PRIME LAMBS
Lancaster enjoyed a sharper trade than anticipated following reports of trades over the weekend. There was an entry of 675 forward selling to an overall market average of 225p/kg, with 45-50kg lambs averaging 230p/kg. The trade today saw well finished lambs in big demand with buyers slightly cautious of purchasing lean lambs. Taking top spot this week was heavy weight Suffolk lambs selling to £150 from Alice O’Brian, Witten Le Wear. The Texel trade peaked at £124 and £120 from CA Fletcher, Goosnargh with both pens of lambs purchased by Gregory Williams butchers, Lancaster. Other noted Texel prices were £119 from H Birkett & Son, Overton and £116 from RM Gornall, Forton. Plenty more pens of Texel lambs easily selling around the £110 mark. Heavy weight Hampshire lambs sold to £123 from JS Hornet, Ingleton. The trade for Beltex lambs peaked at £116 from A&FM Bollands & Sons, Ellel, with Charollais lambs peaking at £113 from JS Horner, Ingleton. Top p/kg this week was 263 from for Beltex lambs from JS Horner, Ingleton, with others selling to 260p/kg from Ian Richardson, Catforth. Mule lambs this week sold to £85 weighing 40kg from S Park, Aughton.
The prime lamb trade has seen numbers tighter throughout the country today, as the day goes on many markets are reporting good averages with lambs required at Junction 36 tomorrow.

CAST SHEEP
All buyers in attendance today were keen to purchase cast sheep Texel x ewes lead the way today, selling to £132 and £130 from R & DL Cornthwaite, Nateby with other Texel x ewes to £130 from E Hartley, Hornby and £128 from GF & EE Holt, Chipping. Plenty more strong Texel ewes selling £120 plus. Mule ewes peaked at £124 for a big ewe from D&E Whittaker, Quernmore with other Mule ewes to £108 from A&FM Bolland & Sons, Ellel. Upland ewes saw Cheviots sell to £94 from R Doran, Winmarleigh followed by others to £91 from KA Purtill, Wigan. Horned sheep sold to £85 from J&CW Metcalfe & Son, Quernmore with Swaledales to £76 from RG&H Preece, Roeburndale West.