Business

Top Sale Prices

Champion Mule gimmers from TH Gibson and Son sold for £340

Breeding sheep sell to a top £390 at NWA J36 annual show and sale

Matthew Milne from Elgin Charolais Ref:RH110424020 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Matthew Milne from Elgin Charolais Ref:RH110424020 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Surviving the storm

Early harvest, mixed yields and a farm surviving the perfect storm

The prime lamb trade appears to be slowing but heavyweight types still attracting premiums

The prime lamb trade appears to be slowing but heavyweight types still attracting premiums

Lamb Market Watch

Trends and Prices

Supply and demand – heavier types fetching a premium in the prime lamb ring

Carcase grades are getting leaner due to the increased influence of dairy genetics in the chain

Carcase grades are getting leaner due to the increased influence of dairy genetics in the chain

Lean or lighter?

Beef carcases trend leaner in 2024 compared to 2019 according to AHDB figures

A Red Brangus sold in Argentina for the equivalent of £155,000, at the start of August

A Red Brangus sold in Argentina for the equivalent of £155,000, at the start of August

Bull of the Year

Red Brangus bull sells to record breaking top price of £155,000 in Argentina

Top price ewe lamb, Hazelberry In Your Dreams, which sold for 5000gns

Top price ewe lamb, Hazelberry In Your Dreams, which sold for 5000gns

Dutch Spotties reach 5000gns at Hazelberry reduction sale for ewe lamb

Cast sheep take the lead this week realising £310 in Huntly and St Boswells

Cast sheep take the lead this week realising £310 in Huntly and St Boswells

Sheep Hits £310

St Boswells and Huntly lead cast sheep at £310 whilst Carlisle lambs reach 558p

Tiree market leads the store sheep trade at £5 per kg or £200 per head

Tiree market leads the store sheep trade at £5 per kg or £200 per head

Numbers continue to climb in the store lamb ring with Tiree market leading trade

Powerhouse Caveman led the trade at 2800gns

Powerhouse Caveman led the trade at 2800gns

Powerhouse Caveman tops Rouge Society show and sale in Carlisle at 2800gns

Archie Stamps's Bowbridge Zoe topped the sale selling for 2500gns

Archie Stamps's Bowbridge Zoe topped the sale selling for 2500gns

Top of the Flock

Joint sale of Bleus De Maines reach 2500gns high at Carlisle and Lockerbie

Champion Mules from J Capstick which sold for £360

Champion Mules from J Capstick which sold for £360

New record high price of £360 for breeding sheep at Hawes auction

The supreme champion at Carlisle, Bronic Kiara ET from N and C Brown, made 15,000gns

The supreme champion at Carlisle, Bronic Kiara ET from N and C Brown, made 15,000gns

Nick and Charlotte Brown's Bronic Beltex gimmer best at 15,000gns in Carlisle

Jack Swales, left, with the champion, joined by the reserve and judge Paul Liddle.

Jack Swales, left, with the champion, joined by the reserve and judge Paul Liddle.

Records smashed at Craven dairy sale with fresh calved heifers selling to £3950

Stirling Cally leads price per kg this week at £5 per kg with Hexham topping price per head at £2690

Stirling Cally leads price per kg this week at £5 per kg with Hexham topping price per head at £2690

Stirling Cally and Hexham lead store cattle trade this week at 500p and £2690

Rosie Boden's Mellor Vale Lionheart ET topped the sale at 60,000gns - a breed record ram lambs

Rosie Boden's Mellor Vale Lionheart ET topped the sale at 60,000gns - a breed record ram lambs

Beltex records – despite bluetongue restrictions sees ram lambs hit 60,000gns

First prize single North Country Cheviot ewe lamb from W Alexander, The Maltings, pictured with Jorgie Rae Alexander of sponsors DR Alexander

First prize single North Country Cheviot ewe lamb from W Alexander, The Maltings, pictured with Jorgie Rae Alexander of sponsors DR Alexander

Ewe lamb averages soar at Quoybrae's North Country Cheviots and Half-Breds

Top priced lot at 3300gns was a pure Texel shearling ram

Top priced lot at 3300gns was a pure Texel shearling ram

Strong demand for Whitley Hey sheep with over 100 buyers and 600 sheep forward

Sale leader was the February-born ram lamb Midlock Inferno from Allan and Karen Wight

Sale leader was the February-born ram lamb Midlock Inferno from Allan and Karen Wight

Ram lambs sell to six figures at Scottish National Texel sale in Lanark

Sale leader at £3500 was the first prize cross-bred ram from Logie Durno

Sale leader at £3500 was the first prize cross-bred ram from Logie Durno

Logie Durno cross-bred ram leads Bentham multi-breeds Ram-Page sale at £3500

While forage supplies appear plentiful in Scotland, the long dry spell south of the Border has resulted in many producers selling off cows earlier which could hit overall deliveries going into 2026

While forage supplies appear plentiful in Scotland, the long dry spell south of the Border has resulted in many producers selling off cows earlier which could hit overall deliveries going into 2026

Dairy prospects looking better for Scotland with contract changes from Muller

James Towler receiving the Edgar Boothman trophy for his first prize Mule shearlings, with partner Sammy Fawcett, children Freddie and Harry and watched by auctioneer Ted Ogden.

James Towler receiving the Edgar Boothman trophy for his first prize Mule shearlings, with partner Sammy Fawcett, children Freddie and Harry and watched by auctioneer Ted Ogden.

Gimmer shearlings opener creates a buzz as averages soar

Cattle markets remain buoyant as prime beef prices recover and store trade strengthens across Scotland

Cattle markets remain buoyant as prime beef prices recover and store trade strengthens across Scotland

Scottish beef prices rise amid tight supplies and strong farmgate demand

Jack Swales, left, with the champion, joined by the reserve and judge Paul Liddle.

Jack Swales, left, with the champion, joined by the reserve and judge Paul Liddle.

Heifer sets new record price at Skipton Auction Mart

July sale at Borderway

July sale at Borderway

£3,500 Heifers

Big Balcraig shine at Borderway selling to as top of 3500gns

New Holland T5.120 electro command, which topped the sale at £47,000

New Holland T5.120 electro command, which topped the sale at £47,000

Lawrie and Symington sale to £47,000 for New Holland T5.120 electro command

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722032 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Vet Charles Marwood Ref:RH110722032 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Stop Mastitis Now

Mastitis in summer – Understanding the causes and risks in your cattle herd

The dairy team at H&H (from left to right) Alfie Benbow, Katie Davidson, Glyn Lucas, Louise Goldie and Andrew Templeton

The dairy team at H&H (from left to right) Alfie Benbow, Katie Davidson, Glyn Lucas, Louise Goldie and Andrew Templeton

Future of Dairy

New faces for Harrison and Hetherington's dairy sales team in Carlisle

Carlisle leads price per head for store cattle at £2700 whilst UA Stirling tops per kg at 552p

Carlisle leads price per head for store cattle at £2700 whilst UA Stirling tops per kg at 552p

Carlisle leads store cattle trade price per head whilst UA Stirling tops per kg

A huge ringside of buyers was forward for the Rockcliffe Luing sale

A huge ringside of buyers was forward for the Rockcliffe Luing sale

Big prices and big interest at Rockcliffe Luing sale

Duncryne Inista, which sold for the top price of 2800gns

Duncryne Inista, which sold for the top price of 2800gns

Scots top trade at 2800gns at North West Texel breeders club show and sale

United Auctions saw an increase of 1200 forward for their sale in Islay

United Auctions saw an increase of 1200 forward for their sale in Islay

Quoybrae leads the store lamb trade this week with numbers rising in the ring

Champion at the Darlington Ewetopia sale was a Beltex ewe which sold for the top price of 1200gns

Champion at the Darlington Ewetopia sale was a Beltex ewe which sold for the top price of 1200gns

Sheep Sale High

Scots’ breeder buys top price female at Darlington Farmers’ Ewetopia sale

The first of the big breeding sheep sales in Scotland are soon beginning

The first of the big breeding sheep sales in Scotland are soon beginning

Trends and Prices

Breeding stock expected to be in demand

A large turnout of young handlers took part in the annual competition at Penrith Auction Mart which this year was won by Sybil Edgar, Castle Nook, with a Dutch Spotted lamb, with Harriet Teasdale in reserve

A large turnout of young handlers took part in the annual competition at Penrith Auction Mart which this year was won by Sybil Edgar, Castle Nook, with a Dutch Spotted lamb, with Harriet Teasdale in reserve

Young Handlers Impress

Penrith & District Farmers' Mart: sheep young handlers visit

Milking daughter of OCT Trooper Sheepster the new No 1 £PLI Holstein sire

Milking daughter of OCT Trooper Sheepster the new No 1 £PLI Holstein sire

Newcomers hit the top 10 AHDB sire rankings

Melanie Anderson

Melanie Anderson

New human resources leadership at Ringlink

Claire Dyce and Adam Forrest join SAOS to strengthen Scotland’s agri co-op future

Claire Dyce and Adam Forrest join SAOS to strengthen Scotland’s agri co-op future

Growing Together

SAOS appoints two new co-op development managers in Scotland

Stuart Common, managing director, Mackie's

Stuart Common, managing director, Mackie's

Scots ice cream firm sells 1.9 million litres in record month

Adam Christie's ram lamb pictured at the Royal Highland sold for 2000gns

Adam Christie's ram lamb pictured at the Royal Highland sold for 2000gns

Selective trading

Old favourites and future stars shine at Jacob sale in Carlisle

Deadweight prices in Ireland overtook UK prices the week ending 26 July

Deadweight prices in Ireland overtook UK prices the week ending 26 July

Trends and Prices

Irish cattle prices quietly edge past UK in rare market twist

Pistyll Niko from Anerin Francis, which sold for the top ptice of 2000gns

Pistyll Niko from Anerin Francis, which sold for the top ptice of 2000gns

Zwartbles Surge

Pistyll ram lamb tops Carlisle Zwartbles at £2000 at Society show and sale

Prime LAmbs Stirling Ref:RH030119055 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Prime LAmbs Stirling Ref:RH030119055 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Prime sales across Scotland and England livestock markets

Store lambs were up nearly £14 on the year at Dingwall, and up £45 since 2023.

Store lambs were up nearly £14 on the year at Dingwall, and up £45 since 2023.

Lamb prices soar

Trends and Prices

Store lamb prices soar as demand surges across UK markets this season

Store lambs hit a top price of £168 in both Dingwall and Hexham

Store lambs hit a top price of £168 in both Dingwall and Hexham

Dingwall and Hexham lead store lamb prices at £168 whilst Carlisle tops cattle

Some 2417 sheep forward for Oban's opening sale which included a ringful of sheep from Shane Cadzow, Ardlarach, Isle of Luing

Some 2417 sheep forward for Oban's opening sale which included a ringful of sheep from Shane Cadzow, Ardlarach, Isle of Luing

Auction Price Boost

Some 2417 store sheep sold at Oban's opening sale saw averages increase by £18

Averages were down at Thame due to BTV and drought in southern England

Averages were down at Thame due to BTV and drought in southern England

Sale Highlights

BTV impact: 16,000 sheep sold at Thame sale

Sharing the top price of 8000gns was the ram lamb from Derg

Sharing the top price of 8000gns was the ram lamb from Derg

Northern Area Suffolk Spectacular sees rams hit 8000gns in buoyant market

Tiptop Ironman sold for 5000gns at Lockerbie

Tiptop Ironman sold for 5000gns at Lockerbie

Harrison & Hetherington

Tiptop Tops the Dutch Spotted Summer Selection

John Anderson from Broynach Farm in Caithness Ref:RH110424059 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

John Anderson from Broynach Farm in Caithness Ref:RH110424059 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Storm hits crops

Counting down to harvest time with the best Spring and Summer weather yet

John Deere tractor 6155R which sold for £95,000

John Deere tractor 6155R which sold for £95,000

John Deere 6155R tractor tops Border Livestock Exchange sale

Record red meat output in 2024, but livestock numbers fall Ref:RH161219030 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Record red meat output in 2024, but livestock numbers fall Ref:RH161219030 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

future at risk?

Quality Meat Scotland

Scottish livestock numbers fall despite red meat sector’s £3.5bn impact

Barry Cope has been appointed CEO of the Cleaner Safer Group, taking over from Bruce Allen in September

Barry Cope has been appointed CEO of the Cleaner Safer Group, taking over from Bruce Allen in September

Leadership Shift

Barry Cope named new CEO of biomass certifier

Pete Baul, right, with his latest Craven Dairy Auction champion, joined by young judge Thomas Marshall and the Goldie reserve champion

Pete Baul, right, with his latest Craven Dairy Auction champion, joined by young judge Thomas Marshall and the Goldie reserve champion

Dairy Sale Buzz

Strong trade maintained at Craven Dairy Auction

Carnegie Fuels, founded in 1957, will continue to trade under its own name after joining the employee-owned Highland Fuels group (Image Carnegie Fuels)

Carnegie Fuels, founded in 1957, will continue to trade under its own name after joining the employee-owned Highland Fuels group (Image Carnegie Fuels)

Stronger Together

Carnegie Fuels joins Highland Fuels in major acquisition