Prime Lambs
There was an entry of just shy of 900 prime lambs forward with trade better than anticipated, as many deadweight companies drop the price at the end of the previous week. There was an overall market average of 221p/kg with well finished lambs of all sizes in the strongest demand. Nice confirmation heavy weight lambs led the way selling to £135 at 51kg from R&DL Cornthwaite, Nateby followed by £130 for 52kg Texel lambs from JM&MH France & Son, Littledale. Other leading prices for heavy weight Texel lambs saw the consignment from T&CM Kelsall & Sons sell to £128 and £127.50. Plenty of pens of lambs sold in the region of one hundred and twenty pounds. A strong demand for butcher type lambs in Lancaster saw 44kg Beltex lambs sell to £132 from JS Horner, Ingleton with others from the same home to 285p/kg. Plenty of pens of good confirmation, handy weight lambs sold between 260-280p/kg.
More upland lambs are now coming onto the market with heavy weight Mule and Mashams in big demand and eagerly bid for at Lancaster. 56kg Mules sold to £123 from TA&RM Dawson, Quernmore followed by 55kg Mashams to £122.50 from T&D Wright, Roeburndale. Other leading prices saw 52kg Mules to £114.50 from JR&LA Capstick, Killington followed by £114 from D&D Huddleston, Wray and £113 from David Gardner, Brookhouse. Heavy weight Swaledales sold to £114 from Drinkall Bros, Over Wyresdale.
Cast Sheep
The cast sheep trade remains very similar with Charollais x cast tups leading the way selling to £138 and £136 from James Burr, Quernmore. Texel x ewes sold to £120 and £115 from JM Sanderson, Halton with plenty more in the early hundreds. Mule ewes sold to £99 from Myerscough College and £98 from J&E Nuttall, Old Hutton with plenty more pen of strong Mule ewes selling around the £90 mark. Horned tups saw Dalesbreds sell to £98 from A&MA Wright, Roeburndale with Swaledales to £74 from KM&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead.