PRIME LAMBS
Once again, another rise in numbers saw 829 lambs at the popular Monday morning sale, with hard fed lambs continuing to see the best returns, with out of spec and under finished lambs a more selective trade, with several pens at realisation. Sellers are encouraged to treat their lambs to hard feed, to ensure maximum returns.
The best pure and three quarter bred lambs, having been of fed, were rewarded with premium price selling to a top of 340p/kg was a Texel from KA Purtill, Wigan. Beltex cross to 331p/kg, 324p/kg, 322p/kg from PJ&ES Rogerson, Appleby with others at 321p/kg from WS Burrow, Silverdale, 315p/kg TR Prickett, Hutton Roof, 313p/kg J Twigge, Lindal and 312p/kg JE Harrison, Winmarleigh. Other pens were regularly 295p/kg to 310p/kg. Well finished first cross lambs were generally 285p/kg to 305p/kg, depending on weight and quality. The best grass finished lambs were 275p/kg to 280p/kg, with more commercial sorts 250p/kg to 270p/kg.
Todays sale peaked at £152 for heavy weight Texels from JR&J Gorst, Quernmore and E&R Cranshaw, Brindle. Other heavy weight lambs were generally £140 to £148. The best standards weight lambs £128 to £135, with light weights £110 to £118.
Hill bred lambs coming forward in greater number, accounting for 35% of todays sale. North County Mules selling to £128 and 276p/kg, Cheviot Mules to £135 and 292p/kg, Cheviots to £135 and 276p/kg. The first Swaledales of the season sold to £110.50 and 251p/kg.
Todays sale achieved a market SQQ of 277p/kg for all sold, with lambs ranging from 26kg to 84kg. Vendors are encouraged to draw lambs on finish and not solely on weight, to ensure maximum returns, vendors are advised to strongly consider feeding lambs, as grass quality diminishes.
CAST SHEEP
Another fast trade for all classes of ewes with 126 forward averaged £98.81. The strongest ewes sold to £210 for Texels form A Birchall, Dolphinholme with other better strong continentals £170 to £195. The best first cross sold to £150 for Suffolk cross, with others £128 to £140. Heaviest Mules sold to £137 from E&R Cranshaw, Brindle with other at £133 and a ring full at £130 from J Pinder & Son, Newton who also sold Lonk ewes to £123. Other hill ewes sold to £134 for Cheviots, Swaledale to £111, Dalesbred to £91, Herdwicks to £80 and Welsh to £64.
Keep these ewes coming, with 200 plus required every week to fulfil buyer requirements.