PRIME LAMBS

A full consignment of buyers forward at Lancaster today, ensured a strong market average of 230p/kg for 896 lambs forward, with over 30% of the entry forward today being Mule and Horned lambs. This week’s sale included the annual young handlers show of prime lambs, it was great once again to see plenty of enthusiastic young shepherd and shepherdesses in the market. A big thank you goes to our sponsors Myerscough College and BB Dairies, as well as to our judge James Linsley, for taking on this task and doing a great job. The Championship rosette, was awarded to Henry Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe who’s champion lamb was a Texel weighing 59kg going on to sell for £150 and was purchased by the judge. The reserve championship rosette was awarded to John James Bargh, selling a 40kg Beltex lamb to £118. The first prize upland lamb was awarded to Adam Ayrton who sold his 41kg Mule lamb to £88. A big thank you to all our young handlers for taking part.
Heavy weight lambs continue to be in big demand, selling to a strong overall market average of 238p/kg. A consignment from B&M Slater, Chipping led the way selling to £137 and £135 with Texel lambs. Other Texel lambs sold to £136 from TR Prickett, Hutton Roof, with other noted prices for Texel lambs being £133 from JM &MH France & Son, Littledale, £130 from PS Lee, Over Wyresdale, £130 from T&L Kirkham, Eccleston, followed £129 & £128.50 from B&SE Carter, Ellel. A large quantity of other pens easily selling in excess of £120. Beltex lambs sold to a top of 295p/kg from J Bargh, Heaton with Oxcliffe with plenty of pens of better-bred lambs easily selling between 250-270p/kg. As mentioned before a large number of upland bred lambs forward today, saw Mashams sell to £119 weighing 54kg from WI&A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale. 51kg Mules sold to £113 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale, with others to £111.50 from WI&A Atkinson & Son, Bleasdale, plenty of pens of Mule lambs sold around the £100 mark. Once again, all prime lambs forward today averaged in excess of £100.

CAST SHEEP

The trade for well fleshed cast sheep was slightly sharper, with planer types of sheep no dearer. Dutch Spotted cast ewes sold to £124 from Myercough College, this was followed by Texel ewes selling to £122 from GR & A Foy, Conder Green, with well fleshed Continental ewes regularly selling over the £100 mark. Mule ewes peaked at £97 and £94 from Myerscough College with Mule and Masham ewes to £93 and £91 from KA Purtill, Wigan. Plenty of fit Mule ewes selling in the eighties. Hill bred ewes saw Cheviots sell to £84 from KA Purtill.