Prime Lambs

The weekly sale of Prime Lambs had a slightly smaller entry forward of 1471 selling to a slightly easier trade as seen nationwide, with an overall market average of 194p/kg. Well-fleshed lambs continue to be in strongest demand. Heavy weight lambs were a slightly easier trade as seen nationally selling to a top of £123 for Texels from A Holden, Burton in Kendal followed by £119 for Charollais from J Stott, Crosscrake. Other notable prices for heavy weight lambs, were Texel to £113.50 from A & CM Carter, Witherslack, £110.50 from E Dodgson, Kendal, £110 from CB Heald & Son, Ingleton and £109 from JE Wightman, Lupton, MA & JA Winn, Burneside, CB Heald & Son and F & CE Bently & Son, Shap. This was followed by £108 from E Dodgosn. Best conformation lambs sold to 242p/kg for Texels from G, GU & D Swarbrick, Meathop which grossed at £114. Shapley type lambs sold in excess of 220p/kg.

Mule lambs sold to £93.50 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale. Plenty of pens of Mule lambs sold in the mid to late eighties. Light weight lambs continue to be in very strong demand with well-fleshed Continental lambs regularly flying past the 200p/kg mark.

Cast Ewes

There was a slightly smaller entry of cast sheep with 561 going through the ring. Strong Continental ewe continue to sell to a competitive trade with Beltex ewes leading the way selling to £121 from E & H Winder, Ravenstonedale. Charollais ewes topped at £117 from AR & BJ Thompson, Selside. Suffolk ewes sold to £111 from J & C Airey, Ulverston with of the best Continental ewes selling at £105+ mark.

Buyers were slightly cautious of over fat Mules toady with a peak of £79 from M Moorhouse, Grange Over Sands. Other twice sold to £73 from B Blee, Grange over Sands and JM Sanderson, Halton. Cheviot Mules continue to be easily sold at J36 with a top of £95 twice J & C Airey and for a full pen from R & J Moorhouse, Grange over Sands.

There was a bigger show of hill bred ewes, once again, at J36 with Cheviots leading the way at £74 from CF Hoggarth & Son, Burneside with Swaledales to £61 from R Morris-Eyton, Whicham. A strong pen of Rough Fell from TLB & J Knowles, Selside selling to £55.

The demand for cast rams was very strong, once again, with a top of £140 from J Stott Jnr, Crosscrake for a Charollais ram with Texel rams selling to £124 from W Garnett & Son, Milnthorpe. All rams were keenly bid for.