, including County Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

This sale is renowned across the north for having the highest calibre of stock. The cattle come from hardy Cumbrian farms and are known to do exceptionally well on new ground. With 580 head of stock, every pen is totally full to capacity, which is indicative of the importance of the sale, so much so that some heifers are purchased for breeding.

With the declining numbers in the British beef herd the store market is very strong at the moment. Combined with the fact that weather conditions throughout the last 12 months have been tremendous for growing cattle we are expecting a tremendous sale.

The cattle will be predominately Limousin crosses, a number of Charolais and British Blues crosses, and for anyone looking for quality stock with good growing and potential for finishing.

Our chairman Bill Johnson, who has attended this fair and sale for most of his life, said: “This sale has been going as long as I can remember; and it is without a doubt the most significant sale event of the year attracting entries from the Cumbrian West Coast, High Furness and the Lake District.”

“The sale is renowned with the cattle being sought after because they are hardy and the vast majority are beef bred cattle. We have the same buyers returning year after year because they know the stock will thrive on good grazing. This has been an exceptional year for growing cattle; they are nicely wintered stock that has been given a good start, with the vast majority being yearling stock.

With a closing date for entries on Tuesday 5th April anyone wishing to enter cattle should contact www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk

James Little

Broughton-In-Furness Auction Mart