SPRING lambs were again forward in increasing numbers at Skipton Auction Mart’s normal Monday sale.

There was a total of 3,205 on offer, but with trade dipping on the week in response to larger supplies of lamb everywhere, there was an overall selling average of £64.22 per head, or 153.1p/kg.

The top end still proved in demand, with a 40kg Beltex pen from Keasden’s James Garth catching the eye when heading the sale at 222.5p/kg, or £89 per head.

Handy-weighted lambs were best to sell, with the better 38kg to 42kg entries nearer 160p/kg generally, though around 150p/kg proved the norm for a commercial lamb.

Heavy commercial lambs sold at 140p/kg to 155p/kg, although a smarter-skinned sort could make more, with Alan Harker, of Long Preston, selling 48kg entries up to £86 per head.

Almost 4,000 prime sheep were on parade and a big show of 718 cast entries met a straight trade, with fleshed, but lean ewes in strongest demand.

Cull ewes averaged £60.48 per head, with joint highs of £107.50 per head for Suffolk and Texel pens from M Crabtree, of Kettlesing, and Gargrave’s Simon Spensley.

Cast rams peaked at £138 for a Texel from Ashley Caton, of Otterburn, with an overall average of £77.81 per head.