Prime Lambs
Lancaster Auctions weekly sale of prime lambs had 598 forward selling to an overall market average of 202p/kg. This week saw a very mix show of lambs forward in terms of finish, with leaner types penalised, as buyers are still prepared to pay a premium for well-finished lambs.
The market this week topped at £111 for a Texel lamb from P Rossall, Claughton on Brock. This was followed by £110 or 250p/kg for a Beltex lamb from RH & C Ayrton, Abbeystead selling to Gregory Williams Butchers, Lancaster. Other notable prices for Texel lambs included £109 from JS Horner, Ingleton with the consignment from CD & HL Mason, Caton Green selling to £109 and £106. £107.50 was achieved for Texels from WB Kellet, Winmarleigh, with RH & C Ayrton, Abbeystead achieving £107. T & CM Kelsall & Son, Chipping sold Texels to £105.50 three times. Suffolk lambs sold to £108.50 from HJ & BE Kelsall, Gressingham. Plenty more pens of lambs sold over the £100 mark.
Mule lambs today sold to £92.50 three times for 47kg lambs from RH & C Ayrton, TA & RM Dawson, Quernmore and B & SE Carter, Ellel.
Cast Ewes
Once again, there was over 100 cast ewes at Lancaster selling to a similar trade. Leicester ewes topped at £100 from RH & C Ayrton. Texel ewes sold to £96.50 from RI & O Wilson, Scotforth with other Texels to £92 from J Smith, Brookhouse. Plenty of pens of Continental ewes sold into the eighties. Big Lonk ewes sold to £78 from S Bosworth, Burnley with Mule ewes peaking at £72 from CD & HL Mason, Caton Green. Swaledales sold to £44 from RH & C Ayrton.