SPRING LAMBS
Lancaster had an improved number of 882 Spring Lambs sold today, eagerly bid for by a busy ring of buyers. There was an overall market average of 243p/kg with best types and those well finished being in the strongest demand. Those lambs slightly lacking in finish meeting realisation. Best quality lambs today sold in excess of 300p/kg.

It was the consignment of Beltex and Texel cross lambs from JS Horner, Ingleton that led the way selling to £158, £150 twice and £144 twice, with this consignment peaking at 322p/kg and averaging an impressve £138 a head or 295p/kg. The top p/kg this week came from Wannop Farms, Heaton-with-Oxcliffe whom sold Beltex lambs to 335p/kg or £144, with the run from this good home topping at £150; their run of lambs averaged 293p/kg or £130. Other noted prices today for Texel lambs were £128 from GH Sanderson & Family, Catforth, £125 from P & V Bennett, Lancaster, £123 from M & L Preece, Kirkby Lonsdale and £120 from BR & S Carter, Pilling. Plenty more pens of good confirmation lambs easily selling between £110-£120. It certainly paid to have quality today at Lancaster, with better bred and finished lambs regularly selling in excess of 260p/kg. Light weight lambs continue to demand a premium, with 33kg Suffolk lambs selling to £82.50 from W Pinder Jr, Clitheroe. Hill bred lambs in the market today saw horned lambs to £88 from RH & C Ayrton, Abbeystead.

CAST SHEEP
Lancaster had a larger number of cast sheep forward today meeting plenty of trade and eagerly bid for in preparation of the upcoming festival in mid-July. Leading the way today were pure bred Beltex ewes selling to £156 from Wannop Farms. Pure Texel ewes sold to £144 from B & SE Carter, Ellel. Texel x ewes sold to £129 from B & J Preston, Caton followed by others to £122 from P & V Bennett, Lancaster. Plenty more Continental and Suffolk ewes sold around the £120 mark. Masham ewes peaked at £120 from KA Purtill, Wigan followed by Mules to £116 from H Birkett & Son, Overton. Plenty of pens of strong Mule ewes sold in excess of the £100 mark. More hill bred sheep in the market today saw Cheviot ewes sell to £90 from SC & J Gorst, Littledale. Swaledale ewes topped at £80 from S Park, Aughton, with well fleshed, horned sheep selling between £50-£70 and lean ones between £30-£50.