SPRING LAMBS

There was a bumper entry of 1646 spring lambs forward at J36, which was met with strong demand from a busy ringside of buyers. There was an overall market average of 249p/kg. Well finished lambs today were in strong demand and eagerly bid for with those vendors gaining the financial benefits, leaner types of lambs were financially penalised. J36 continues to have a good trade for heavy weight lambs.

Heavy weight Suffolk lambs led the way today selling to £153 from WT Whittaker & Son, Nether Kellet followed by £143 from M & RW Stirzaker, Milnthorpe. Charollais lambs peaked at £134 from T A Teasdale, Grange-Over-Sands. Heavy weight Texel lambs peaked at £132 from G A Rawsthorne, Cartmel. Plenty more pens of 45kg plus lambs that were well finished sold in excess of the £120 mark. Well finished standard weight Farm Assured Continental lambs regularly selling around the 250p/kg mark with better types easily selling in excess of this price. Better conformation lambs saw Texels sell to 279p/kg or £117 from R H S & M Boyren, Ulverston with others to 278p/kg from M & YS Barker, Halton. Plenty of pens of better conformation lambs regularly selling around the 270p/kg mark. Light weight lambs continue to be in strong demand with the well finished ones regularly selling in the £80’s and early £90’s. Mule lambs this week peaked at £104.50. Spring lamb trade continues to be very buoyant for the time of year and once again lambs averaged over the £100 mark at £103.93.

PRIME HOGGS

There was a full variety of prime hoggs forward as to be expected for the time of year with well finished fleshed hoggs eagerly bid for and getting away well. Texel hoggs peaked at £115 and £112 from J M Simpson, Underbarrow. Other hoggs to £102 or 221p/kg from E Parker, Mewith with Leicester hoggs to the same price from Harriet Parker, which was closely followed by £100 for Texel hoggs from Katie Birkett, Burton-in-Kendal.

CAST SHEEP

There was a bumper entry of 865 sheep forward that was met by plenty of demand increased by the Qurbani festival next week. Well fleshed ewes and rams are selling to a premium and despite reports from throughout the country of leaner ewes being less money, this was not seen today. Texel cast ewes led the way today selling to £159 from JE Hadwin, Kirkby Lonsdale. Pure Suffolk ewes peaked at £140 from T A & J Dixon, Selside. Plenty of pens of strong continental ewes easily and regularly selling around the £130-mark, Mule ewes today peaked at £127 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale, followed by £118 from M & Y S Barker, Halton.