Kirkby Stephen Breeding Sheep Sale

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen Mart held their annual Luke Fair sale of all classes breeding sheep when a catalogue entry of 3,150 sheep were forward. 

Topping the female section at £560 were a pen of 1-3 crop Swaledale ewes from Messrs Hutchinson, Valley Farm, Bowes which were bought by Messrs Nattrass, Shieldhill Top, Garrigill. Messrs Hutchinson also sold 4 crop Swaledale ewes to £400 being purchased by Messrs Harrison, Higher Watson House, Clapham. Messrs Hutchinson’s consignment sold to average £254.80.

Messrs Marwood, Hill Top Farm, Richmond sold 2 crop ewes to £400 also being purchased by Messrs Harrison, Higher Watson House.

Messrs Hunter & Whitehead, Thwaite Farm Richmond sold a pen of ten 3 crop Swaledales to make £240 selling to Messrs Harrison, High Beck Head, Forrest in Teesdale.

Next selling for £210 was a pen of ten 2 and 3 crop Swaledale from Messrs Calvert, Hoggarths Farm, Keld which sold to Messrs Reed, Lands Farm, Bishop Auckland.

Shearlings sold to £370 for a pair of Dutch Texels from Messrs Sowerby, Amos Hill Farm, Slaggyford which sold to Declan Harrison, Beck Farm, Wigton. With this home also selling Dutch Texel Shearlings to £210, two pens to £195 and £190.

Messrs Sowerby also sold a pen of Bluefaced Leicester cross Dutch Texel shearlings to make £205.

Texel shearlings topped at £215 from Messrs Coulthard, Gill House, Barnard Castle selling to Messrs Bainbridge, Red House Farm, Barnard Castle.

Another pen of Texel shearlings sold at £200 from Messrs Greig, Nelson Farm, Hardendale purchased by Messrs Capstick, Lockholme Hall, Ravenstondale.

Mule shearlings topped at £200 for a pen of ten consigned by Messrs Nutter, Manor Farm, Clitheroe purchased by Messrs Ayre, Barnard Castle.

Swaledale shearlings topped at £150 for a pen of ten from Messrs Nutter, Manor farm purchased by Messrs Mitchinson, Gallowberry, Brampton.

Gimmer lambs topped at £170 for a pair of Zwartble from Messrs Metcalf, Thirn Bank, Darlington purchased by Messrs Hall, Sunnybank, Penrith.

Mule gimmer lambs topped at £120 for a pen from Messrs Bainbridge, Little Musgrave Farm selling to Messrs Walton, Lanehead, Middleton in Teesdale.

A packed ringside of buyers turned out which resulted in a excellent trade for our final breeding sheep sale year, with the following breed average been achieved –

Swaledale Ewes £114.71

Dutch Texel shearlings £147.31

Beltex shearlings £157.15

Mule Shearlings £190.

Texel Shearlings £146.08

Mule gimmer lambs £100.37

Beltex gimmer lambs £120.47

Zwartble gimmer lambs £120.17

Swaledale gimmer lambs £77.11

Rams topped at £1000 Bluefaced Leicester 4 shear from Messrs Dawson, School Cottage, Kentmere selling to Messrs Wood, Aysgarth, Leyburn.

Messrs Dawson also sold Bluefaced Leicester shearling to £750 being bought by Messrs Harrison, Higher Watson House, Keasden.

Texel shearlings topped at £680 from Messrs Law, Raven Cottage, Newbiggin on Lune selling to Messrs Close, Low House Farm.

Leading Prices

Ewes –

Swaledale £560, £400, £172 Valley Farm; £400, £190, £138, £135, £130Hill Top Farm; £240 Thwaite Farm; £210, £170, £162, £152, £150, £140(2) Hoggarths Farm; £150 Hebblethwaite Hall; £145, £130 Aygill Farm; £145  Punchard Farm; £145, £132 Bridge Farm House; £140, £135(2) Easterbeck House; £138 Barras; £138, £130 Rake Head; £135(2) New Hall; £130 The Pry; £130 Mount Pleasant Farm:

Texel £180 Argil House; £128, £120 Sleddale Hall: Cheviot £122 Middle Bank End Farm: Mule £120 Midtown Farm: Herdwick £90 Fountain Head: Rough Fell £70 Wath Farm.

Gimmer Shearlings –

Dutch Texel £370, £210, £195(2), £190 Amos Hill Farm: Texel £215 Gill House; £200, £160, £150 Nelson Farm; £170, £150 Chapel House; £145 Thorpe House Farm: Bluefaced Leicester £205 Amos Hill Farm: Mule £200, £180 Manor Farm: Beltex £180 Woodend Farm; £172, £168 Towcett Farm: Charollais £150 Towcett Farm: Swaledale £150, £130 Manor Farm; £132 Barras Farm; £122 Bayles Farm.

Gimmer Lambs –

Zwartble £170, £140, £135 Thirn Bank: Beltex £138 Parkside; £130, £128, £125 Parkside: Mule £120 Little Musgrave Farm; £110 Argill House; £110, £100 Midtown Farm; £109 Greenriggs; £105 Low Rigg; £104 Cranberry; £104 Whitewall Farm; £102 Thirn Bank; £100 The Croft; £100 Oak House; £100 High Stennerskeugh: Swaledale £104, £92, £90 Knott Hill Farm; £92, £90, £85 Easterbeck House; £92 New Hall; £90 Argill House; £88 West Park; £88 Garnthwaite; £86 Oak Bank; £85 Holly Cottage: Scotch Blackface £94, £90 Knott Hill Farm.

Breeding Rams –

Aged –

Bluefaced Leicester £1000, £580 School Cottage ; £500 Milestone House: Dutch Texel £500 Amos Hill Farm: Swaledale £480 Abbey Row: Texel £420 Milestone House; £400 West Stoney Keld.

Shearlings –

Bluefaced Leicester £750 School Cottage; £500 High Stennerskeugh : Texel £680, £450 Raven Cottage; £600 West Stoney Keld; £500, £480(2) Stripes Farm; £450 The Buildings Farm; £420, £400 Gill Farm; £400 Middle Bank End Farm; £400 Cote Nook Farm: Swaledale £550, £380 Abbey Row: Beltex £500 Grassgill Lodge; £420 Green Farm: Cheviot £500, £400 Nun Cote Nook Farm: Suffolk £380 Green Farm.