Butchers 'left hungry' with premium heifers in short supply at Dingwall and Highland Marts sale while demand for ewes described as 'ever growing'
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TOP class premium grade heifers were in short supply at a cattle sale today with the butcher retail martket "left hungry for their specific requirements".
Dingwall and Highland Marts Ltd sold 21 prime cattle.
Prime bullocks (15) averaged 240.4p (+0.1p) and sold to 250.0p per kg and £1,537.50 gross for a 615kg Limousin cross from Messrs A MacLaren, Cullaird Farm, Scaniport selling to Messrs John M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.
Prime heifers (6) averaged 236.2p (-6.1p) and sold to 246.0p per kg for a 545kg Limousin cross from J Eddie & Sons, Hallhill, Kinneff and £1,443.75 gross for a 625kg Beef Shorthorn cross from Bridgend Farm, Dingwall selling to Messrs John M Munro Ltd, Dingwall.
The verdict: “Top class premium grade heifers were in short supply today. The local North of Scotland butcher retail market was left hungry for their specific requirements."
Prospective customers "who think they may have cattle to fit this specification" are asked to get in touch with the sales team.
Other leading prices per kg:
Bullocks: Cullaird Farm, (LimX), 247.0p, 246.0p twice, 244.0p, 240.0p three times, 239.0p twice; Sunnylea, Balblair, (LimX), 240.0p, 236.0p, 234.0p; Bridgend Farm, (SimX), 234.0p, (ST), 229.0p.
Heifers: Bridgend Farm, (AAX), 239.0p, (SimX), 232.0p, (BSH), 231.0p; Hallhill, (CharX), 235.0p, (LimX), 235.0p.
Other leading prices per head:
Bullocks: Cullaird Farm, (LimX), £1,525.20, £1,524.00, £1,517.65, £1,476.00 (selling to Messrs R G MacDonald, Butchers, Elgin), £1,457.30, £1,428.00 (selling to Messrs John M Munro Ltd, Butchers, Queensgate, Inverness), £1,422.05, £1,416.00, £1,403.00; Sunnylea, (LimX), £1,380.60, £1,356.00, £1,286.20; Bridgend Farm, (ST), £1,305.30, (SimX), £1,298.70.
Heifers: Bridgend Farm, (AAX), £1,410.10, (SimX), £1,276.00; Hallhill, (LimX), £1,340.70, £1,210.25, (CharX), £1,269.00.
Also sold were 811 prime sheep.
New season lambs (376) averaged 224.5p (-21.8p) and sold to 253.3p per kg for 45kg Texels from Lochdhu, Nairn and £118 gross for 53kg Texels from Wester Moy, Urray.
Feeding sheep (435) sold to £146 gross twice for Texel ewes from The Workshop, Wester Cairnglass and also for Texel ewes from Teanluick, Beauly.
The summary was: “Following on from the national trend lambs were easier on the week, however well fleshed and heavier sorts are still commanding premium prices. There are more leaner and lighter lambs creeping into the market now which are hindering the sale averages. A much larger number of ewes forward cashed in at much dearer rates on the week to an increased ringside of buyers.
"Export types were privy to the greatest increase in values and many pens of well finished Hill Cheviot ewes smashed the £100 barrier with ease. Vendors should be encouraged to take advantage of these premium rates and the demand for ewes in particular is ever growing in Dingwall.”
Other leading prices per head and per kg:
New season lambs: Tex – Teanluick, Beauly, £115, 223.3p, Lochdhu, £114, 226.2p, Wester Moy, £110, 244.4p; TexX – Toulvaddie Sheep, Fearn, £110, 244.2p, 28 Skelbo Muir, Dornoch, £108.50, Dunballoch, Beauly, £108, Pithogarty, Tain, 237.5p, Kinnahaird Farm, Contin, 234.6p; SuffX – Kinnahaird Farm, £108, 237.4p, Invercharron, Ardgay, £105, 238.6p, Muirton Mains, Urray, £104.50, 234.8p; BeltX – Barrogill Mains, Mey, £105, £98, 250.0p, 239.0p, Lower Geanies, Fearn, £93, 226.8p.
CharX – Ord Farm, Invergordon, £104, 214.5p Chev – Lower Geanies, £103, 226.4p; BDM – Tighnahinch, Alcaig, £100, 232.6p; Mule – Abersky, Torness, £95.50, 222.1p, Lower Gaich, Dulnain Bridge, £92, 219.1p; DST – 2 & 7 Linside, Invershin, £95, 210.0p.
Feeding sheep: Suff ewe – Lower Gaich, £141, £133, The Arr, Lethen, £127; SuffX ewe – Bogburn Farm, Duncanston, £140, £128, Easter Glackton, Gollanfield, £120, Lower Gaich, £120; Tex ewe – Teanluick, £139, £136, The Workshop, £136, Invercharron, £135, Wester Cairnglass, Gollanfield, £131; TexX ewe – Mulchaich, Conon Bridge, £138, Scotsburn Farm, Kildary, £131, Pithogarty, £125; Tex ram – Wester Moy, £138; CharX ewe – Mulchaich, £130; DST ram – Bogburn Farm, £130, 2 and 7 Linside, £120; CHM ewe – Lochdhu, £128; BeltX ewe – Lower Gaich, £126; Chev ewe – Mulchaich, £124; Lochdhu, £121 twice, Ivy Croft, Strathpeffer, £120, 30 Balallan, Lochs, £120, Tarn Howe, Inver, £120; Chev ram – West View, Inverness, £119; Mule ewe – Pithogarty, £116, Wester Cairnglass, £108,£105, £102; Hill Chev – Drumnahaving, Lairg, £115, Easter Glackton, £115; Zwb ewe – Lower Arboll, Tain, £111; Rou ewe – Dunmore Beauly, £102; DST ewe – Bogburn Farm, £100; BF – Lower Gaich, £87, £84; Swale – The Arr, Lethen, £81.
