Pigs

The monthly sale of all classes of pigs had an entry in excess of 110 forward for the sale. Prime pigs were harder to place today following Christmas, with many butchers and wholesalers trying to catch up. Prime pig buyers were very cautious of boars and not really interested in them today with gilts and hogs in good demand and eagerly bid for, selling to a top of £102 or 116p/kg from JR Corlett of Skiddaw View.

There was a large quantity of weaners on the market today, with many people full following the wet weather we have endured the demand wasn’t that strong. Best weaners topped at £50 for Pietrain crosses from NJ Wilkinson of Roosecote Farm.

Prime Hoggs

There was a smaller entry of prime hoggs forward this week with just under 1000 in the market. As seen throughout this week there was plenty of trade for all specifications of hoggs with an overall market average of 183p/kg. Hoggs weighing between 39-45kg were selling to a market average of 186p/kg.

Taking top spot today was Beltex hoggs from J Allonby & Son of Green Head selling to £103 or 245p/kg with all Beltex hoggs forward today selling to a market average of 206p/kg. Texel hoggs sold to a top of £100 from from SP Pease of Underley. There was less heavy weight hoggs in the market today but often best conformation, heavy weight hoggs selling into the nineties. There was less hill bred lambs in the market today but plenty of trade for them, which saw Mules sell to a top of £89.50 from R & EA Gardner of Barrowfield with horned hoggs selling to £76 for Rough Fells from Amy Harrison of Millriggs.

Cast Sheep

There was a smaller entry of cast ewes in the market today with 365 forward selling to a very similar trade to the previous week. The trade topped at £125 for Leicester tup from Fishwick Bros of Middle Sadghyll Farm. Best ewes sold around the £100 mark topping at £103 from AW Crowe of Ashtree Cottage with Suffolks selling to £99 from RA & L Hodgson of Patton hall. Best upland ewes saw Cheviot Mules top at £89 from SP Pease of Underley, with Mule ewes selling to £69 from the same home. The horn ewe trade very similar to last week.