Monday 4th December

Prime Lambs

The annual Christmas show and sale of prime lambs had a larger entry of over 600 prime lambs forward. The pre-sale show judging was in the capable hands of David Stamper of Chipping who had a large entry forward to judge. The championship was awarded to GR & A Foy and Son of Parkside Farm with reserve champion, again, being awarded to GR & A Foy and Son with Dutch Texel prime lambs.

There was a buoyant trade throughout the sale with all lambs keenly bid for with a busy ring of buyers looking to purchase lambs leading to an overall market average of 172p/kg with 39-45kg lambs selling to an average of 175p/kg. The champion pen sold to £100 or 238p/kg for 42kg lambs with the reserve champions selling to £103 or 219p/kg for 47kg lambs selling to Alam.

Beltex lambs sold to a top of £95 from CA & J Alty & Son, Moss House Farm with the first prize pair of Beltex Lambs from Johnathan & Josie Smith of Stanley Farm, selling to £86. All Beltex lambs sold to a market average of 206p/kg.

Heavy weight Texel lambs topped at £96 from Andrew Butler of Park Farm Barn, with heavy weight Suffolks topping at £92 from HJ & BE Kelsall at £92. It was great to have plenty of lambs selling in the mid to late eighties.

A large entry of Mule lambs forward at Lancaster were in plenty of demand and saw the first prize pen from WI & A Atkinson & Son of Holme House Farm sell to £79 for 49kg lambs. Mule lambs were generally selling £30 above their weight, with all Mule lambs forwarding averaging just short of £73.

Cast Sheep

A few less cast ewes in the market today were generally a good trade and eagerly bid for, selling to a top of £150 for Texel Tups from S Wilson & Son of Burrow Heights. Texel Ewes topped at £93 from GA Haston & Son of Lane House with Mule Ewes topping at £67 from WM Pye, Tarnwater Farm.

Prime Cattle

The annual Christmas Prime Beef show saw the first prize awarded to P & A Bell of Village Farm with a British Blue selling to 204.5p/kg to CJ Bowkers Butchers, Bolton-le-Sands.