Spring Lambs

North West Auctions held their weekly sale of Prime Lambs with a slightly reduced entry of 1088 but selling to a stronger market average then expected of 175p/kg. The sale included the annual ‘Tex-Factor’ show for pens of five Texel Sired Prime Lambs, kindly sponsored by the North West Texel Breeders Club in preparation of their upcoming sale on Sunday 11th August. Thanks goes to our pre-sale judge Mr John Houldsworth, Cornvale. It was great to have ten pens out to show with the winning rosette being awarded to B & R Barnes, Gilsmere Farm with 41kg Texels selling to £85 purchased by Michael Lomax on behalf of Dales Butchers, Kikrby Lonsdale. Lambs sold to a top of £98 for Texel lambs from A & CM Carter, Witherslack with Charollais selling to £95 from SJ Gunn, Milnthorpe. The consignment of lambs from DE & SM Moorhouse, Natland saw heavy weight Texels sell to £93.50 and £90 with Suffolks from the same home selling to £88. The Suffolk trade was topped at £88.50 from JL Bird, Flookburgh. Plenty of pens of heavy weight and best conformation lambs sold into the eighties. Best conformation lambs sold in the region of 200p/kg topping at 219p/kg from GR & A Foy, Conder Green. Mule lambs sold to £79 from RS & BA Harker, Carnforth with all Mules today selling to an average of £74.22.

Tex-Factor Show Results

Judge Mr J Houldsworth, Cornvale

Sponsor North West Texel Breeders Club

1st B & R Barnes, Gilsmere Farm, 41kg, £85
2nd K Thomas, Hill Top Farm, 42kg, £75.50
3rd GR & A Foy, Parkside Farm, 36kg, £79

Cast Sheep

There was a slightly reduced entry of 910 Cast Sheep today selling very much in line with other auction centres. Topping the market today was Leicester ewes selling to £108 from JW & TE Sharp, Lyth with Leicester tups to £105 from Caley & Mitchinson, Troutbeck. Texel ewes sold to £97 from P Stephenson, Rathmel with other Texel ewes selling to £95 from IL Dixon, Cantsfield. Plenty of Continental ewes sold in the mid to late eighties. Mule ewes sold to a top of £76 from KE Richards & Son, Howgill with plenty of other best Mule ewes selling into the early seventies. Hill bred ewes saw Cheviots sell to £68 twice from RM & PM Simpson, Troutbeck and JR Handley, Whinfell. Rough Fell ewes sold to £66 from I & J Mallinson, Selside.