H&H Senior Auctioneers, Tom Story and Adam Grieve Round Up A Good Year for Sheep and Cattle Sales at St Boswells

“2023 has been another very successful year for the Harrison & Hetherington Farmstock Team here at St Boswells Mart.

 

With the expected seasonal peaks and troughs, we can report that numbers for both sheep and cattle have been good throughout the year, trade has been level and consistent, and in the main slightly ahead of last year. Weekly Monday Prime sales have been well supported with between 2,000 to 3,000 prime and cast sheep coming throughout most weeks and 120 to 180 head of prime cattle and cast cows.

 

Sheep numbers have been good throughout the season and the quality in all sectors coming forward has been exceptional. Our store lamb sale entries have risen this year with numbers regularly in the region of 2-3000.

 

August 31^st at the Principal Show and Sale of Gimmer Shearlings, Ewe Lambs and Store Lambs almost 9,000 sheep went under the hammer, and it attracted a ringside of buyers from all over the UK. They come to St Boswells for the very high standard of breeding sheep and store lambs presented here, and many come specifically for the Scotch Half Breds, as we have one of the largest shows of the breed in the UK.

 

Averages for the Suffolk Cross, Texel and Beltex Cross Gimmers were on a par with the previous year. Underlining increasing demand, Scotch Half Bred Gimmers were up £9.32 on the year and one of the best shows of Scotch Mule Gimmers to be found anywhere up over £30 on the year.

 

The ewe lamb trade proved slightly harder work, with the Scotch Mules providing the sale highlights at up £7.27 during the year.  The 3,335 Store Lambs at this sale averaged £81, with all breeds and sizes selling to extreme rates.

 

Cattle sales have seen buoyant prices, input costs have slackened slightly and with numbers decreasing nationally an increased demand for quality suckler calves resulted in a very sound trade. St Boswells Mart draws consignments from this extensive livestock rearing area, stretching from the central Borders to the East coast and up into the Lothians, it is a pleasure to be able to offer the livestock producers from this prime cattle rearing country a proactive live auction ring.

 

The numbers and quality of cattle coming forward at both our Spring and Autumn Suckled Calves and Store Cattle and Native Breed sales has been excellent. The native cattle sale here at Boswells Mart at the end of September is without doubt the best show of mainly Aberdeen Angus cross cattle in the country, and this year’s sale was no exception with averages rising nearly £200 on the year.

 

Not only was this a great show of cattle, the quality of all stock put forward was second to none, and reflected in the prices they achieved: Store Calves throughout the year have seen an increase in returns of in the region of £150 per head.

 

St Boswells has a tremendous reputation for its cattle sales and I would like to congratulate the vendors for the care and attention and presentation of their livestock throughout the year.

 

We have also held several on-farm Machinery sales, and these have proved that good quality machinery is still in demand, although perhaps not at the peak trading levels seen in the last two years. The most sought-after is well looked after and maintained modern farm machinery. From tractors to combines, cultivation equipment and trailers, there are buyers keen to purchase, and they are attracted from long distances to our high-quality sales.

 

Looking ahead to next year, our aim is to continue to grow our successful weekly primestock sales, followed by the early ewes and lambs sales  and spring suckler calf sales.  

 

The beef trade looks set to remain buoyant as numbers tighten and demand remains strong, despite Channel 4’s best efforts to turn the British public off our top quality, sustainable and healthy produce.

 

With lambing results poor across the country last Spring, we expect numbers to tighten and trade to remain strong or even firm as we head into the New Year.

 

We have an excellent St Boswells H&H family here and on behalf of all team I would like to extend our thanks to our buyers, consigners, and those who transport the livestock throughout the UK. Our very best wishes for Christmas and for the coming year.