Soaring demand for all types of primestock, ensured a flying trade for all at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart's anniversary show and sale where top prices of 276p per kg or £2202 were paid for the 128 young bulls and 350p or £2163 for the 61 heifers.

The sale, which included more than 50 clean cattle from north of the Border, also saw 41 prime steers sell to 296p, or £2047 with 2027 prime lambs reaching 344p or £155.

Cattle judge Paul Garthwaite of Darlington butchers, H Taylor and Sons, found his champion in a 20-month-old 618kg Limousin cross heifer from Frank Page of Lodge Farm, Northamptonshire, which went on to sell for the top price of 350p per kg or £2163 to the judge.

Reserve was a Limousin steer from Messrs Renton of High Highlaws, Morpeth, who also won the bull class with a British Blue. The steer weighed in at 593kg and realised 284p per kg or £1684 also selling to the judge.

The lead bull passed the weighbridge at 725kg and sold for 269p or £1950 to JA Jewitt Ltd, Spennymoor.

Top price amongst the bulls was 276p and £2202 paid for a Limousin from AC Simpson and Son, McNeil Farm, Witton-le-Wear. Overall, six bulls sold for more than 260p per kg with a further 19 at 250-259p.

Black and whites were topped at 211p and £1411 by a Friesian from R Hall and Son, Kilton Hall. Aberdeenshire producer, Stephen Allardyce, Tarland, sold 35 well finished bulls.

Continental cattle from WN Fleming, Mosstower, Kelso and Robert Neill and Partners, Upper Nisbet, Jedburgh, also met a sound trade.

LEADING prices

Continental bulls – Top prices ppk – 276p, 265p AC Simpson and Son; 269p, 256p, 250p Renton Highlaws Ltd; 265p, 256p, 255p, 253p, AG Watson and Sons; 264p, 259p, 250p x2 J and A Moralee; 261p J Layfield; 259p N White; 258p, 251p WJ and AS Bowes and Sons; 257p, 256p, JA and M Boyes Ltd; 256p, 254p JF Gibson and Son; 256p LR Welsh and Co; 254p x2 R and W Todd; 253p WC Stones; 250p JJ Kemp and Son. Per head – £2202, £2072 AC Simpson and Sons; £2031 JR Tiplady; £1971 £1864, J Layfield; £1958 N White; £1953, £1945, £1932, £1918, £1910, £1856 AG Watson and Sons; £1950, Renton Highlaws Ltd; £1920, £1866, £1827 D Richardson and Co; £188,6 £1868 PI Harker; £1884 JJ Horn; £1848 JA and M Boyes; £1817, £1809 LR Welsh and Co; £1815 JJ Kemp and Son.

Steers – Top prices ppk – 296p, 284p, 260p, 259p, 258p Renton Highlaws Ltd; 287p, 261 JL Marks; 274p Frank Page; 274p, 270p, 258p, 251p x2, Robert Neill and Partners; 270p A Barnett; 269p Barker Farming Partnership; 259p G and JY Marshall. Per head – £2047, £2033, £1842, £1778, £1763 Barker Farming Partnership; £1809 A Barnett; £1776 £1726 Robert Neill and Partners; £1719 TN Callender.

Heifers – Top prices ppk – 350p, 300p Frank Page; 317p, 284p M Robinson and Sons; 306p, 302p, 297p, JB Luck; 303p, 286p, 281p, PJ and ES Rogerson; 303p, 293p JL Marks; 300p, 294p N White; 300p, 299p, 291p, WM Fleming; 299p, 295p, 290p, 288p, Robert Neill and Partners; 298p, 285p DW Humphrey; 295p, 294p, 288p, 269p, 265p G and JY Marshall; 291p, 274p A Crowder; 290p, 283p 280p 279p R Hirst; 284p, 280p A Barnett; 274p JH and M and NW Brown; 261p JF Gibson and Son. Per head – £2163, £1779 Frank Page; £1951 M Robinson and Sons; £1897, £1817 A Barnett; £1827, £1711 WM Fleming; £1771, £1752, £1712 JB Luck; £1767 DW Humphrey; £1749, £1693, £1664, Robert Neill and Partners; £1746, £1743 N White; £1742, £1701 PJ and ES Rogerson; £1734 A Crowder. £1731 JH and M and NW Brown.

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