Tuesday 2nd January

Prime Hoggs

The annual show and sale of Young Handlers Prime Hoggs at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands, saw another good entry of over 30 forward and it was great to have so many young handlers in the market this year showing their skill and enthusiasm. Our thanks must go to our Judge, Mrs Denise Elliott, Penrith, for giving up her time and expertise today, with thanks also going to Rural Law Practice Thomson Hayton Winkley and Wynnstay.

The champion Young Handler Rosette was awarded to George Harryman of Kendal, who expertly held his 50kg Beltex hogg and led it very well on its halter which later sold to a market top of £190 to Plumgarths Farm Shop. The champion young handler lamb, awarded for its conformation and finish, was awarded to Abigail Winn, High Underbarrow Farm, Burneside, with her Beltex Hogg which she has bred herself from her flock of 8 breeding ewes. Credit must go to this young shepherdess for breeding such a great hogg and handling it ever so well in the show. This Beltex hogg later went onto sell for £140 weighing 52kg also selling to Plumgarths Farm Shop. The Reserve Champion Hogg was awarded to Jonathan Winn, High Underbarrow Farm, Burneside, also with a Beltex hogg, weighing 49kg selling to £112 to Lancashire Halal Direct. Recognition must go to all the Young Handlers in today’s show for their time and effort in taking part.

Following on from the show hoggs the commercial hoggs sold to another strong trade with 1500 hoggs in the market, which sold to a market average of 179p/kg with 39-45kg hoggs selling to an average of 183p/kg. There was, once again, plently of demand for Beltex hoggs with all Beltex forward selling to a market average of 227p/kg with good conformation Texel Lambs often selling in excess of 200p/kg. There was more Mules in the market today seeing them top at £85 for heavy weight hoggs from F & SA Edmondson of Netherhouses, 45kg Mules twice sold to £83.50 from WI & A Atkinson & Son, Holme House and ME Wannop & Sons, Heaton Hall.

There was a strong demand for heavy weight lambs with best types weighing in the 50kg bracket selling in the region of £40 over their weight.

Cast Sheep

There was a bumper entry of 600 Cast Ewes forward with a very mixed entry in the market, with many pens of Ewes looking weathered following this wet weather we have endured. A shortage of big ewes in the market today saw Beltex ewes sell to £91 from PJ & H Onions of Keer Falls and Suffolk Ewes sold to £90 from RA Batty, Endmoor. Bigger Continental type Ewes were selling into the eighties. Best Mule ewes sold over £70 mark, with a shortage of good fit ewes in, topping at £77 from P Rossall of Claughton on Brock. A very mixed show of horned ewes in the market today saw Rough Fell Ewes sell to £64 from CP Bateman of Croftfoot and Swaledale Ewes sold to £49 from Inman Family of Strickland Hill. Fleshed Horned ewes were regularly selling in the forties.