Breeder retains the title in market’s wether lamb show

The annual prize show for pens of 40 Masham wethers saw last year’s winner, Nidderdale’s David Verity, of Middlesmoor, retain the title and head the show prices when the victors sold for £59 each to HL Kitching, of Northallerton.

The second prize pen from JM Wilson & Sons, of Beckwithshaw, sold for £54.20 per head to Bowood Farms, of Busby Stoop.

The show formed part of the fortnightly sale of 6,046 store lambs, which attracted buyers from near and far, including Wales and the eastern counties, stretching all the way down into Norfolk. The overall selling average was £56.18 per head, compared to £59.03 at last year’s corresponding fixture.

A large turnout of over 1,500 Mule wethers levelled at an overall average of £50.91 each, £1 per head more than the previous fortnightly sale. Texel and Cheviot lambs also found a much better following, with more seasonal customers sourcing wintering lambs. The top end sold at £60 to £65 each, with long keep lambs making £54 to £59 per head.

Sponsors JACS Trade & DIY Warehouse and JG Animal Health put up prizes for the highest price pens of 50 or more store lambs.

Chris Heseltine, of Bolton Abbey, presented the top price Continental-cross, 90 Beltex that made £66 each, with R Metcalfe, of Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District, responsible for the top price £68 per head 50-strong pen of Suffolks and J Sunter & Son, of Hawes, heading the Mule wether prices at £55 each with a pen of 65 lambs.

A prize for the best pen of 50 Texel lambs, sponsored by Northern Area Texel Club, was awarded to Michael Harker, of Wycoller, his charges selling at £64 each.

Raymond Townend, of Sutton-in-Craven, was prominent on the day when achieving a hat-trick of leading breed prices with Mule, Charollais and Dalesbred pens.

Breed top and average prices were: Beltex to £75 from Robert Garth, Lawkland, (av £64.63), Suffolk to £61 from SL&SD Lund, Litton, (av £57.08), Texel to £66.50 from AJ Ogden, Cowling (av £58.21), Masham to £59 from J Verity & Son, Middlesmoor (av £51.63), Mules to £55 from R Townend, Sutton-in-Craven, (av £50.91), Charollais to £62.80 from R Townend (av £59.93), Swaledale to £38.50 from WM&E Dugdale, Giggleswick, (av £28.30), Dalesbred to £29.50 from R Townend (av £27.49), Cheviot to £60.50 from Grain Farms, Hebden Bridge, (av £56.57), Lleyn to £57 from Beeston Hall Farms, Ripponden.

The next fortnightly sale is on September 18.