PRIME LAMBS
Pleasing to see numbers continuing to rise on a Monday morning but disappointingly far too many under finished ‘store’ lambs forward proving difficult to sell to ‘fat’ lamb buyers.
Vendors are strongly encouraged to draw lambs on finish, not just purely on weight.
Of the well finished lambs forward these sold to 383p/kg and £162 for Beltex cross, with others at 369p/kg from TR Prickett and £156 from H Mason. Several heavy weights forward selling at £170 for Texel cross from CJ Metcalfe. Well finished lambs were generally 305p/kg to 320p/kg, with the excessive number of under finished lambs forward ranging from 230p/kg to 290p/kg, depending on breed and quality. The best of the lightweight lambs sold to 321p/kg from JRP Hughes. A market average today of 295p/kg was achieved.

CAST SHEEP
A top today of £190 for a Texel ewe from CJ Metcalfe, with other better end medium ewes £165 to £180 and the next draw down £125 to £150. Mules sold to £172 from A&FM Bolland & Son, other stronger end were £150 to £160. Pure hill ewes sold to £140 for Cheviots, £120 Easy Cares, £114 Lonks and £104 Herdwicks.
Several rams forward were generally selling at £140 to £170 for medium types.

STORE LAMBS
An entry of predominantly long-term lambs today, selling to £110 from SE&J Gorst.