PRIME LAMBS
The weekly sale of prime lambs had an entry of 1459 forward, selling to an overall market average of 229p/kg with the quality of lambs on offer mixed, well finished consignments gaining the financial benefits. Heavy weight lambs continued to be in strong demand at Junction 36, this week they peaked at £134 for Texels from T&M Halhead, Priest Hutton, followed by other heavy weight Texels to £130 from J Stott, Crosscrake. Suffolk lambs peaked at £132 from JG &BJ Escolme, Killington, with other Suffolk lambs to £128 from WT Whittaker & Son, Nether Kellet, £127 from M&SM Robinson, Lowgill, £126 from DM & D Cook, Ulverston and £124 from DE & SM Moorehouse, Natland. Plenty of lambs weighting in the region of 50kg regularly selling around the £120 mark. Heavy weight Mules this week topped at £129 from Damien Wightman and Amy Mason, Milnthorpe. Standard weight commercial lambs saw well fleshed lambs selling regularly in excess of 230p/kg. Well finished light weight lambs continue to be in strong demand and eagerly bid for.
This weeks sale included the ‘Belting Beltex’ pair of lambs, kindly supported by the Northern Beltex Club. The first prize rosette was awarded to Sally Jackson, Nook with her smashing pair of Beltex lambs selling to 300p/kg or £126 to the judge, Michael Lomax backing his judgement and purchasing the lambs. The second and third prize rosette was awarded to Abigail Winn, Burneside, the second prize lambs at 38kg sold for £110 and third prize lambs at 43kg sold for £111.

CAST SHEEP
The weekly sale of cull ewes saw 550 forward, all types once again were keenly bid for with all buyers showing keen demand for ewes full of meat. Texel ewes peaked at £140 from E&H Winder, Ravenstonedale, closely followed at £138 from GA Metcalfe, Kirkby Stephen. Many of the best Texel ewes selling well into the £130 mark. A bigger show of Mule ewes forward this week, which saw all keenly bid for and selling to a top of £113 from D Cottam, New Hutton. The best regularly sold well over the £100 mark, medium types full of meat were selling between £80 and £90. A lot more hill ewes forward today with Cheviots leading the way at £80 from HR & KA Hodgson, Barbon. A full pen of Rough Fell sold at £80 from AJ & JL Sandsom, Windermere. Swaledales peaked at £77 from HE Lister, Windermere, the best Swaledales today regularly sold in the eighties.
Cast rams saw another strong trade at Junction 36 with Charollais selling to a top of £168 from RM&PM Simpson, Troutbeck. Herdwicks sold to £110 from JG Harryman, Harkshead.