THE Channel 4 programme 'Dying Breed' has stimulated a lot of comment, and no doubt controversy, amongst the 1.8m viewers who watched last Sunday evening.

For my part I thought Nick Brown, our Minister of Agriculture, came over pretty moderately as both unreceptive and lacking in any sympathy or ideas.

He was, however, well ahead of the evening's most appalling outburst, from the Tesco buyer who swore in a continuous stream of bleeps at the poor pig producer with whom he was asked by the police to negotiate.

I had some doubts about 'Storming' Norman's strategy for economic prosperity and personally preferred Paul Dunn's delightful sermon on never giving up, complete with a ginormous mangleworzel produced from the pulpit like a rabbit.

The final episode is on Sunday and the producer, Nic Guttridge, has asked if I will stand by to answer questions on an internet conference, whatever that means? I can't do worse than the Minister or Tesco!

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Here are a few news bullet points I have gleaned:

First, and most important, is the welcome exit of Charles Brader from the Intensive Care Unit in Leeds. On Tuesday, he was sat in a chair and in good spirits. This morning, he rang Gilda for seed corn prices and to thank everyone for their cards and good wishes.

Cliff Lockwood, whom many will know as the senior auctioneer at York for almost half a century, has gone into hospital. At the age of 81, he is comfortable but poorly. CL, as I know him, holds a special place in my life, having taught my brother and me all we know about rostrum selling.

The problems illustrated in 'Dying Breed' still go on, and this week the largest herd of Jerseys in the country, some 600 head, is being sold up by its owner in Cumbria, solely because he is now receiving half price for his milk.

There is some perverse consolation in the miserable news from Zimbabwe that Mugabe is going to steal 75pc of all the white farms without compensation - things are not as bad as that here, yet!

Blind panic, spawned by blind ignorance, has persuaded the US Department of Agriculture to destroy a large flock of milking sheep imported from France because somebody has suggested that they might have BSE. I wonder if bovine and ovine have the same definition in American dictionaries.

Surprisingly, meat consumption has risen in the EU for the third year running and we are now consuming per capita 5pc more than we did in 1997.

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Marketing during the harvest and holiday season is never easy but, compared to the rest of the country, Malton is holding its prices pretty well.

Numbers of pigs have dropped to under 300 on the two days, which is very disappointing considering that the liveweight auction is leading the revival for producers and if this marker is lost, we will be completely in the hands of our deadweight masters.

Despite a moderate trade of around 75p/kilo, vendors would be in front of many deadweight sellers. The Bacon Factory announced proudly that they had lifted their contract price to 96.5p/kilo which only equates to a little over 72p liveweight.

If the UK pig world wants a meaningful liveweight option, then you need to support it with at least a few pigs each week.

Top price was 80p/kilo achieved for some lightweight gilts from H W Ward - 107p equivalent deadweight!

We had 625 sheep in the market and trade fell to average 75p/kilo which is nicely above the national figures.

Nevertheless, it is disappointing. The best of the day was achieved by Alan Tyson at 83p/kilo for heavy lambs.

Cattle numbers were very good for the time of year and I sold 102 bulls which were a penny or two down on last week.

However, the overall average of around 98p/kilo for Continentals was satisfactory and the best bulls for conformation were a fair price, making up to 115p/kilo for a fine Belgian Blue from Ian Rooke. Edward Hardwick & Roland Mason were close behind at 110p for heavyweight bulls.

It was the bottom end of the market that was difficult to move, with poor Holsteins finding few customers.

Philip sold the 160 clean cattle which were again just not as firm but maintained reasonable returns to the producer. The Intervention-type steer was making from 95-103p/kilo and the top-priced heavyweight came from Andrew Marson at 122p/kilo.

The retail butcher heifers stole the show again with George Marwood having a medium-weight heifer at 121p and a heavyweight at 130p/kilo.

With deadweight prices slipping, the live auction must still be favourite.

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Don't forget this Saturday, August 5, is the early Sheep Fayre at Malton.