SPRING LAMBS

The weekly sale of prime lambs at Junction 36 had an entry of 322 forward. Trade as reported nationwide was slightly less as larger numbers come forward and with some outlets already filled up ready for the Ramadam festival. There was a respectable market average of 330 p/kg with handy weights averaging 337p/kg. Texel’s sold to a top of £169 from T Dodgson, Kendal purchased by Plumgarths Farm Shop, closely followed by others from the same good home at £165 purchased by Higginsons Butchers, Grange Over Sands. Suffolk’s sold to a top of £164 from G & K Richmond, Inglewhite also purchased by Higginsons Butchers. Higginsons Butchers also went on to purchase the next two leading prices of Texel’s, £157 from J & O Galbraith & Sons, Endmoor and £154 Jake Gibson, Kendal. Other noted prices for Suffolk’s were £153 from WJ & L Barker, Carnforth purchased by Browns Quality Meats, Ulverston. Beltex lambs sold to a top of £150 from AE Atkinson & Son, Endmoor. Top p/kg this week was 378p for Texel’s from R Lawrence, Grange Over Sands. Plenty of pens of well-shaped lambs sold between 350-375 p/kg.

PRIME HOGGS

There was an entry of 747 prime hoggs forward, that saw well fleshed hoggs in strong demand regularly selling between 275-300 p/kg. There was a large number of sweepings up as to be expected at this time of the year which sold to realisation. The consignment of heavy weight hoggs from TA Teasdale, Newton in Cartmel sold Texel to £168 and Suffolk’s to £163, this was closely followed by other Texel’s to £160 from JA Chapmen, Kendal with other heavy weight Suffolk’s to £158 from M Horner, Garstang. Plenty of pens of well fleshed heavy weight hoggs sold around the £150 mark. Hill bred hoggs saw heavy weight Dalesbreds sell to £153 from T&H Drinkall, Oakenclough with cheviots peaking at £148 from GM & A Jackson, Little Eccleston. There remains plenty of demand for well finished hoggs with companies looking for them throughout May.

CAST SHEEP

The weekly sale of 400 cull ewes sold to a continued strong trade at Junction 36 with Texel’s once again toping the market at £140 from W Garnett & Son, Milnthorpe this was closely followed by JC Dunning, Orton selling Texel’s to £138. Purebred Texel’s were regularly selling between the £130-£140 mark and strong Texel’s out of Mules were regularly selling between the £110-£120 mark. Charollais sold to £128 from JA & R Geldard & Son, Foulshaw. Suffolks sold to £123 from RW & SA Nicholson, Lupton with others selling to £118 from G&K Richmond, Inglewhite. The best Continental ewes were regularly selling £120 plus with the next level down selling over the £100 mark. Mule and Masham ewes were once again the trade of the day, with Mashams selling to £120 from Gibson & Berry, Endmoor and with Mules selling to £117 twice from R Dixon, Newton and JW & TE Sharp, Lyth, with the next level down Mules selling well over the £100 mark. Hill ewes sold to a keen interest once again with Cheviots selling to £118 from MJ Waller, Lupton and a full pen from RW & SA Nicholson, Lupton selling to £115. All Cheviot ewes forward today averaged £102. Swaledales sold to £94 from PR Escolme, Endmoor with others Swales selling to £91 from RI Dixon, Newton. There was a keen interest once again in all cast rams with Texel’s selling to £178 from WI Barrow & Sons, Broughton in Furness and Charollais selling to £140 from S Middleton, Carnforth. Hill rams saw a top at £141 for Rough Fells from TLB &J Knowles, Selside.