SPRING LAMBS
A bumper entry of Spring Lambs were forward at J36 were forward today which saw 2010 sheep sell to a slightly easier trade, as numbers are up nationwide. There was an overall market average of 245p/kg, with the trade best for light weights and heavy weights, with standard weight fed lambs also selling to a premium.
Leading the way was the consignment from DE & SM Moorhouse, Natland who showed another great run of lambs with 50kg Suffolk lambs selling to £135, 50kg Texels to £133 followed by a pen of 49kg Texels to £129 and 49kg Suffolks to £127, rounding off a good day for David.
Other noted prices for heavy weight lambs were Texels to £133 from W H Kitching & Son, Helsington and £132 from BD & RM Willison, Westhouse. Two consignments of Texels achieved the £130 mark, firstly from JA & R Geldard & Sons, Levens and then from CB Heald and Son, Ingleton. Plenty more pens of heavy weight lambs were regularly selling either side of the £120 mark. Better conformation lambs today regularly sold in excess of the 260p/kg mark. Light weight lambs met plenty of trade with well fleshed, Continental lambs between 32-36kg easily selling in excess of 250p/kg. 36kg Dutch Texel lambs from GR & A Foy, Conder Green sold to £106 or 295p/kg.
The sale today included the ‘Tex-Factor’ Show of pens of five Texel sired prime lambs. This is kindly sponsored by the North West Texel Breeders Club in anticipation of the upcoming sale of pedigree rams and females on Sunday 8th August. There were twelve pens of lambs on show for our judge Mr Andrew Dawson to cast his expert eye over, who we thank for his time and expertise. The first prize rosette was awarded to J Handley & Son, Chapple-le-dale which were 45kg lambs and went on to sell for £130 purchased by the judge on behalf of Browns Quality Meats, Ulverston who we thank for their continued support. The second prize rosette was awarded to JW & A Mathews, Patton with 43kg Texel lambs, which went on to sell for £110. The third prize rosette was awarded to GR & A Foy, Conder Green whose 38kg Texel lambs sold to £102.
CAST SHEEP
All cast sheep sold to a red hot trade at J36 with many being £8 - £10 dearer on the week with buyers showing more interest in leaner ewes this week.
Pure Texel ewes from H Geldard, Foulshaw sold to £148 with Charollais ewes from JA & R Geldard & Sons also achieving the same price. Suffolks sold to £140 from T Ellis, New Hutton and strong Continental ewes were regularly selling into the £125+ mark with medium types well over £100.
Mule ewes were keenly bid for with the best selling to £129 from GCL Stephenson, Kirkby Lonsdale with strong fit ewes regularly selling in the £115 – £120 mark. Medium type Mule ewes were £95 – £100 and leaner types well into the £70s.
Hill ewes would be the strongest trade seen for some time with strong Rough Fell ewes selling to £111 from S & W Dickinson, Tebay, Cheviots sold to £109 from JP & S Thorpe, Orton, Dalesbred ewes from R Capstick & Son sold to £92 and Swaledales were closely behind at £91 from JS & S Atkinson, Scorton, with medium type, fit Swaledale ewes selling well in to the £70 mark.
There was not as much strength in the cast ram section with a top of £120 from JP & S Thorpe, Orton who also sold Zwartbles to £110.
Buyers continue to show a strong demand fo all types of ewes in the coming weeks.