PRIME LAMBS
Lancaster had a large entry of 809 prime lambs forward this week, selling to an improved overall market average of 261p/kg or £115.80. Well fleshed fed lambs demanded a premium today and were eagerly bid for.
It was a consignment of heavy weight lambs from RT Owen, Bold that led the way selling Texels to £170 twice, £166 and £156. Other heavy weight Texels sold to £161 from S&J France, Over Wyresdale. Followed by the consignment from KA Purtill, Wigan selling Texels to £154 and £148. Also breaking the £150 barrier at £151 was TR Prickett, Hutton Roof. Heavy weight Charollais lambs sold to a top of £140 from M Archer & Son, Bolton Le Sands, with heavy weight Suffolks also peaking at £140 from GF&EE Holt, Chipping, who also sold other pens to £137. Beltex lambs peaked at £137 from S Wilson & Son, Scotforth.
Lancasters busy ring of butcher buyers ensured better quality lambs regularly sold in excess of 300p/kg mark. Beltex lambs topped at 330p/kg from Ian Richardson, Catforth.
As to be expected there is a large number of hill lambs coming onto the market. Which saw Cheviot lambs sell to £136 from J Bargh & Son, Heaton with Oxcliffe, Mule lambs peaked at £131.50 from S&J France, Over Wyresdale. Horned lambs this week topped at £100 for Swaledales from KM&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead.
CAST SHEEP
A small entry of ewes forward today, as numbers in this area begin to dry up before farmers start scanning their sheep. The trade continues to go from strength to strength with a consignment of Texel x ewes from WA&LM Jenkinson, Stalmine selling to £161 and £149. This was followed by Texel ewes to £148 from MP Berry, Stalmine with other Texel x ewes to £136 from RT Owen, Bold. Mule ewes sold to £102 and £101 from TB Carter, Preesall. Hill bred ewes saw Cheviots peak at £80 from ST&J Gorst, Littledale.
Just a couple of tups forward today saw Texels sell to £130 from WA&LM Jenkinson, with Cheviots to £99 from GJ&CA Penellum, Millom.
STORE LAMBS
A strong entry of store lambs forward today, was met with the most buyers and demand seen for many weeks at Lancaster. A consignment of short-term Texel lambs from CM&CA Jackson, Caton, sold to £99, £97 and £89. This was followed by Continental store lambs to £88 from Ian Richardson, Catforth. All store lambs forward today in Lancaster averaged an impressive £89.