Prime Hoggs
Lancaster Auction Mart hosted the annual Young Handlers Show and Sale of Prime Hoggs on Monday 18th February. A big thank you goes to our pre-sale Judge Mr Joe Bosworth and sponsors Country Style Meats, Lancaster Leisure Park and Myerscough College. Thanks also go to the young handlers for taking part and their families. It was great to have the youth of tomorrow in the auction market and everyone eagerly taking part. A special congratulations go to Lily Bargh, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe who was awarded overall Best Young Handler with her Beltex x Hogg that went on to sell for £128 to the Judge.
There was a larger entry of hoggs this week selling to a sharper trade, with nearly 50% of the hoggs forward weighing in excess of 50kg. There was an overall market average of 182p/kg which was a strong average considering the amount of weight about with an SQQ average of 196p/kg with handy weight hoggs regularly selling in the region of 200p/kg. Texel hoggs sold to a top of £105 from R Philips, Killington with others to £100 and £98 from Bargh Contractors with other Texels achieving £99, twice, from AG Butler, Hambleton. Charollais sold to £96 and £95 from V & EJ Chadwick & Sons, Sowerby with Gritstones from the same home achieving £92. Leading the way in the Suffolks at £91 was Bensons Farm, Claughton-on-Brock. Mules sold to a top of £89 from T Ayrton & Sons, Over Wyresdale. Plenty of pens of sheep sold in excess of the 200p/kg mark, leading the way at 238p/kg was Daniel Pye, Over Wyresdale, with others to 228p/kg from R Philips. Swaledale hoggs topped at £81 from Laura Simpson, Garstang.
Cast Sheep
Cast Ewes sold to a top of £88 for Continentals from JM & MH France & Son, Littledale with Suffolks to £78 from A & E Clarkson, Thurnham. In general cast ewes continue to be a strong trade with nothing selling under £60 today at Lancaster and more are needed to fulfil buyers requirements.