Prime Hoggs

The weekly sale of prime hoggs at Lancaster market saw a market average of 222p/kg. Buyers were showing caution towards under finished hoggs with weight and meat keenly bid for and selling to a premium at Lancaster. The sale topped at £138 for Texels from J France, Pilling with other pens of Texels selling to £136 from AG Butler, Hambleton and £135 from S Ayrton, Thurnham. Continental bred lambs weighing 47kg to 50 kg were regularly selling at the £118 to £125 mark. Hill bred lambs saw a pen of 55kg Cheviots sell to £126 from KM&KJ Curwen, Abbeystead who also sold a pen of Swaledale hoggs to £100. T&D Wright, Roeburndale East sold Mashams to £116 with Mule hoggs selling to £110 from J Bargh, Heaton. The best Continental lambs sold around the 245-265p/kg mark. Some lambs today would have been better suited to the store market, please contact the auctioneers and fieldsmen if you require any guidance.

Cast Sheep

An increased entry of cast sheep, once again saw all ewes keenly bid for. Suffolk ewes sold to a top of £116 from Dave & Karen Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe with Leicesters selling to £110 from AC&K Pye, Abbeystead. The strongest Texel bred ewes were regularly selling at £105-£108. Mules topped at £114 from Sam Ayrton, Thurnham with others to £107 from Dave & Karen Swarbrick, the best end Mules sold either side of the £100 mark. Meated medium type Mules were selling at the £80-£85 mark. Hill ewes sold to £110 for Cheviots from P Prickett, Hutton roof with other Cheviots selling to £90 from Dave & Karen Swarbrick with Horned ewes from this good home selling to £77. Swaledales sold to a top of £70 from Janet Simpson, Barnacre.

Cast rams saw Dorsets sell to £122 from R Mason, Out Rawcliffe with Leicester tups to £116 from F Carr, Arkholme.