PRIME LAMBS

A stand on trade this week, with vendors perhaps drawing lambs harder with a bit less weight ahead of weaning. Fed lambs continue to sell to a premium, with a top price today of £179 for Texel cross from D&K Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe with others £175 from H Birkett & Son, Overton and £170 from KA Purtill, Wigan. Other better end lambs were generally £155 to £168. An increased number of lighter weight lambs today sold to £149 for Beltex cross from P&V Bennett, Lancaster with Texel cross to £147 from PD Anderton, Scorton with others generally £138 to £145.
A single Charolais cross lamb from KA Purtill, Wigan led the way achieving 405p/kg, with other pens of well bred, well finished lambs 380p/kg to 395p/kg from P&V Bennett, D&K Swarbrick, H Birkett & Son and E Lund & Son. Other well finished first cross lambs were 355p/kg to 370p/kg, with nice grass finished lambs 345p/kg to 358p/kg. Several pens of lambs perhaps drawn early were 330p/kg to 345p/kg. All lambs sold to an SQQ average of 353p/kg.

PRIME HOGGS

A remarkable number of hoggs forward for the end of June, selling to a top of £160 for Texels from C&H Mason, Caton. Herdwicks sold to 311p/kg from M&S Purtill, Wigan. Better end hoggs were nicely 240p/kg to 260p/kg and the lower end 160p/kg to 190p/kg, depending on breed and quality.

CAST SHEEP

A few more cull sheep forward today, as farmers look to wean their lambs, with a very respectable average of £131 per head achieved. Stronger end continental were £169 to £180, topping at £185 for Texel cross from KA Purtill, Wigan with mediums £140 to £160 and a few leaner harder worked sorts £122 to £140. North Country Mules sold to £160 from D&K Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe with Cheviot Mules to £155 from KA Purtill, Wigan. An entry of predominantly medium Mules were £140 to £155, with the next cut down £150 to £135. Pure hill ewes coming forward in greater numbers, with Cheviots to £138 with others at £130. Horned ewes sold to £92 for the better end lighter weight ewes, with harder worked £55 to £70.
Cull rams sold to £150 with others £140 plus for lighter weight medium continentals.