PRIME HOGGS- Tuesday trade lifts the blue Monday blues.
After yesterdays so called blue Monday, todays prime hoggs traded better than many expected, with buyers keen to compete for well finished sheep.
Quality was once again the key driver, with smart continental hoggs leading the way topping at 378ppk for Texels from AW & D Brown. Well finished hoggs either side of 40kg mark met the strongest competition returning an overall average of 309ppk, while the sqq settled at 319ppk, underlining a trade that felt far more positive than some had anticipated. Heavies proved harder work topping at £181 for a pair of Suffolk from Messrs AG Butler. Bigger texels hit £179 from Messrs J Allonby. As mentioned before Messrs Brown hit 378ppk for Texels. Others sold to 366.7ppk from AT Burrow and 363.2ppk from JD Dixon. Lighter hoggs also a strong trade. 37kg Cheviots sold to 340.5ppkg again from Messrs AW & D Brown. Even lighter 32kg hoggs sold for 337.5ppk from Messrs J Clarke.
Demand continues to be big here at J36 resulting in a highly competitive trade accompanied by prompt payment and a smile.
Steam ever so slightly out the ewes but a very pleasing trade on the whole.
Topping this week was the Benson Hall boys selling the best of their run to £260 twice. Medium continentals selling £175-£200 with the best mules to £160. Horned ewes still perhaps looking the dearest selling to £156 for Blackface from A Kirkby, Kirkby Stephen with well fleshed horned ewes regularly selling top side of £110.
EWES
Charolais to £260 from R&E Ladds, Benson Hall
Texel to £260 from R&E Ladds, Benson Hall
Beltex to £235 from R&E Ladds, Benson Hall
Suffolk to £190 from J&O Galbraith, Endmoor
Cheviot to £168 from P Prickett, Hutton Roof
North England Mule to £160 from J&O Galbraith, Endmoor
Scottish Blackface to £156 from A Kirkby, Kirkby Stephen
BFL to £138 from E Parker, Bentham
Lonk to £130 from GJ&GM Ibbetson, Roeburndale
Swaledale to £126 from JW Hargreaves, Broughton in Furness
Rough Fell to £126 from T Ellis, Kendal
Herdwick to £116 from Archie Carr, Grange Over Sands
RAMS
Suffolk to £172 from JF & AW Sutton, Longsleddale
Texel to £172 from T Ellis, Kendal