SPRING LAMBS
Lancaster Auction’s weekly sale of prime lambs had a reduced entry of 488 forward, selling to an overall market average of 238p/kg. Less on the market this week following the drop in price seen in the previous week, with many vendors on top of their lambs.

Leading the way this week at £118 were 45kg Texel lambs from A H S & H J Raby, Preesall purchased by Gregory Williams Butchers, Lancaster. Gregory William Butchers also purchased the next highest price, 44kg Dutch Spotted lambs at £115 from K P Dagger, Catterall. Also, achieving £115 were Suffolk lambs from N Walker, Tarleton, with other Suffolk lambs selling to £114 and £111.50 from P & M E Higginson, Pilling.

Other noted prices were Texel lambs at £111 from KA Purtill, Wigan, with others selling to £109.50 and £109 from A & L Preece, Kirkby Lonsdale. This was followed by £109 and £108 twice from A & E Clarkson, Thurnham. Charollais lambs peaked at £108 from S Wilson & Son, Scotforth. Plenty more lambs either which were of better confirmation or weighing 45kg upwards sold in excess of the £100 mark. Best confirmation lambs regularly selling for 200p/kg. More light weight lambs are still in demand and often selling in excess of £80.

PRIME HOGGS
Just a handful of prime hoggs forward, saw Herdwicks sell to £89 from S Dickinson, Ellel.

CAST SHEEP
There was a larger number of cast ewes on the market today, with 156 forward selling to a similar trade. Taking the lead today at £125 was a pen of 8 Texel cross Mule ewes from P Lawrence & Son, Chorley with others from the same good home selling to £119 and £118. Other Texel ewes sold to £124 from A H S & H J Raby, Preesall with Texel tups from the same home achieving £122. Suffolk cross ewes peaked at £120 from T M Townley, Over Wyresdale, with plenty of Continental ewes easily selling in excess of the £100 mark. Mule ewes twice peaked at £92 from N Walker, Tarleton and T & E A Garth, Bleasdale, with plenty more pens frequently selling round the £90 mark.