PRIME LAMBS
A rise in numbers and price saw an overall market average of 305p/kg, for lambs rising from 32kg to 58kg. Several consigners are now presenting inside fed lambs, with buyers showing preference today to well finished lambs of all weights and breeds. Today’s sale peaked at £166 with other better end lambs £155 to £161, with well finished grass fed lambs £140 to £148 and those lacking the final finished £132 to £140. Well bred lambs sold to 353p/kg, with other pens regularly 325p/kg to 340p/kg, the best standard weights were 308p/kg to 320p/kg, again with those slightly under finished lambs 280p/kg to 300p/kg. Vendors are encouraged to feed lambs to achieve maximum returns.

CAST SHEEP
With the break in standstills vendors are now off-loading older ewes in greater numbers, with Lancaster’s Monday morning sale once again proving a competition auction environment, with all sold today averaging £129, with a larger proportion of today’s sale being hill bred ewes. Strongest cross bred ewes sold to £182, with other better end £165 to £180, mediums £145 to £158 and feeding types £118 to £133. Mules sold to £166, with mediums generally £135 to £150, feeding types £105 to £120 and hard worked sorts less. Pure hill ewes sold to £124 for Lonks, £120 Cheviots, with the best of the medium Swaledale’s £88. A handful of cull rams forward saw medium continental to £195, with others £170 to £185.

STORE LAMBS
Several new vendors attending the weekly store lamb sale, which saw long keep Texel cross to £102, with others £90 to £95. Anticipated entry of 100 to 150 next week.