Spring Lambs

There was the largest entry of Spring Lambs this season of 1921 that sold to an overall market average of 218p/kg. There was a very mixed show of lambs in terms of quality and finish with a premium seen today for well-finished lambs weighing in excess of the 42kg mark. Leading the way this week was the consignment of heavy weight Texel lambs from IM Jaeban, Cockermouth selling to £131, £130, £128, £123 and £117. Heavy weight Continental lambs sold to top of £128 from J Scott & Co, Cark in Cartmel, with other Continental lambs selling to £124 from M Grunhill, Grange over Sands. Suffolk lambs sold to a top of £126 from HR & KA Hodgson, Barbon with others to £117 from M Robinson, Lowgill. Beltex lambs this week topped at £116 from MA & JA Winn, Underbarrow purchased by Plumgarths Farm Shop. Charollais lambs peaked at £115 from B & D Willison & Son, Levens. Plenty of well-fleshed mid to late 40kg well-fleshed lambs sold in excess of the £100 mark.

Top pence per kilo this week was 265p/kg for Beltex lambs from RA Batty, Selside with plenty of pens of good conformation lambs selling in and around the 250p/kg mark.

Prime Hoggs

Prime hoggs are required for the upcoming festival with vendors urged to market there hoggs this month. This week hoggs peaked at £71 from Strickland Hill Farming, Witherslack.

Cast Ewes

There was an increased entry 566 today with all classes of ewes were sharper on the week with over fat ewes particularly showing the biggest rise. Best bred and pure ewes sold between £105 and £112 topping at £115 for Texel ewes from W Garnett & Son, Milnthorpe with pure Suffolk ewes selling to £114 from MA & JA Winn, Burneside. Medium type Continental ewes sold between £85 and £95. Charollais ewes peaked at £108 from RJ Stott, Stainton. Leicester ewes sold to a top of £95 from TLB & J Knowles, Selside. There was a bigger show of Mule ewes today with the best selling to £80 plus, topping at £87 from Ian Edmondson, Ulverston. This was closely followed by £86 from JW & TE Sharp, Lyth with all Mules forward averaging £73.

More hill ewes forward today saw Swaledale sell to a strong trade selling to a top of £67 from WI & A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale. There was plenty of pens of fit Swaledale ewes selling into the mid-fifties. Rough Fell ewes saw a top of £65, twice from SW Watson, Finsthwaite and H Chapman & Son, Middleton. Cheviot ewes peaked at £62 from RW & SA Robinson, Carnforth with all Cheviots averaging £58.

A couple of goats forward today sold to £71 with buyers looking to purchase goats.