PRIME LAMBS

The weekly sale of prime lambs saw 610 forward, as seen national a little less demand ringside with many outfits still busy with the festival. However a pleasing market average of 368p/kg was achieved. The best quality lambs were regularly 400p/kg plus. Topping at 412p/kg from C&J Bennett, St Michaels, with Beltex cross to 410p/kg from JG&BJ Escolme, Killington. Heavy meated lambs sold to a premium today, with Suffolk cross lambs to £209 from J Park, Witherslack and the same home selling other pens to £206. Beltexs sold to £204 from J Stott Jnr, Crosscrake and Texels to £201 from JG&BJ Escolme, Killington. Many Continental heavy lambs were regularly £180 to £200. Export type lambs (41kg to 43kg) were regularly 365p/kg to 375p/kg, with a pen of 41kg to £170 from TA Teasdale, Grange Over Sands. More light lambs were forward, with 38kg Texels to £149 from F&JM Mason, Mansergh with other pens to the same price from AE Atkinson & Son, Endmoor and a ring full of 36kg lambs to £141.
Well finished lambs both farm assured and VAN accredited met the keenest demand, with buyers now showing some resistance towards lambs not presented with a VAN / farm assurance number.

PRIME HOGGS

100 hoggs forward with a pleasing demand seen from our ringside of buyers. Texels sold to £157 from T&E Burrow, Slyne who sold other pens to £150. Suffolks sold to £149 from R&J Dodgson, Natland with Mules to £141 from J&J Huck, Burnesie. Horned hoggs saw Dalesbred to £135 from DC Miller, Claughton on Brock who also sold Swaledales to £114.

CAST SHEEP

As expected a few less ewes forward, with all buyers still ringside keen to fill and top up orders. Several of the best pure and heavy ewes sold to £214 on three separate occasions, with other stronger end first cross ewes £165 to £180. Mule sold to £149 with other stronger end £135 to £145, and mediums £118 to £130. No real headline makers from the hill breeds, with Swaledale to £104 and other stronger end £90 to £100. Herdwicks sold to £90, Dalesbreds to £86 and hill Cheviots to £86. Other smaller and leaner hill bred ewes were £40 to £55, with several at realisation.
Cull rams sold to £165 for medium Texels, with others generally £130 to £150.
Business as usual next week, with a large number of all classes and types required to fulfil buyers demand.

BREEDING SHEEP

The last sale of breeding sheep saw a small entry, with all selling to a pleasing trade. Aged Texel cross ewes with Beltex twins from CR Alderson & Son, Kirkby Stephen sold to £295, who sold single outfits to £225.
We would like to thank all the vendors and purchased from the sheep with lamb sales, and wish them well with their purchases.