Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Prime Lambs
North West Auctions J36 held its weekly sale of Prime lambs which had an increased entry of 1648 forward. Following on from the lockdown announcements at the weekend, we have seen an increase in trade for all specifications of lambs.

There was an overall market average of 208p/kg with an SQQ of 211p/kg. Leading the way today was heavy weight lambs with Beltex selling to £124 from J Twigge, Lindale with Texel lambs from JB Airey Kendal achieving the same price. Heavy weight Suffolk lambs sold to £118 from AR & BJ Thompson, Selside with other Suffolk lambs selling to £116.50 from DM & D Cook, Ulverston. With plenty of pens of heavy lambs selling in excess of the £110 mark with all heavy weight lambs forward averaging 204p/kg.

Best confirmation lambs today sold to 253p/kg from FE & CM Robinson & Son, Crooklands. A consignment of Beltex x lambs from PJ & H Onions, Arkholme sold to 251p/kg and 247p/kg. Plenty of pens of best confirmation lambs easily selling in the 240p/kg range today.

Continental, handy weighted, lambs and well meated, regularly sold in excess of 220p/kg. Mule lambs sold to a top of £102.50 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale with Mule lambs weighing the same weight selling to £102 from RM & D Dixon, Longsleddale. Plenty of pens of Mule lambs regularly selling into the £90s.

Suffolk lambs sold to £118 or averaged £99.66 or 204p/kg
Mule lambs sold to £102.50 averaged £91.55 or 201p/kg
Charollais lambs sold to £96 or averaged £85.94 or 206p/kg
Cheviot lambs sold to £98.50 or averaged £88.65 or 205p/kg
Texel lambs sold to £124 or averaged £94.48 or 213p/kg
Beltex lambs sold to £124 or averaged £101 or 237p/kg

Cast Sheep
An entry of 530 cull ewes were forward today with a strong trade seen throughout for all breeds and quality of sheep. Pure bred and Texel ewes regularly selling in the £115 plus mark, topping at £133 from AW Crowe, Witherslack with others £119 from the same home. Medium type Texel ewes sold at £90 - £100.

Suffolks from DM & D Cook, Ulverston sold to £104 with other Suffolks selling to £100 from R Cowin & Sons, Mansergh. Mule ewes saw the biggest lift in trade this week with a pen full from EM & D Cook, Ulverston selling to £91 with others to £90 from J & M Wilson, Selside. Medium Mules with flesh were selling to £65 - £70.

Another big show of hill bred ewes were forward with all types eagerly bid for. Cheviot ewes led the way topping at £94 from JD Dixon, Flookburgh with a pen full selling to £85. Swaledale ewes saw another big lift in trade with some being £10 dearer on the weak, topping at £75 from AL & L Birkett, Little Langdale with others selling to £68 from TA & JA Dixon, Selside.

A ring full of Rough Fells from RJ & OB Simpson, Longsleddale sold to £69 with others from the same home selling to £68. There was a bigger show of Herdwick ewes forward, with the best selling well into the £40 mark, with a top of £49 from K Little and D McClure, Cartmel.

Cast Rams
These were all eagerly bid for with many more being able to be sold. Leicesters led the way from PE & M Capstick, Whicham at £140 with others from the same home at £132. Beltex tups from NJ Strickland & Son sold at £127.