As Spring looms to an end leading livestock auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington are seeing out the season with a finale of Spring Beef Sales throughout the month of May. Over 3000 cattle will be sold at Borderway Mart seeing some prime genetics and top quality stock go under the hammer.

Around 1300 pedigree bulls and females and 1700 commercial beef breeding cattle are up for auction. These sales offer suckler beef producers the largest selection of pedigree and commercial breeding cattle anywhere in the United Kingdom, comprising of both Pedigree and cross bred heifers and cows with calves at foot, in calf heifers and cows, and bulling heifers and of course a tremendous selection of pedigree beef bulls. With beef cattle numbers low and finished returns high this is undoubtedly a series of sales not to be missed.

The industry is currently experiencing higher returns, with prices well ahead of this time last year. However the national beef herd numbers are down and there is now a strong demand to replenish breeding stocks and cull underperforming cows. The farming community are seeing a huge demand for breeding heifers and Harrison & Hetherington anticipate great interest in these sales.

Scott Donaldson, Sales Director for Harrison & Hetherington tells us about his predications for the market for these sales;

“We have had a terrific few months of sales across all seven of our marts. The beef industry is looking up with live ring values up between 15% and 20% on the year.  It all comes down to supply and demand and with the National beef herd still reducing and demand remaining strong, and even with costs edging ever upwards suckled calf producers and specialist finishers are enjoying substantial returns for their produce at last.”

“We are expecting a marvellous selection of quality cattle from a diverse cross section of the country’s leading beef breeds presented for our May sales. The demand for breeding bulls has been extremely strong over the last 6 months, and we expect this to continue with averages once again breaking new barriers. An outstanding selection of pedigree females from both recognised breeds, and more recent additions like Black Limousin should create great interest and we expect to welcome customers from all over the UK and Europe.”

Jonathon Watson of Bowsden Moor Farm in Northumberland sells around 90% of his stock through Borderway Mart. At the forthcoming sales he will be selling stock from their renowned Tweeddale British Blues and Tweeddale Limousin herds. The British Blues to be auctioned include six bulls ranging from sixteen to twentyfive months and seven maiden heifers. The Limousin’s include five eighteen month old bulls. Selling both breeds he comments on the highly anticipated May Beef Sales.

“There is a huge amount of stock sold through the May Beef Sales and Bowsden Moor are delighted to be part of it. This is a great opportunity to increase herd numbers with some tremendous stock up for auction from some tremendous herds. Farmers are finally seeing fair prices paid for all the work they put into breeding and grazing, and a large thanks to that is to the livestock auction markets.”

“The breed industry looks as good as ever as long as I have been in it. Because prime prices are so good many people are choosing to sell their bulls as opposed to running them and therefore this puts pressure on new bulls coming onto the market. I have seen an increase in overseas interest and I expect this will be another year with pressure on a diminishing market”.

The upcoming May Beef Sales will be held on the following dates at Borderway Mart in Carlisle:

• Friday the 27 of April will be a show and sale of pedigree Simmental bulls and females.^th
• Special April sale of Commercial Heifers and Cows with calves at foot and bulling heifers.
• Friday 4^th and Saturday 5^th of May will be a show and sale of pedigree Limousin bulls and ‘Ladies Day’ females.
• Friday 11^th and Saturday 12^th will be a show and sale of pedigree Charolais bulls and females including the dispersal of the Rumsden Herd. Also on Saturday the 12^th will be the show and sale of pedigree Blonde bulls and females.
• Friday 18^th is the “All Blacks” Sale of pedigree Black Limousin Females from the Knock and Turville Herds.
• Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th will be a show and sale of pedigree British Blue bulls and females, on behalf of the Border British Blue Club.
• Friday the 25^thwill feature sales of:
  • Pedigree Aberdeen Angus bulls and females
  •  Pedigree Beef Shorthorn bulls and females
  • Pedigree South Devon bulls and females
  • Pedigree Hereford bulls and females
  • This will also include the dispersal sale of the Mosston Muir Hereford herd on behalf of Tom Rennie,
  • The major reduction of the College Valley British Blue Herd on behalf of Ted Fox.
  • The dispersal of the Galloway Herd on behalf of Mr J Heywood.
  • Outstanding quality show of Commercial Heifers and Cows with calves at foot and bulling heifer replacements

For more information about Harrison & Hetherington’s May Beef Sales contact Borderway Mart on 01228 406 200 or visit www.livestock-sales.co.uk