PRIME LAMBS

1400 lambs forward with trade being slightly sharper than expected, with the sale averaging 246p/kg. Less heavy lambs about today, with these adding up nicely. Texels sold to £150 from TMW&H Hodgson, Ulverston with other Texels selling to £147 from Clark & Johnson, Windermere. Once again heavy Continental lambs were selling at £125 to £130. A larger offering of medium weight lambs saw these regularly selling at 255p/kg to 265p/kg or £108 to £115 per head. Beltex lambs sold to 300p/kg from CA Jennings, Selside with a full ring selling to 288p/kg for Texels from RT Colbear, Appleby and Beltexs selling to £132 from WS Burrow, Silverdale. More hill bred lambs are coming forward now, with Cheviot Mules selling to £119.50 from R&J Moorhouse, Lindal, Cheviots to £118 from MW Parsley, Roundthwaite and Mules to £115 twice form TMW&H Hodgson, Ulverston and C Sayer, Longsleddale. Rough fells sold to £109 from A O’neill, Firbank and Dalesbred to £107 from C Sayer, Longsleddale.

CAST SHEEP

Another pleasing entry of 601 cull sheep sold to an improved trade, with heavy well fleshed sheep in the keenest demand and buyers requiring ewes fit not fat. Heavy pure ewes sold to £160 for Texels from GA Metcalfe, Kirkby Stephen with Charollais x achieving £146 from RJ Stott, Stainton with other first x heavy ewes £120 to £135. Cheviot Mules sold to £122 from RHM&S Boyren, Colton with North Country Mules selling to £79 form J&E Nuttall, Old Hutton. Heavy Mules achieved £80 to £92, with a large number of mediums £78 to £85. Pure hill bred ewes sold to £108 for a Cheviot from WL&F Richards, Kirkby Stephen with others at £96 from JR Handley, Whinfell. Rough Fells sold to £76 from BJ Bainbridge, Shap with Swaledales to £70 from GJ&J Ibbotson, Roeburndale and Herdwicks to £61 from DW Potter, Shap. A large number of well-worn hill ewes forward were generally £30 to £45, depending on quality.
Cull rams sold to £150 for a Texel from MW&M Hodgson, Cartmel Fell. Other rams were generally £95 to £110, with hill tups selling to £70 for a Swaledale PT&L Edmondson, Kirkby In Furness.