Spring Lambs

Lancaster weekly sale of Spring Lambs had entry of 854 forward selling to a much-improved trade with an overall market average of 236p/kg. Vendors who have creep fed their lambs saw the financial benefits with buyers paying a premium for well-fed lambs. Topping the market today was Beltex lambs selling to £124 from TM Townley, Over Wyresdale with Texel lambs from W Baines, Lancaster also selling to £124. This was followed by Texel lambs twice selling to £120 from JM & TJ Livesey, Inskip with other Texel lambs to £118 from AG Butler, Hambleton, JT & B Fox, Quernmore, B & SE Carter, Ellel and £115 achieved by Vicky Woodhouse, Scorton. Beltex lambs this week topped at £120 from RA Holmes, Inskip who sold others to £119, £116 and £113. There were many more pens of Beltex and Texel lambs sold in excess of £110. Charollais lambs sold to a top of £108 from P Lawrenson & Son, Chorley with Suffolk lambs selling to a top of £101 from Myerscough College, Billsborough with £100 twice achieved by J & R Waller, Killington and other Suffolk lambs selling to £100 from J Lamb, Old Glasson.

Beltex lambs sold to a top of 295p/kg from JS Horner, Ingleton who sold others to 284p/kg. Texel lambs sold to a top of 293p/kg from JM & & TJ Livesey with others form the same home selling to 281p/kg. Plenty pens of better conformation lambs sold in excess of 260p/kg.

Prime Hoggs

As to be expected this time of year there are less prime hoggs forward which saw well-meated hoggs sell into the eighties, topping at £86 for Gristones from J Hall, Preesall.

Cast Sheep

There was an increased entry of Cast Ewes which met a much-improved trade. Buyers continue to be cautious of over fat ewes with lean ewes in strong demand. Dorset ewes sold to a top of £86 from GR Newsham, Galgate with Texels selling to £85 from S Wilson & Son, Scotforth and others Texels to £84 from B & SE Carter, Ellel. Masham ewes topped at £76 from V Woodhouse, Scorton with Mules selling to the same price from D & D Huddleston, Wray with good selling Mule ewes regularly selling in the seventies. Cheviot ewes sold to a top of £71 from SE & J Gorst, Littledale with others from the same home selling to £68 and £66. Swaledale ewes sold to a top of £70 from W Pinder Jnr, Newton in Bowland with others selling to £66 from B & SE Carter.