Spring Lambs
The weekly sale of Spring lambs at Lancaster had an increased entry of 965 forward. There was a large variation of quality of lambs on offer with the offering seeing a lot of plainer lambs forward. There was an overall market average of 215p/kg was achieved. Better quality Lancaster were still in high demand with butcher quality Beltex lambs topping the market selling to £118 from the Exors of DM Cardwell, Stalmine purchased by Gregory Williams, Lancaster. Other Beltex lambs sold to £112 from GR & A Foy, Conder Green, once again, purchased by Gregory Williams. Texels sold to a top of £115 from JA Simpson, Barnacre with other Texel lambs selling to £112 from EW & A Bradshaw, Stalmine with £110 twice achieved from PM & ST Entwistle, Abbeystead and GR Newsham, Galgate. Charollais lambs peaked at £110 from P & S Robinson, Claughton on Brock, many more pens of well-finished, good conformation Continental lambs sold over the £100 mark.
Beltex lambs scooped the top pence per kilo park this week twice topping at 273p/kg. Firstly, from GR & A Foy, Conder Green and secondly from R Cornthwaite, Nateby. All Beltex lambs averaged 257p/kg.
Suffolk lambs this week peaked at £105 from T & H Drinkall, Oakenclough with others selling to £104 from EW & A Bradshaw, Stalmine and A & J Rhodes, Ellel.
Mule lambs this week topped at £92.50 from T & H Drinkall with lighter weight Mules regularly selling around the 200p/kg mark.
Prime Hoggs
Hoggs this week saw well-meated, handy weight hoggs regularly sell around the 200p/kg mark. Topping at 215p/kg or £84 from M Carr, Out Rawcliffe. 46kg Swaledale hoggs sold to £71 from Cardwell Farms, Stalmine.
Cast Sheep
There was a bumper entry of 309 cast ewes forward as many people took advantage of the strong trade and the upcoming festival. It was a pair of Texel tups that topped the market selling to £121 from GR & RA Surtees, Stodday. Texel ewes peaked at £115 from JS Horner, Ingleton with other Texel ewes to £107 from AG Butler and £104 from GR & A Foy. Plenty more Continental ewes sold around the £100 mark. Strong Mule ewes regularly sold in excess of the £80 mark topping twice at £84 from the estate of WM Pye, Ashton with Stodday with other pens to £83. Myerscough College consignment of Mule ewes topped at £84. Many pens of Mule ewes sold into the mid-seventies. All Mule ewes forward averaged £72.88.
Horned ewes sold to a top of £84 from LA Simpson, Barnacre.