Prime Lambs
The bank holiday weekend sale saw an increased entry of 721 forward with buyers looking to purchase well-fleshed lambs, lean lambs were noticeable less money and probably worth more in the store ring. There was an overall market average of 203p/kg with 45kg+ lambs averaging 208p/kg. Topping the market today at £120 was 51kg Texel lambs from JS Horner, Ingleton. This was closely followed by Beltex lambs to £119 from P Kaye, Chorley with Texels from the same home to £118, £114 and £110. The consignment of lambs from FK & F Woodhouse, Scorton sold to £119, £114 with Suffolks from the same home selling to £116 and £106. Plenty of pens of heavy weight lambs easily selling in excess of £100 mark.
Better conformation lambs today were met with strong demand with Beltex lambs topping at 264p/kg from P Kaye followed by 263p/kg from Bargh Contractors, Heaton with Oxcliffe with plenty of pens of good conformation selling in excess of 238p/kg.
Mule lambs topped at £88 from KA Purtill, Wigan with Cheviots peaking at £86 from A & J Smith, Ingleton.
Cast Sheep
There was an increased entry of cast sheep with over 100 forward selling to a strong trade for the time of year but slightly easier on the fast trade in Lancaster last week. Leading the way this week was a Hampshire tup from JM Sanderson, Halton selling to £103. Texel x ewes topped at £494 twice from JM Sanderson and Bargh Contractors with plenty of Continental sheep selling around the £90 mark. Mule ewes sold to a top of £82 from CD & HL Mason, Caton Green with others to £80 and £79 from JM Sanderson. Plenty of pens of strong Mule ewes sold in the mid to late seventies.
Store Lambs
Lancaster Auction held its fortnightly sale of 200 store lambs selling to a strong trade for a broad spectrum of short and long term lambs. There was an overall market average of £68.17. Topping the market this week was the consignment from R Doran, Winmarleigh selling Charollais to £80, Cheviots to £75 and Cheviot Mules to £72.50. Texel lambs sold to a top of £75 from A Brown, Littledale with Beltex lambs from J Gardner, Bay Horse selling to £75 and £72.