Prime Lambs

North West Auctions held its weekly sale of Prime Lambs with an increased entry of 1690 forward selling to an overall market average 207p/kg and an SQQ of 208p/kg. The trade today saw well-fleshed lambs in strong demand with leaner lambs harder to place. The trade for heavy weight lambs was not just as dear as seen in previous weeks with buyers cautious of leaner heavy tups. Heavy weight well-fleshed Texel lambs sold to £128 from HR & KA Hodgson, Barbon followed by £124 from WS Burrow & Sons, Silverdale. Dorsets sold to a top of £118 from D Black, Slack Head. Suffolks sold to a top of £108.50 from WT Whitaker & Son, Nether Kellet. Plenty of heavy weight lambs sold between £100 and £110.

Continental lambs sold to a top of 235p/kg firstly from M Allen, Yealand Conyers and the same from Alan Thompson, Dock Acres. This was closely followed by 233p/kg from WS Burrow & Sons, Silverdale. Plenty of pens of better bred and well-finished sold between 220p/kg and 230p/kg.

There was a larger number of upland lambs forward with Cheviot lambs selling to a top of £96 from AR & BJ Thompson, Selside followed by £95.50 from J Allonby & Son, Grayrigg. Mule lambs sold to a top of £95 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale followed by £93.50 from EW & JR Parkinson, Dunsop Bridge with all Mules forward averaging £88.63 or 199p/kg. Mashams sold to a top of £94.50 from JA Bennett, Longsleddale. Horned lambs saw Dalesbreds sell to a top of £80.50 for 40kg Dalesbreds from R Capstick & Son, Ingleton.

Cast Ewes

The weekly sale of 610 ewes and rams saw all types continue to sell to a strong trade at J36. Strong pure-bred ewes in best demand with Texels selling to £130 from J Woodburn & Partners, Ulverston with Beltex to £119 from J & O Galbraith & Son, Endmoor. Numerous pens of stronger ewes sold in the £110 region. Strong Mule ewes were well sold with a top of £85 twice achieved from K Little & D McClure, Cartmel and M Moorhouse, Field Broughton. Plenty of pens of strong Mule ewes sold at £80 plus. Cheviot Mule ewes were well bid for with a top of £88 achieved for a pen full from TH & DM Cornthwaite & Son, Cartmel Fell.

A bigger show of hill bred ewes forward with the best types being a stronger trade on the week. Rough Fell ewes sold to a top of £70 with all Rough Fells averaging £50. Cheviot ewes sold to £65 for a pen from JW & E Woof & Son, Firbank with numerous pens of Herdwick ewes selling to £50 from G Wightman, Newton and Edmondson Brothers, Langdale. Swaledale ewes were well bid for topping at £54 from AJ & L Birkett, Little Langdale with others to £53 from TA & JA Dixon, Selside. All Swaledale ewes forward averaged £38.

Strong cast tups were demand with Texels selling to £137 from JA & LR Wilson, Millom with other Texel tups to £128 from GA Lambert, Gatebeck.