Prime Lambs
There was an entry of 1100 Prime Lambs for the sale this week with a very mixed entry of lambs forward, with some under finished lambs possibly best marketed in the Store Lamb ring. There was an overall market average of 160p/kg with an SQQ of 163p/kg. Lambs sold to a top of £99 for heavy weight Texels from JS & S Atkinson, Scorton. This was closely followed by £94 from JM Sanderson, Halton. Suffolk lambs sold to a top of £89.50 from F & SA Edmondson, Ulverston. Beltex lambs sold to a top of 205p/kg or £80 from R Capstick & Son, Ingleton. Other Beltex lambs sold between 185p/kg and 192p/kg.
The sale today included the annual Bonny Boys show and sale of pens of five Mule Wether Lambs. Thanks pre-sale judge Mr J Cookson, Kendal for giving up his time and expertise and Westmorland Accountants for their continued support sponsoring our sales. An impressive line-up of lambs were put before the Judge, with good conformation, finish and strong Mule characteristics. The first prize rosette was awarded to RS & BA Harker, Overthwaite for a pen of well-finished lambs as well as bonny. These weighed 47kg and sold for £77 closely followed by the second prize pen from JS & S Atkinson, Scorton weighing 48kg selling for £75.
Cast Sheep
There was a slightly smaller entry of cast ewes forward this week with an entry of over 500 forward. Heavy weight and fit ewes sold to a slightly stronger trade this week. Topping the trade today at £107 for Texel ewes from Josh Capstick, Ingleton. Beltex ewes sold to a top of £97 from GR & A Foy, Conder Green with Suffolk ewes selling to £95 from AJ Robinson, Yealand Redmayne. Plenty pens of those strong Continental and Suffolk ewes sold in the region of the ninety pound mark. Cheviot Mule ewes topped at £80 from R & J Moorhouse, Lindale. Leicester ewes topped at £77 from WA Hodgson, Whinfell with Leicester tups selling to £76 from N Heseltine, Skipton. Mule ewes were a sharper trade today, which saw best ewes sell to £69 from RF & CE Hodgson, Ulverston with plenty of pens of strong fit ewes selling in excess of £60. Horned ewes topped at £57 from JW Hill, Kirkby Stephen with Rough Fells to £55 from M Potter of Tebay. Swaledales sold to £45 from RI Dixon, Low Newton.