Prime Lambs

The weekly sale of prime lambs in Lancaster had an entry of 750 forward, the trade followed the National trend with the market average today 251p/kg. Heavy weighted lambs continue to be in most demand and financially adding up best in which more heavy weight lambs could have easily been sold at Lancaster today. Topping the market today at £151 was a 52kg Texel from H Birkett & Son, Overton. This was followed by other 52kg Texels to £150 from R Collinge & Son, Kirkham, at £150 was a pen of 54kg Texels from RC Billington & Son, Claughton on Brock. Other leading prices for Texels was £146 from P&ME Higginson, Pilling, £144 from A&FM Bolland & Sons, Ellel and £140 from Amy Bolland, Ellel. Zwartbles peaked at £137 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale. Hill lambs saw Mules sell to a top of £120 from Calderside Farm, Oakenclough. Beltex lambs peaked at 300p/kg twice from D Cockett, Ingleton.

Cast Sheep

An entry of 160 cast sheep were forward today which saw well meated ewes eagerly bid for and a strong trade. Texel x ewes sold to £156 from H Birkett & Son, Overton with others to £148 from T&S Blades, Arkholme. Mule ewes peaked at £138 from J&A Heap & Sons, Barnacre with others to £136 from H Birkett & Son, Morecambe. Small ewes and hill bred ewes, especially lean types were not as stronger trade as seen in previous weeks, with Swaledale ewes to £82 from E&J Farming, Littledale.

Breeding Sheep

Lancaster auction held its annual sale of early breeding sheep which was met with plenty of demand and a busy ring side of buyers looking to purchase replacement sheep, following a successful summer of spring lambs and cast sheep trades. The sale commenced with breeding rams, that saw a run of pure texel shearlings from RT&SE Sutton, Stainton sell to £480 and £400 one three occasions. A run of Texel & Beltex x shearling tups from S Mason, Kirkby Stephen sold to £420 and £400 three times.

Mule gimmer shearlings were in big demand, peaking at £210 from Messrs Hey & Sons, Quernmore with the consignment from DJ Casson & Son, Slyne selling to £200, £190 and £180. Other pens of Mule gimmer shearlings sold to £190 from A Thistlethwaite, Quernmore. All Mule gimmer shearlings forward sold to averaged £192. Mule ewes saw one crops sell to £155 from JM Gillett, Blackburn with two crops to £148 from KA Purtill, Wigan and 4 crop Mule ewes to £148 and £145 twice from MG&J Parker, Wennington. Cheviot Mule gimmer shearlings peaked at £190 from T Smith, Pilling with Texel x Mule shearlings from the same home selling to £185. A consignment of ¾ bred Texel gimmer shearlings and Beltex x shearlings from Bargh Contractors, Heaton sold to £190, £180 and £175 three times. Suffolk x Mule gimmer shearlings sold to £180 from AJ England, Tiverton with other pens to £175 twice from AJ Cardwell, Poulton Le Fylde.
The next sale of breeding sheep at Lancaster with be on Wednesday 17th August.