Prime Hoggs
It was great to have more hoggs on offer this morning, with 703 forward which were met by a ring of more enthusiastic buyers today whom seem a lot keener than previous weeks to purchase prime hoggs. The overall market average today was 255p/kg with once again handy weights in the most demand and averaging 265p/kg, heavy weight hoggs today also sold to an increased trade. Today saw plenty of pens of good confirmation handy weighted hoggs selling in excess of the 300p/kg. Leading the way at 330p/kg was 43kg Beltexs selling to £142 from Niyah Johnston, Bay Horse. This was followed by other Beltexs to 326p/kg or £140 from Andrew Butler, Hambleton. Topping the market today at £150 was a 47kg Beltex hogg from Kevin Purtill, Wigan. Other noted price for Beltexs were £145 again from Niyah Johnston. Heavy weight Texel hoggs sold to £143 and £139 from T Taylor, Woodplumpton with other heavy weight Texel hoggs to £142 and £141 from S Rossall, Over Wyresdale. Handy weighted Texels topped at £140 from RT Owen, Widnes. Heavy weight Suffolks sold to £136 from James Fryers, Kirkham followed by Blue Texels peaking at £135 from F&SG Sanderson, Woodplumpton. Plenty of Continental hoggs regularly sold around the £130 mark. Mule hoggs today peaked at £130 from F&SG Sanderson, Woodplumpton. Cheviot hoggs peaked at £121 from James Fryers with others to £120.50 from J&H Davis, Cabus. Lonk hoggs sold to £106 from S Bosworth, Burnley with Swaledales at 42kg selling to £105 from James Fryers. Light weight hoggs today were in strong demand with 36kg Swales selling to £91 from AC&K Pye, Abbeystead.

Cast Sheep
Lancaster continues to enjoy a strong trade for cast sheep with the consignment from Andrew Butler leading the way today selling Texel x ewes to £196 and £176. Beltex ewes sold to £146 from Ian Richardson, Catforth. Plenty of Continental cast ewes sold between £140 and £160. Mule ewes peaked at £146 from H Birkett & Son, Overton with others to £141 from D&K Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe and £139 from D&E Whittaker, Quernmore. Plenty of strong Mule ewes sold in excess of the £130 mark. Strong Swaledale ewes sold to £106 from AC&K Pye, Abbeystead with Dalesbreds to £102 from S&J France, Over Wyresdale.
The cast ram trade remains strong with Texels to £170 from D&K Swarbrick, Cheviots to £158 from S Bosworth and Lonks to £134 from Angus Brown, Littledale. All cast sheep forward today average £113.75 per head.

Breeding Sheep
What a difference a week makes with a lot more interest ring side for sheep with lambs at foot, selling to an impressive overall market average of £79.31 a head. The busiest ring of buyers seen so far this season ensured all types were eagerly bid for. Mix aged Continental ewes with twin Texel lambs at foot sold to £290 from G Hargreaves, Scotforth with mix aged Continental ewes with single Texel lambs from the same home to £215. A consignment of mixed aged Mule ewes with twin lambs at foot from DJ Casson & Son, Slyne sold to £228, £220 and £215. Mule ewes with single lambs from the same home sold to £178 and £160. Top price of the day for singles came from Ian Richardson, Catforth selling Texel ewes with single Beltex lambs to £218.
Continental ewes with twin lambs sold to £290, averaged £237
Continental ewes with single lambs sold to £218, averaged £216.20
Mule ewes with twin lambs sold to £228, averaged £219
Mule ewes with single lambs sold to £178, averaged £172