PIGS
Trade slightly easier for pigs today, with an increase in numbers forward on last sale.
Top price today was £200 on nine occasions from GC&GW Taylor, Crook, J&JR Stott, Stainton and PK&R Woof, Stainton with the Woofs topping the pence per kilo at 222p.
Stores sold to £90 from Messrs Barrow, Wigton with weaners to £58 from SP Pheonix, Preston.
PRIME LAMBS
A sharp rise in number with the largest entry of the season, as farmers look to sell lambs finishing off the abundance of grass, with those having had hard feed selling to a premium. Today’s sale peaked at £222 for Texel cross lambs from HR&KA Hodgson, Barbon with other super heavies £195 to £210, heavies £175 to £190, standards to £174 and others generally £152 to £162. Light standards were £138 to £145 and light weights £120 to £135. Texel cross peaked at 390p/kg from J&JR Stott, Crosscrake. Other well finished ¾ bred lambs were 375p/kg to 385p/kg, well finished first cross 350p/kg to 365p/kg, grass finished cross breds 340p/kg to 352p/kg, and light weights 330p/kg to 360p/kg. Hill bred lambs are coming forward in greater numbers, with Mules to £150 from JM&NJ Strickland and Lleyn £146 from JA& Geldard & Sons. Mules sold to 340p/kg from R Lawrence and Lleyn 347p/kg JA&R Geldard & Sons.
Well finished lambs continue to sell to a premium, benefitting from having hard feed and putting on the final coat of paint. All weights are required on a weekly basis to fulfil buyer requirements. An overall market average today of 348p/kg was achieved, with lambs ranging from 33kg to 58kg.
CAST SHEEP
A very hard worked show of ewes forward today, with only the very best sorts over £200. Mule sold to £184 and horned ewes to £126.
Texels to £252 from S Crowe, Dalton in Furness.
BFL to £220 from ST&SE Allen, Tebay.
Beltex to £216 from E Dodgson, Kendal.
Cheviot Mule to £184 from E Parker, Bentham.
North of England Mules to £168 from J&R Waller, Killington and C Wilson, Witherslack.
Dorset to £158 from E Parker, Bentham.
Swaledale to £126 from A Clarke, Nether Kellet.
Herdwick to £112 from G Wilkinson, Coniston.