Prime Lambs
Lancaster held its weekly sale of Prime Lambs with an entry of 576 forward. A full ringside of buyer today saw an overall market average 184p/kg which was up on the week. Leading the way this week was a consignment of Beltex lambs from J Smith, Stanley Farm selling to £110 or 244p/kg and £99 or 254p/kg. Beltex lambs sold to £102 or 227p/kg from AG Butler, Hambleton. Texel lambs sold to a top of £96.50 for heavy weights from WB Kellet, Winmarleigh with numerous more pens of heavy weight Texel lambs selling between £94 and £96. Heavy weight Suffolks sold to a top of £96 from H Birkett, Overton with others to £95.50 from HJ & BE Kelsall, Gressingham. Consignment of Charollais from P Lawrenson & Son, Chorley sold to £93. Hill bred lambs saw Cheviots top at £96 from P Prickett, Hutton Roof with others from the same good home to £89. Mule lambs sold to a top of £87 from A & K Rhodes, Ellel and £86 from FK & F Woodhouse, Scorton. Plenty of pens of mid forty kilo Mules sold easily into the eighties. Horned lambs saw Scottish Blackfaces sell to £77 from WM Pye, Ashton with Stodday.
Cast Sheep
There was a much-increased entry of 90 cast sheep forward this week which were met by a much-improved trade. The trade peaked at £135 for Beltex ewes from J Smith, Stanley Farm with other Texel ewes from the same home selling to £105. Charollais tups sold to a top of £125 from P Lawrenson & Son, Chorley. Texel ewes sold to £100, £98 and £94 from JM Sanderson, Halton. Mule ewes topped at £89 twice from J Smith and JT & B Fox, Quernmore. Plenty more pens of strong Mule ewes sold in the early eighties. Zwartble ewes topped at £88 from JE & L Bradshaw, Pilling. Horned ewes topped at £61 for Dalesbred ewes from DC Miller, Claughton on Brock.
Store Lambs
The fortnightly sale of Store Lambs had an entry just short of 100 forward. The trade peaked at £71 for Texels from PG Thornton, Scorton with other Texel lambs selling to £67.50 from JT & B Fox, Quernmore with the consignment from J France, Pilling selling to £63.50 and £63. Mule lambs sold to a top of £59 from A & L Huddleston, Wray.