A sharp start to the store hoggs season, saw an abundance of local and travelled buyers in attendance, keen to secure all classes and types of hoggs. 1623 forward today sold to an overall average of £107.22. The sale peaked at £161 for a quartet of Beltex cross from JA Chapman, Kendal with other Beltex cross selling to £160 from C Parsons, Old Hutton. Well bred longer keep lambs sold to £145 for Beltex cross from JA&KJ Allen, Ings with others at £140 from R Allen, Ings and a ring full of Texels also £140 from DR&C Galbraith, Grayrigg. Other well drawn pens of level medium keep Continental lambs were regularly £130 to £140, with the next draw down £112 to £125 and several pens of smaller lambs £88 to £100. Suffolks sold to £129 from S Robinson, Penrith and JW Robinson & Son, Farleton. Other medium keep Suffolks were £116 to £124. Mules sold to a top of £123 from JM&NJ Strickland, Whinfell with others at £122 from JT Park, Broughton in Furness and £120 for a ring full of Scotch Mule from G&ID Postlethwaite, Howgill. Medium Mules were £105 to £115, with smaller longer keeps £90 to £99. Other pure hill breeds saw a pen full of Herdwicks to £118 from Messrs Robinson, Old Hutton, Swaledales to £116 from CI Briggs, Ambleside. SBF sold to £113 from G&ID Postlethwaite, Howgill with other horned lambs to £111 from JT Park, Broughton in Furness and £110 from GT Hodgson, Witherslack.
Several feeding ewes forward today sold to £122 for Mules and £110 for Rough Fells. A pygmy billy goat sold at £94.