Following on from the delights of the Middle Eastern Camel showing scene, here's another snippet from the BBC which made me smile.

A novel way of getting pets clean - yep a washing machine for dogs - is proving popular in Japan.

My question is will they build one in bull size to take the strain out of show and sale preparation?!

Today's sale of Holsteins for the Border and Lakeland Club at Carlisle has seen a top call of 2020gns for Stowbeck Igniter Breeze from Skirwith Hall Farms. This Summershade Igniter daughter is out of Stowbeck Willow Breeze, a dam with two lactations at 10,000kg and above. She sold to M Reid and Son, Fulton, Lockerbie.

At 1900gns was another from the same vendor, Stowbeck Kendall Connie. this is by Alfrag Juror Kendall and out of Stowbeck Gelpro Connie. She was bought by F and M Coar, Fields Farm, Clitheroe.

Following that at 1850gns was Colvend Roxette Rolls from S Roan. This is a daughter of Kippford Roxette out of Kippford Convincer Rolls, a dam which gave more than 10,000kg in her second milking.

Topping the offering of Montbeliardes from Lordswood Farms was a 1600gns sale for a May 2007-born heifer which calved in January. Then at 1400gns was a June 2007-born entry, also calved in January.

Averages; eight cows in milk £1691.81, 14 heifers in milk £1754.25, 30 Montbeliardes £1246.35 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Top price at yesterday's dispersal of the Westden herd of Holsteins at Sedgemoor for Malcolme Green and family was a 2300gns sale for Westden Tulip 114, a Silverpost Sinatra daughter giving 48.6kg in her third lactation.

At 2200gns was January calver Yardgrove Terrason Harriet a cow out of a 12,000kg dam. Others going past the 2000gns mark were Westden Nancy, an Avenham Westminster daughter, Westden Haura, an Aquila Patron Lucente daughter and the first lot of the sale, a MOET Melody second calver. (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).

Store cattle sold to a top call of £1040 at Lockerbie yesterday, when Breconside Farming sold a Limousin heifer.

Steers, meanwhile sold to a top of £1000 for an Aberdeen Angus from Messrs Laurie, Stud Farm, with the same vendor selling a Charolais steer at £980.

Prime Cheviots at yesterday's sale of Cheviot and Blackface hoggs at Carlisle sold to a top of £95.50 for the show champions, a pen of North Country Cheviots from Messrs J Maxwell and Son, Halket Leathes. These were bought by R Skelton.

Reserve champion went to Messrs J Carruthers and Son, Woodhall, with a pen of South Country Cheviots which made £88.50 to Vion Foods.

Top place in the Blackface class went to R J S and D M Addison, Greystone House. (Harrison and Hetherington).

And, to follow Jules comment, before the rush of questions starts, the judge for this year's cattle classes at Beef Expo on 27 May is Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth.

Classes at the Hexham event will include sections for baby beef calves (up to 425kg for steers and 400kg for heifers) and for steer and heifers by native breeds sires, as well as classes for Limousin, British Blue, Charolais and other Continental breed sires.

Championship prize money for the event stands at £500, with the reserve getting £250 and the baby beef steer and heifer champions picking up £200 apeice too.

Entry forms are available from the show coordinator, Julie Sedgewick, Binchester Hall Farm, Bishop Auckland - 01388 609 322.

Once again the Richardson family of Ghyll House, Dufton, were the dominant force at this year's show and sale of show potential cattle at Penrith. Fast becoming the specialists in their field the Richardsons put forward both the champion and reserve in the pre-sale show and collected the top five prices in the sale.

Leading the money was their August-born Limousin cross heifer Double the Trouble at £9200.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt got in on the record breaking action at Sedgemoor on Saturday selling an 11month old British blue stirk for £1000, £200 above the martt record for stirks. This one, from Phillip White and Julie Turner of Newpole British Blues, was bought by Ray Spiller, Trull, Taunton for future primestock showing.

Meanwhile in the monthly suckler cow auction the dispersal of W G Wrixton and Son's herd saw £4300 paid for a Ruby Red Devon bull. This one sold to t and E Lang, Bideford.

Calves sold to a top of £400 twice at Lancaster on Friday, setting new centre records. First to go at this money was a four week old British Blue bull calf from T M Townley, with a siz week old Blue heifer from C and N Shearing. Black and white bulls topped at £180 for a six week old bull.

Meanwhile in the store cattle ring the trade hit a peak of £1170 to level at £774, while the first ewes and lambs offered this spring sold to £155 for Masham ewes with Texel sired lambs.

Topping last week's sale of Ruby Red Devons at Sedgemoor at 4100gns was autumn 2007-born Tilbrook Triumphant from his Huntingdon-based herd. This son of Tilbrook Kiwi and out of his show cow Tilbrook Cash Tiller 9 sold to Richard Jeanes, for his Perton herd, Somerset, having stood third in a class of 35 bulls in the pre-sale show.

Next best price of 3800gns was paid twice, the first time for the reserve champion from the pre-sale show, Colleton Harvester from Grania and Simon Phillips, Chulmleigh. This one is by Efford Down Billy Wizz and sold with an EBV of +42 to Oliver Burge, Dorset for his Paradise herd. He was half brother to 10,000gns bull Colleton Felix.

The second at this money was Yeomadon Hector from Tony and Julie Beneworth. This February 2008-born bull sold to Andrew Broggio, South Molton.

And then making 3000gns was the pre-sale champion, Colleton Halycon, also from the Phillips. This is a son of Dandy Lion and has an EBV of +51, the highest recorded in the breed. He sold to the pre-sale judge Phillip Huxtable.

Last Tuesday's sale of Jersey's at Bristol Sales Centre sold to a top price of 2250gns, with this price paid for Designer Vindication Elegance from Designer Jerseys, Ingatestone, Essex. This on is by Vindication and out of show cow Grayridge GC Elegance, an Ex93 classified dam. Sodl due in May she was bought by Edward Morgan, Carmarthenshire.

At 1250gns was Designer Signature Scorpion 6 from the same vendors. This daughter of Signature with four generations of VG and Ex behind her sold to a Dorset herd due in May for 1250gns.

And another by Vindication from the same vendors then sold at 1150gns. She was out of Rapidbay-UK JJ Lets Dance Ex91, she was also due in May.

A heifer from David and Lena Lewis, Wiveliscombe then sold at 1020gns. This was Southley Willows Thistle.

Topping the in-milk offering was CG C B Davis of Rivermead Jerseys with a fresh second calver, Hollesleey Red Caledonia, a VG86 classified cow. This Ivanhoe Red Triumph daughter sold at 1500gns to Messrs Meredith, Bristol. (Kivells).

Saturday's Spring Spectacular sale at Leyburn sold to a top top price of £4200 the day's champion from John Smith-Jackson, Haltwhistle.

This one was the steer John picked up the baby beef title at Countryside Live with last year, Super Trouper. This one is by Shire Apollo and is full brother to last year's Leyburn champion and top price Mamma Mia. He sold to Jennifer Hyslop and Andrew Richardson.

Second best price on the day was a £3200 call for a British Blue cross heifer which by the look's of the lot number came from Maureen and Bill Orme, this one which stood second in its class sold to Heather Blyth, Norfolk.Selling for £2400 was a Limousin cross heifer from John Smith-Jackson which sold to Jim Courts. And then at £2300 was a Limousin sired heifer from the Ormes which was bought by Alan Hall, Darlington.

Top price at last week's dispersal of the Coombehill herd of Holsteins was a 2150gns sale for a Moet Deidre Dependable daughter nine weeks into her second lactation. She sold  to D H Pritchard, Leominster, giving 44.9kg.

The same buyer then paid 2080gns for a December calved heifer by Picston Shaker. She was giving 38.8kg and was out of a 10,119kg Cedar Creek Bergwill cow.

Three the followed at 1800gns, a Blackisle Glencoe sired heifer sold to R J Davies, Sandhurstt, a fourth calver by Lakemead Prancer sold to M Harries, Crymych, and a Cogent Roodeye daughter sold due on April to N C Taylor, Ilminster.

Served heifers sold to 1500gns for a late March calving Blackisle Glencoe daughter, this one was bought by D A and L A Cullimore, Berkeley.

Averages; 37 cows and heifers in-milk or in-calf £1458.36, nine served heifers £1214.50, six maiden heifers £957.25 (Gwilym Richards and Co).

Top price at last week's mid-month sale of dairy cattle at Beeston was a £2400 call for a a heifer from Jack and Barclay Taylor, Myddle, who are dispersing their herd as they calve.

Their sale leader was Burnbrae Drake Jolanda, which sold to J A and M H Wright, Sandbach. At £2250 was Tiveys Dolman Kate which sold to David Colclough, Sandbach, and then at £2200 was Tiveys Tiger Rosie 69, which sold to the same buyer.

Topping the non-pedigree cattle on offer was a fresh heifer by Klassic Merril Lynch from Richard Tomlinson. This sold to J A and M H Wright. At rhe same money were a brace which sold to Wilmot Blockley, Tarvin. First to go was a Netherside Dynamo daughter from the Smith brothers, Garstang and second was a non-pedigree from Neil Lewis, Farndon.

Overall 30 head sold for £2000 or more, including the top selling cow, Carrick Lucente M Snowdrop from John Maddrell, Isle of Man, which sold to Roger Ryley, Hodnet.

Averages; 190 pedigree and commercial Holsteins £1454.21 (Wright Manley).

As the headline says the store cattle trade is flying along at the moment, with John Swan's sale at St Boswells today reported as a good show of cattle sold at extreme rates with plenty of yearlings making more than 200p/kg and more cattle needed to satisfy buyers.

Topping the steer trade were Limousin crosses from Top Boon at £1045, £1000 and £900, while British Blues from the same home made £1080, £985 and £825. Angus crosses peaked at £1060 for Swinside andTownfoot.

In the heifers on offer Limousins led the trade again at £885 for Burnfoot and Oxton, while Angus crosses sold to £930 for Kingside and Charolais hit £890 form Restonhill.

Other marts are reporting similarly strong trades and it seems the lack of grass growth across the country due to the continuing cold weather isn't putting buyers off paying top price for stores.

Leading the trade at the inaugural Kirkby Classic show and sale of show potential calves was a £2650 bid for the reserve champion, a Limousin cross heifer which stood second in its class to the overall champion. This one sold to Keith Harryman, Keskadale.

Second top price of £2500 was paid for the pre-sale show champion, another Limousin cross heifer, this time from D and C E Marston, Wharton. This one was sold to the show judge Louise Todd, Market Rasen.

Then at £1300 was the best on offer in the Baby Beef class, this one from Ruth Stevenson sold to W Richardson and Son. At £1200 was a British Blue heifer from Messrs E Wilson, which sold to TWH Farming.

Overall the show cattle forward sold to average £1195 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Prices for the couples being offered in south west markets in recent weeks are looking good, with Sedgemoor's entry on Saturday levelling at £48.11/life.

This entry of 198 ewes and 281 lambs was topped at £66/life for full mouth Suffolk cross ewes with pairs from J L Trott and Partners, others from the same vendor sold for £64 a life. Messrs D and S Cheacker, meanwhile, sold ewes with pairs of lambs to £62.67/life. Ewes with singles sold to a top of £68/life for J Turney.

Meanwhile, the day before in Exeter, the trade was led at £60.66 a life for ewes with pairs from N Heath and Son, with singles led at £67.50 a life for some from the same vendor.

Prices seem to be running high on the back of the cull ewe trade and also the encouraging signs for the early new season lamb trade currently being enjoyed in the region. Top call at Exeter yesterday (Monday) was a £98.20 bid, with the 268 lambs forward averaging £93.74 and 227.24p/kg. But vendors were warned not to get lambs too heavy with lambs wanted at the crucial 38-40kg weight and not beyond.

Cull ewes meanwhile are still a strong trade across the country, top call at St Boswells yesterday was a bid of £150 for Suffolks from Huntington, Lauder, and Texels from Messrs Home Robertson, Over Howden. The 579 ewes forward averaged £65.11/head with plenty of Suffolk cross ewes at £100 and above.

At Carlisle the cull ewe prices were led at £113.50/head by Texels from Shield Green, with others of the same breed at £110.50.

Agri-Expo, the rapidly expanding autumn show staged by Harrison and Hetherington at their Borderway Mart, Carlisle, has announced the date for this year's event, Friday 29 October.

With livestock entries topping the 600 mark in 2009 and with this year's total prize fund estimated to be in the region of £10,000 the organiser's are hopeful of increased numbers again in 2010.

This year's event will feature specialist calf shows for the British Blue, Aberdeen-Angus and Hereford cattle societies, alongside prime cattle and sheep classes, dairy classes and classes for North Country Mules.

Charolais bulls met a healthy demand on Saturday at Dungannon, with 90% of those offered finding new homes, with a breed centre record of 57 entries selling to level at £2962.

Topping the trade at 7800gns was Drumeer Donald from Edwin Morrison, Maguirebridge. This Burradon Talisman son is out of a homebred dam by Doonally New, he sold to Noel McIlwaine, Plumbridge, Omagh, having stood reserve junior champion in the pre-sale show.

Second top at 5100gns was the senior champion Dartonhall Dougal. This son of Corrie Alan out of a Lyonsdemesne bred cow sold for John Erskine, Killylea. Taking this one was David Erskine, Crosses, Monaghan.

A brace sold at 5000gns, the first of which was the reserve overall champion, Brogher Dandy from Trevor Phair, Enniskillen. This one is by Sang-d'Or and out of a homebred dam going back to Oldstone Egbert. He sold to S Taylor, Ligoniel, Belfast.

The second at this money sold across the water to Billy Glazebrook, Strathaven, Lanark. This one as Hollyvale Diego, an Ashleigh Victor son out of Brogher Beverley.

Then at 4700gns was the junior and overall champion Drumfin Dynamite from Basil Buchanan. This is a son of Malicieux out of Drumfin Blanche and has a TSI of +35 and an SRI of +38. He sold to M and S Maguire, Maguiresbridge.

At 4500gns was Innisrush Dante from John Whyte and Sons, Portglenone. He is a son of Ballindalloch UFO out of an Artresnahan sired cow and sold to John McCloskey, Caludy, Derry.

Top female price of the day was a 3700gns call for Ferryroad Dora, an Allanfauld Superscot daughter out of a Roundhill Ohoh daughter. Bred by Paul and Marie O'Kane, Bellaghy, she sold to John Watson, Portadown.

Averages; 57 bulls £2962, 13 females £1954.05 (Dungannon Farmers Mart).

The second annual cafl wintering competition held at Hexham Mart last week drew a total of 69 entries from YFC club members in the area, with the aim being to achieve the maximum profit from purchase last autumn to sale this spring.

Collecting the award for the top gross profit was Philip Ogle who bought his British Blue cross steer for £570 last autumn and sold for £870 last week, leaving him with £300 in his pocket. His steer was bought from Messrs Tailford, Beacon Rigg.

Second best profit was earned by Kevin Ridley with the champion beast from the pre-sale show under judge John Richardson, Ghyll House. This one was another British Blue cross steer, this time bred at High Edges Green by David Swallow. This was bought for £800 and sold for £1080.

Reserve champion in the pre-sale show was Jamie Dixon of Westacres, while the best beast of the opposite sex to the champion was a Limousin cross heifer from Judith Ward, Haltwhistle. This one was bred by Graham Robson, Bellingham, and having been bought for £730 and sold for £940 left a profit of £210.