Prime Lambs
North West Auctions J36 held its weekly sale of Prime lambs with an entry of 1681 forward. A very mixed trade saw handy weighted lambs in most demand and best to sell, with heavyweight lambs an easier trade this week. An overall market average of 186p/kg with an SQQ of 192p/kg to include a large proportion of upland lambs.
Leading the way today were heavyweight, shapey Texel lambs selling to a top of £110 from ST Birkett & Son, Carnforth. At £106.50 was JJ & S Raine, Appleby with other heavy Texel lambs at £104 from Wannop Farms.
Today saw the best confirmation lambs selling in excess of 212p/kg, selling to a top of 236p/kg or £104 from JJ & S Raine, Appleby with others from the same home selling to 230p/kg. The consignment from JG & PH Thompson sold to 229p/kg twice. All Beltex lambs forward averaged 225p/kg.
There was a large entry of Mule lambs forward today which saw a large entry of Cheviot Mules selling to £87 from AR & BJ Thompson, Selside. Rough Fell Mules sold to £85.50 from M Bland & Sons, Staveley, with plenty more pens of Mules selling into the early to mid eighties.
Cast Sheep
A similar entry of cast ewes were forward today as last week, with all ewes continuing to be a strong trade at J36. Strong Texel ewes were selling in the £100 plus mark from E Dodgson, Kendal. With other Texel ewes selling to £98 from JG & PH Thompson, Selside. Strong Mule ewes were still selling into the eighty pound mark with a top of £84 twice from J H Atkinson & Partners, Selside and AW Crowe, Witherslack. Medium type Mule ewes were selling in the region of £68 - £72.
Strong Leicester ewes sold to £100 from DE & J Waine, Longsleddale. There was a bigger show of hill ewes forward today with meaty ewes continuing to sell to a strong trade. Cheviot ewes topped this section at £80 from RH & M & S Boyren, Colton with a pen full from GW Robinson & Son, Crooklands selling to £77 and Lonks from this same home selling to £64.
Strong Swaledale ewes were selling in the £55-£60 with a top of £63 from A Hartley, Seathwaite with others to £58 from A Hodgson, Pennington. Medium type ewes sold into the £35 – £40 mark, depending upon quality.
Another strong trade was also seen for all cast rams, with Teeswater rams topping this section at £112 from DE & J Waine, Longsleddale and Derbyshire Gritstones selling to £96 from A Ruehorn-Hyde, Appleby, with buyers looking for all types of cast rams.