There was an increased entry of 609 Prime lambs forward selling to an overall market average of 190p/kg and SQQ of 193p/kg. Leading the way was ST Birkett of Carnforth selling heavy weight Texel lambs to £122. This was closely followed by Beltex lambs from S Rossall, Over Wyresdale selling to £112 with plenty more selling around the £100 mark. Lambs sold to a top of 254p/kg from S Wilson and Son, Scotforth or £101.50 for 40kg Beltex lambs. This was followed by 241p/kg or £99 for Texel lambs from M & C Huddleston, Wray. There were plenty of pens of better conformation lambs easily selling around the 230p/kg mark with four active butcher accounts in Lancaster looking to purchase quality bred lambs. Export weight Continental lambs were still selling in excess of the 200p/kg mark. More hill bred lambs were forward this week which saw Mules sell to £83.50 weighing 45kg from T Ayrton and Son, Over Wyresdale.

Cast Sheep

The cast sheep trade remains strong with many more small ewes and upland bred sheep in the market today. Cast rams led the way selling to £133 from WN & D Smith, Cockerham for a Texel with Suffolk’s selling to £114 from HJ & BE Kelsall, Gressingham. Mule ewes sold to £75 from AF & M Bolland, Ellel. Cheviot ewes sold to £65 with Scotch Blackface ewes selling to £57 and £56.