Prime Lambs
The weekly sale of prime lambs at Junction 36 had an increased entry of 2023 forward, selling a very similar trade with a market average of 242p/kg achieved. A mixed entry forward in terms of quality saw best type butchers’ lambs easily selling in excess of 300p/kg. Heavy weight lambs continue to be in big demand and well sold at junction 36 with this type regularly selling in the region of 260p/kg. Handy weight well fed commercial lambs were regularly 250-260p/kg with the upland lamb trade dependant on size and finish.
Leading the way was 52kg Beltex lambs selling to £157 from TLB&J Knowles, Selside. Heavy weight Texel lambs peaked at £156 From F&SA Edmondson, Ulverston followed by £154 from RC Billington & Son, Claughton on Brock and then £150.50 from KE Richards & Son, Howgill with plenty of pens of heavy weight Texel lambs in the one hundred and forties. Heavy weight Suffolk lambs peaked at £145 from DE&SM Moorhouse, Natland. Heavy weight Cheviots peaked at £149 from LA&M Lambert, Lupton with others to £140.50 from Stockdale Farms, Sedbergh. Mashams peaked at £134.50 from WI&A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale with Mules peaking at £126.50 from EW&JR Parkinson, Dunsop Bridge followed by £125.50 from WI&A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale. Butch quality lambs were in demand today peaking at 363p/kg or £134 from JG&PH Thompson, Selside followed by 340p/kg and £139 from Robyn Allen, Staveley and 338p/kg or £145 from Tony Ellis, New Hutton, then 336p/kg or £131 from AR&BJ Thompson, Selside and 332p/kg or £146 from RA Batty, Haversham.
As to be expected at this time of year, a larger number of Horned lambs are coming forward with heavy weight Rough Fells to £119 from PE Allen, Ings with Swaledales to £110 from F&SA Edmondson, Ulverston.

Cast Sheep
450 ewes were forward selling to the usual full ring side of buyers at Junction 36 with trade was very similar to previous weeks. Pure Texel ewes sold to £228 from PK&R Woof, Stainton with others to £222 twice from T&CM Kelsall & Sons, Chipping. Beltex ewes sold to £144 from RC Billington & Son, Claughton on Brock. Leicester ewes sold to £142 from R Harker & Son, Greyrigg. Mule ewes saw the best regularly selling at one hundred and ten plus topping at £118 twice from S&B Capstick, Old Hutton and F&ME Little, Barrows Green. Mashams sold to £115 from DC Miller, Claughton on Brock. A big show of hill ewes was forward, Dalesbreds sold to £110 from Calderside Farms with Cheviots selling to £106 from BD Willison & Son, Tebay. Swaledale ewes sold to a top of £92 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale with others selling to £89 from Calderside Farm, Oakenclough. 200 Swaledale ewes forward averaged £70. Rough Fells sold to a top of £90 from GR Park & Sons, Whinfell.
Forty cast rams forward saw Leicester sell to a top of £156 from R Harker & son, Greyrigg with others to £146 from JS&S Atkinson, Scorton. Charollais rams sold to £132 from TW&C Shepherd, Underbarrow with Teeswaters selling to the same price from JA Bennett, Longsleddale.