Sheep numbers and price up at market

Prime sheep again showed an increase on the week in terms of both numbers and prices at Skipton Auction Mart’s weekly sale, with the 4,785 head sold, comprising 4,284 prime lambs and 510 cast sheep, making 1p/kg more than the previous week to achieve an overall average a shade over 188p/kg, or £75.39 each.

Trade for all classes showed little change, though noteworthy was the fact that over 94 per cent of the lambs were presented at the correct weights when falling in the 36-45kg bracket.

Beltex lambs were again to the fore when averaging £81.07 per head, or 209.5p/kg, with Ellis Bros, of Addingham Moorside, leading the per head breed prices at £98, while the Garnett family in Draughton topped the by-weight prices at 241p/kg.

Texels also proved strong, selling to an overall average of £76.16 per head, or 189.6p/kg, and producing the day’s top price of £100 per head for a quality pen from P Johnson, Trawden. The by-weight high was 234.5p/kg for another batch of stand-out lambs from Frank and Robert Fielden, of Todmorden, champions at the previous week’s prime lamb show.

Cull sheep were dearer on the week, the average up by £7 per head, with cull ewes selling to an overall average of £55.01. Jeremy Taylor, Broughton, sold two Texel ewe pens that achieved £134.50, top call by far, and £119.50. Cast rams sold to an overall average of £126.79, with a Texel from Edward Fort, Steeton, leading the way at £155.50. A Rouge from David and Diane Findlay, Coverdale, and a Charollais from Charles Marwood, Whenby, also performed well at £148.50 and £139.50 respectively.

Of the 25 cull cattle forward, leading performer at £1,307, or 156.5p/kg, was a British Blue-cross cow from JW Sayer & Son, West End, with N&J Thwaite, Hellifield, achieving four figures with a black and white cow sold at £1,021, or 133.5p/kg.