Spring Lambs

There was a major jump in the number of spring lambs forward this week with an entry of 171. There was an overall market average of 266p/kg. Topping the trade today at £142 was Texel lambs from GH Sanderson and Family of Catforth with Suffolks from the same good home to £133.

Prime Hoggs

A similar number of hoggs on offer this week saw a very mixed entry on offer, well-fleshed hoggs were in very strong demand and buyers were leaving short of supply with leaner types selling to realisation. There was an overall market average of 219p/kg with 45-50kg hoggs averaging 241p/kg. Topping the trade was Texel hoggs from W & J Livesey of Inskip selling to £141 and £138. This was closely followed by Charolais hoggs to £136 from RS & IM Kellet of Cockerham. The trade topped at 283p/kg from AG Butler of Hambleton.

Hoggs are required each week with a busy ring of active buyers looking for all specifications.

Cast Sheep

A few less cast sheep on offer this morning saw the trade continuing to be as strong. Topping the trade was S Wilson and Son of Scotforth selling Texel ewes to £83 closely followed AG Butler of Hambleton selling to £80.

Breeding Sheep

The annual show and sale of Hoggs with Lambs at foot saw a new record high price. This was achieved with the Champion pen consigned by B & SE Carter of Ellel who sold Texel hoggs with Beltex lambs at foot selling to £270, a new centre record. Thanks must go to our pre-sale judge Mr Trevor Smith of Pilling and our sponsor Ribble Fuel Oils. Two further pens of hoggs sold to £200, firstly for the first prize pen of Mule hoggs with single Texel lambs consigned by PM & AM Ward and Sons of Arkholme, with Continental hoggs and secondly for single lambs from J Bargh of Heaton with Oxcliffe. Plenty of pens of hoggs with single lambs sold around the £180 mark.

A few older families on offer saw Texel shearlings with twin lambs sell to £200 from EI, EA & TW Wilson of Flookborough and broken mouth Mule ewes with twins sold to £170 from D & K Swarbrick of Out Rawcliffe.