Prime Hoggs
The trade remains firm with an overall market average of 249p/kg at Lancaster with an SQQ average of 251p/kg. A similar number forward, as last week, was met by the usual demand from the busy ring of buyers at Lancaster. The consignment from T & L Kirkham, Eccleston led the way selling to a top of £130 for a 45kg Texel hogg. This was followed by Andrew Butler’s consignment of Texel and Beltex lambs selling to £127 twice, £124, £123.50 twice and £123 twice. Beltex hoggs from R & DL Cornthwaite sold to £126 and £120 followed by Texel hoggs from Jonny and Louise Bradshaw, Cockerham selling to £119. All texel hoggs forward averaged £111.41. Nearly 40% of the pens of hoggs forward today sold in excess of £110. Top pence per kilogram this week was 310p and 300p for Beltex hoggs from Andrew Butler with plenty more pens selling towards the 300p/kg mark. All Beltex hoggs forward averaged £119.33.
Upland hoggs peaked at £117 for Cheviots from P Prickett, Hutton Roof. Cheviot Mules peaked at £111 from Jonathan and Josie Smith, Brookhouse. Mules peaked at £110 twice from KM & KM Baxter, Pilling and JE Parkinson and Son, Quernmore followed by £109.50 from J & J Smith with all Mules forward averaging well over the one hundred pound mark. Horned hoggs peaked at £97 for Swaledales from Janet Simpson, Barnacre.
All hoggs forward this week averaged £105.86.
Cast Sheep
The cast sheep trade continues to be strong and more are required week on week in Lancaster. Taking top spot this week was the consignment from C & H Mason, Caton Green selling Texel Mules to £120, Suffolk’s to £113 and Mules to £109. Teeswater ewes sold to £109 and Mashams to £108 from DM Eames, Abbeystead. Plenty of strong Mules sold in excess of the one hundred pound mark. Although buyers are still cautious of over fat ewes.
Cheviot ewes sold to a top of £100 and £99 from George Blacklidge, Chorley with horned sheep topping at £77 and £74 for Swaledales from J Smith, Brookhouse. Strong horned ewes were often achieving seventy pounds and more.
Cast tups peaked at £100 from AC & K Pye, Abbeystead with a Texel, who also sold Swaledales to £73.