SEPTEMBER has seen records being made across the pedigree sheep society sales at Carlisle. All prices achieved set new breed society records and heading the line up are the Texels for a female at 50,000gns, Blue Texels achieving 25,000gns, Dutch Spotted at 6,500gns and Dutch Texels reaching 5,600gns.

This year new sales introduced, due to the Covid-19 situation have been the rescheduled Kelso Ram Sales, which were operated across 4 of our sale centres, Lockerbie, Wooler, St Boswells and Borderway, rather than being held in the Borders at Kelso. Highlights from the sales saw a Suffolk shearling selling for £9200 and Suffolk lambs up to £4400, Beltex topped at £6500 and the Crossbred rams secured a new record at £4400.

With still a couple of weeks left in September to finish the main sheep sales and we are already into the popular Mule Gimmer lamb sales which are held through Carlisle, Kirkby Stephen, Middleton in Teesdale and the home of the Mule Gimmer Lambs, Lazonby where we hold the UK's noted Alston Moor Sale.Looming on the horizon will be the autumn suckled calf sales, a time of year when many commercial show men are looking for a cracker to bring out into the show season for the following year. At the moment the question is probably, what lies ahead, and will there be any shows next year? Nobody knows.

As always, the final week in September brings together some of the late pedigree sheep sales which this year includes, the Texels, Roussins, Blue Texels, Hampshire Downs and Beltex sheep. So, for everyone we still have some busy market days ahead of us.

The annual rare and minority breeds sale has also been impacted by the pandemic. It has taken a drop in numbers this year as due to the Covid guidelines, we will only be hosting the official breed society sales. This year’s event will include sheep classes for Kerry Hills, Shetlands and Ryelands and the cattle will include the Dexter breed.

Online machinery sales continue to be very popular and the monthly sales are increasingly attracting a higher calibre of machinery and drawing customers from further afield, who are keen to bid up over the internet.

Dairy cattle numbers continue to be in demand and more numbers are required to accommodate buyers’ requirements from across the country. Prices for cows and heifers continues to be positive and running in tandem with the live stream bidding, customers can bid easily and conveniently from home.

A new venture to the business, organized by the marketing team is the concept of a Podcast for the Harrison & Hetherington. Known as the ‘Auctioneers Word’, the first podcast highlighted the trade and trends of the recent sales which had taken place through August and looking forward to sales coming up into September. The second edition is now being planned and you can listen to this latest broadcast at the end of September.

Until next month, continue stay safe!