PRIME LAMBS - CHRISTMAS CHAMPIONS SELL TO £200 AND 435P/KG.

NWA held its annual Christmas prize show and sale of prime lambs on Monday 2nd December, which this year was kindly judged by Mr Alfie Blacklidge, Chorley and sponsored by J Bargh Welding and Fabrication, Morecambe and Northern Fallen Stock Ltd, Dalton in Furness. The championship rosette was awarded to the first prize pen of Beltex cross lambs weighing 46kg from regular supporter AG Butler, Hambleton which later sold for the sales top price of £200 per head and 435p/kg, and were purchased by the judge. The reserve champion rosette was awarded to a trio of Beltex cross lambs from GR&A Foy, Conder Green which were also purchased by the judged at £161.
Away from the show, other well finished and well bred lambs saw Texels sell to £165 from J Pinder & Sons, Newton, £164 from HJ&BE Kelsall, Gressingham and £161 from JM&MH France & Son, Littledale. Other well-bred heavy weights were £145 to £155. The best standard weights sold to £150 for Texel cross from KA Purtill, Wigan with others £140 to £150 and first cross £130 to £138. Pure hill lambs sold to £146 for Cheviots from P Prickett, Hutton Roof, with others at £144 from D&D Huddleston, Wray. Mashams sold to £140.50 from T&D Wright, Roeburndale, Cheviot Mules £140 A&J Smith, Ingleton. Mules sold to £127 and horned lambs to £111.
Well finished lambs were nicely selling at 320p/kg to 340p/kg, first cross were 290p/kg to 305p/kg, with best grass fed lambs 280p/kg to 295p/kg. Leaner lambs were a more selective trade at 260p/kg to 280p/kg. Several pens of light weight lambs sold to £115 and 311p/kg. Todays sale saw an overall average of 297p/kg.

CAST SHEEP

All cull sheep today averaged £103, with a large number of leaner hill ewes included in this weeks entry. Continentals sold to £164 from A Thornton, Woodplumpton with others at £162 from H Hesketh & Sons, Longton with other mediums regularly £118 to £135. Cheviots Mules sold to £160 from A&J Smith, Ingleton, North Country Mules £140 from WJ&EA Woodhouse, Nateby with other stronger medium Mules £120 to £130. Hill ewes sold to £122 for Gritstones and £116 for Cheviots. Lighter leaner horned ewes to £88 for Rough Fells, £80 Swaledale and £78 Dalesbred.
Several cull rams forward with continentals to £182, with others generally £130 to £160. Hill rams sold to £126 for Cheviots.