Cast cow trade at Darlington mart averages 127ppk

Trade for cows started the year on a high and well ahead of many other centres at Darlington this week, as the market average soared to 127ppk. Some 20 cows had a value the top side of £1000 and an amazing 90% sold for over 100ppk. The day’s leading priced cow was a strong 8-year-old Charolais from RA and J Blyth, Middleton House Farm. She sold to Dawn Meats UK Ltd for £1,419. Top price per kilo was 193 pence, which was paid by Cleveland Meat Company, Stockton on Tees, for a 3-year-old Limousin shown by MW Skidmore Ltd, North Hanging Wells. Meanwhile black and white cows sold to 154ppk from A R and C Booth, Village Farm.

Breeding trade topped £1,620 for a three-year-old British Blue and her two-month old bull calf at foot. The outfit, from BR Lawson, Buddle House, was eventually knocked down to NG Bevridge, Low West House.Next and averaging £950 was a run of 10-month-old Limousin bulls from P Tindale, Paradise Farm.

In the store ring the leading steer was a very smart Hereford from PRE Marwood, Huller Bush at 21 months old he sold for £1,225 to BT Dunkley,The leading heifer on the day was a 26-month-old Simmental from E Parsons, Newstead Farm. She sold to K Tallentire for £1,270.