Todays Easter shows were kindly sponsored by Jamesons Feeds.
SPRING LAMBS
Today saw the opening sale of prime spring lambs, which included the easter prize show. Judging this year was Mr N Brown, Lancaster who found his champion from the consignment of Texel cross lambs from WA&LM Jenkinson, Stalmine which later sold to the judge for £265 and 602p/kg. The first prize pair of lambs sold at £208 and 495p/kg, again from WA&LM Jenkinson.
Well bred and well finished lambs were generally selling at £180 to £200 and 425p/kg to 470p/kg. All lambs forward achieved a market average of 465p/kg.
Lambs are required every week now to fulfil buyer’s orders.
CLASS 1- SINGLE SPRING LAMB
1st WA & LM Jenkinson- 44kg- £265
2nd WA & LM Jenkinson- 42kg- £242
3rd WA & LM Jenkinson- 45kg- £234
CLASS 2- PAIR OF SPRING LAMBS
1st WA & LM Jenkinson- 42kg- £208
2nd WA & LM Jenkinson- 41kg- £210
3rd S Wilson & Son- 39kg- £168
CHAMPION- WA & LM Jenkinson
RESERVE CHAMPION- WA & LM Jenkinson
PRIME HOGGS
The largest entry of prime hoggs this year, and like markets throughout the country, well finished hoggs within specification were eagerly bid for, with under finished and overweight facing more resistance. A market SQQ of 315p/kg and overall average of 305p/kg was achieved for hoggs ranging from 33kg to 66kg.
Today’s sale topped at £191 for Beltex cross from SH&LE Birkett, Carnforth with others at £188 from L&A Duckett, Preston and £184 from M Beresford, Broughton in Furness. Better end hoggs were generally £150 to £165, and 370p/kg to 400p/kg with a few pens sneaking over. Peaking at 425p/kg from M&S Purtill, Wigan and 415p/kg from KA Purtill, Wigan.
An abundance of grass finished hoggs would regularly selling at 320p/kg to 340p/kg for standards, with heavy weights and super heavy weights 280p/kg to 300p/kg, depending on types. Pure hill hoggs sold to £178 for Cheviots, £144 Mashams, £140 Mules, £137 Herdwicks and £137 horned.
CAST SHEEP
Ewes maintained the high price of recent weeks, with all sold today averaging £149.63. Continental ewes sold to £280 for Texels from WN&D Smith & Sons, Cockerham with others achieving £268 from S Wilson & Sons, Scotforth. Meated mediums were £210 to £240, with the next draw down £170 and £200. Mules sold to £226 from JE&J Pye, Quernmore with the stronger end £180 to £210 and mediums £150 to £175. Hill ewes sold to £232 for Cheviots with a large number of smaller meated hill ewes £85 to £110 and only the leanest less.
Cull rams sold to £185 for Gritstones from Cardwell Farms Ltd, Stalmine.
BREEDING SHEEP
The prize show and sale of sheep with lambs at foot saw a quality entry of sheep forward before the judge Mrs Susan Purtill, Wigan who awarded the champion rosette to a pen of Texel cross ewes with twin lambs from RJ&ES Rogerson, Appleby which later sold for £490 to JS Horner, Ingleton. Others from this same good home sold to £495 for a single ewe with twin Beltex cross lambs. Other twin families sold to £445 for Texel cross from A Bolland, Ellel with others regularly £380 to £420. Mules sold to £325 for one crop Dales Mules with Texel lambs from A Bolland, Ellel. Other Mules were £280 to £310.
Just a handful of singles today selling to £320 for a Texel cross ewe with Texel lambs from TR Gorst, Bay Horse with others £230 to £270. All ewes with lambs today averaged £118 a life.
CLASS 1- 2 MULE SHEARLINGS WITH LAMBS AT FOOT
1st T & ME Longton & Son- £300
CLASS 2- 2 MULE EWES WITH LAMBS AT FOOT
1st T & ME Longton & Son- £300
2nd A Bolland- £325
3rd A Bolland- £285
CLASS 3- 2 CONTINENTAL EWES WITH LAMBS AT FOOT
1st PJ & ES Rogerson- £490
2nd PJ & ES Rogerson- £420
3rd TR Gorst- £365
CHAMPION- PJ & ES Rogerson
RESERVE CHAMPION- PJ & ES Rogerson
More buyers ringside today and all keen to attend next week, so enter with confidence. 30 plus families are already entered for next weeks sale.
Business as usual next Monday, market gates open at 6.30am and we encourage vendors to arrive as early as possible to allow stock to be sorted and booked in ahead of prompt 10am sale start time.