Boom! We have finally reached the 5000 mark!
There was a bumper entry of 5099 store lambs forward at J36 that were met with plenty of demand with more buyers forward this week, ensuring a strong trade throughout with an overall market average of £67.92. There were lambs to suit all buyers’ requirements ranging from £20 to £99.50.
The Westmorland show for store lambs was kindly judged by James Linsley, Barnard Castle who we thank for this time and expertise. The Continental sired lambs was won by F & B Smith, Ingleton selling to £89. J & R Bell, Crook won the Suffolk class selling to £83. First prize in the Mule class was awarded to Messrs Hodgson, Windermere selling to £79.50.
There was a buoyant trade throughout the sale that saw the trade peak at £99.50 for Beltex lambs from RA Batty, Selside. Texel lambs sold to a top of £93 from JA Chapman, Kendal. Plenty of pens of short keep Continental lambs easily sold in excess of the £80 mark. Medium keep lambs regularly sold at £70 plus. Strong Suffolk lambs regularly sold around the £80 mark.
Mule lambs sold to a top of £90 from H Stables, Underbarrow. Rough Fell Mules sold to a top of £83 from I & J Mallinson, Selside. Other Mule lambs sold to £82 from H Cook, Grange over Sands with plenty of pens of strong Mule lambs selling between £77 and £80. Medium keep Mules regularly sold around the £70 mark. There is a larger number of horned lambs coming forward selling to £70.50 from AJ & JL Sampson, Windermere followed by £69 for Rough Fells from DV Carrick, Kirkby Stephen. Plenty of pens of strong Rough Fell lambs sold around the £60 mark. Swaledale lambs sold to a top of £49 twice, from Forest Hall Farm, Selside and KD & L Armer, Newbiggin on Lune. Plenty of pens of strong Swaledale lambs sold in the late £40s.
It was noticeable today that lambs batched into larger groups were selling to a premium with thanks to our vendors who grouped their lambs together, with the largest batch into the ring this week from B & D Willison & Son, Levens selling 164 in one go.
Suffolks to £83 av. £72.81
Mules to £90 av. £69.46
Swaledales to £49 av. £46.27
Rough Fells to £70.50 av. £54.73
Charollais to £84 av. £71.69
Cheviots to £78 av. £62.23
Texels to £93 av. £72.93
Herdwicks to £66 av. £44.01
Beltex to £99.50 av. £92.25