Prime Hoggs
A mixed show of 620 hoggs were forward at Lancaster with a third of the sale being hill bred types, which just crept the average back a little bit on the week. There was a large entry of heavy hoggs forward, which at the moment are meeting a little bit of resistance. Handy weighted and well meated hoggs were good to sell and more are needed on a weekly basis to satisfy our ringside of buyers. An overall market average of 222p/kg was achieved. The run of well finished hoggs from AG Butler, Hamilton saw Beltexs sell to £134 or 300p/kg with Suffolk hoggs from the same home selling to £132. A run of heavy hoggs from KA Purtill, Wigan saw the best sell to £130 for Charolais. Continental meated hoggs between 40kg and 45kg were frequently selling at 245-250p/kg. Mule hoggs topped at £106 on three separate occasions from J Bargh & Son, Heaton, S Ayrton, Thurnham and JS&S Atkinson, Scorton. Meated Mules were regularly selling around 210p/kg. Horned hoggs saw Dalesbreds sell to £100 from T&D Wright, Wray with a full pen of 42kg sell to £95 from R Capstick & Son, Ingleton. Swaledales topped at £91 or 212p/kg from JS&S Atkinson, Scorton.
Cast Sheep
The cast sheep trade went up another level at Lancaster market, with a pen of eight Texel ewes selling to £151 from GH Sanderson & Family, Catforth. Suffolks sold to a top of £148 from EW&A Bradshaw, Stalmine. Mule ewes sold to £130 from S Wilson & Son, Scotforth with others to £128 from J&E Nuttall, Old Hutton. Dalesbred ewes sold to a top of £100 from T&D Wright, Roeburndale. All ewes forward averaged an impressing £109.
Sheep with Lambs at Foot
The opening sale of sheep with lambs at foot saw the annual consignment from D&K Swarbrick, Out Rawcliffe attract plenty of interest, selling aged Mule ewes with Texel twins to a top of £258 with others from the same home selling to £242. No real show stoppers in the Continental sheep section, with Texels from J&A Heap & Sons, Barnacre selling to £242 for aged ewes with young twin lambs. WG Farms, Cockerham sold Cheviot shearlings with twins to £220 and singles from the same home to £175.
Please inform the office of entries for next Mondays sale on 01524 63308 by Wednesday 8th March.