PRIME LAMBS

There was an increased entry of prime lambs forward this week, with 867 forward. The quality of the lambs on offer today was varied, with proper fat lambs in big demand and a good trade with those vendors leaving pleased but a number of leaner type lambs about today would have been worth more in the store market. There was an overall market average of 221p/kg.
Well finished heavy weight lambs continue to be in strong demand and eagerly bid for. The consignment of heavy weight Texel lambs from W&D Bradley, Goosnargh sold to £145, £143, £137 and £129. Other leading prices for heavy weight Texel lambs was £139, £127 and £126 from Andrew Butler, Hambleton, closely followed by £128 from MP Berry, Stalmine. Plenty more pens of heavy weight lambs easily selling around the £120 mark. Lancaster continues to have a strong demand for butcher type lambs, with the consignment of Beltex x Texel butchers lambs from Andrew Butler selling to 295p/kg, 293p/kg and 275p/kg. Followed by other Beltex lambs to 272p/kg from Ian Richardson, Catforth. Plenty of pens of better confirmation lambs sold in excess of 250p/kg.
Today saw a larger quantity of Mule and Horned lambs forward on the market. Mules peaked at £107, weighing 49kg from WI&A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale, with Cheviot lambs peaking at £106 from A&J Smith, Ingleton. A larger quantity of Horned lambs forward saw 39kg Lonks sell to £78 from S Bosworth, Burnley, with Swaledale from KA&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead also achieving £78.

CAST SHEEP

Once again, an entry of well in excess of over 100 cast sheep forward this week, saw the trade peak at £116 for Suffolk x ewes from J&D E Mitchell & Son, Cabus who also sold Continental ewes to £106. Texel tups peaked at £112 from G Hargreaves, Scotforth, Cheviot Mule ewes sold to £92 from Exors of DM Cardwell, Stalmine. Masham ewes peaked at £84 from FK&F Woodhouse, Scorton, with plenty of pens of mule ewes selling around the £80 mark. Horned ewes topped at £84 for Dalesbreds from FK&F Woodhouse, Scorton with Lonks selling to £83 from S Bosworth, Burnley.