BREEDING EWES & GIMMER SHEARLINGS
The great annual prize show and sale of breeding ewes and gimmer shearlings at NWA Lancaster saw a packed main ring of local and travelled buyers in attendance, all keen to secure additional and replacement stock. The pre sale show was judged by Mr A Prickett, Farlton and kindly sponsored by WCF Fuels and RE Consultants. An exceptional line up of North Country Mule shearlings saw the first prize and championship rosette fittingly awarded to local renowned shearling producer Mr J Townley, Mearsbeck, Caton, with this being his final year of exhibiting. The second prize rosette was awarded to M&YS Barker, Halton Park Farm, Lancaster with the third prize rosette awarded to JS&KM Wilson, High House, Kendal. The reserve champion rosette was awarded to the first prize pen of Cheviot Mule shearlings from JS&KM Wilson, Kendal.
The sale commenced with breeding ewes which saw one crop North Country Mules from N Barker, Dalton Old Hall, Carnforth sell at £195, who also sold two and three crops at £190. Charolais cross two crop ewes sold at £180 from KA Purtill, Hindley Green, Wigan.
North Country Mule gimmer shearlings sold to a top price of £270 for the show champions from JK&BE Townley, Caton with these being closely followed by others at £265 from M&YS Barker, £260 N Barker, £255 P&M Crackles and £250 from both JS&KM Wilson and M Gorst. Better end pens were regularly £240 to £250, with an overall market averaged £232 achieved (up £64 on the year).
Several pens of Cheviot Mule gimmer shearlings sold to a top of £275 from JS&KM Wilson, with others regularly £240 to £250. Several pens of continental shearlings sold to £235 for Texel cross from JA Chapman with other at £225 from N Brown, Littledale. All continentals averaged £221.
BREEDING RAMS
The annual Lancaster Lads sale once again attracted a good show of rams, to be put in front of our regular contingency of local supporters. The sale topped at £920 for the pre sale show champion, a Texel shearling consigned by S&G Mellor, Stoke with this ram being sired by the top price ram at the Welsh National. A keen interest ensured all pure Texels forward for the sale, sold to a buoyant trade. An £850 was a Suffolk shearling from RA&L Hodgson, Kendal with this powerful pen also producing another ram to £850. A pen of shapely Beltex cross shearling rams from RF Towers, Wray received great interest, with their best selling to £780. All in all, the sale was deemed a success, with best quality rams in high demand.
The next sale of breeding sheep at Lancaster Auction Mart is on Wednesday 18th September, to include the annual prize show and sale of Mule gimmer lambs, plus the second sale of all classes of breeding ewes, shearling and rams.