ANOTHER massive turnout of 5,805 prime and cast sheep - the third successive week that over 5,000 head have been penned for sale - were on parade at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest Monday sale.

It was also the fourth week in a row that trade remained above 150p/kg market average when the 4,792 spring lambs achieved £65.70 per head overall, or 154.12p/kg.

As usual, the best end were above £2 per kilo, with a per head top of £100 for a Texel pen from teenager William Watson, of Hellifield, and a by-weight top of 226.2p/kg for a Beltex pen from the Johnson family in Trawden.

Nice three-quarters Texel and Beltex types traded around 180p/kg, while export and handy weights easily maintained the previous week’s rates. Mules got stronger as the sale progressed, mainly around £18-plus for medium weights and £15 to £17 for handy weights.

At 1,013 head, cast sheep were forward in the largest number seen this season and decent ewes were good to sell, while lean ewes attracted feeding customers to the ringside. Cull ewes averaged £44.06 per head and cast rams £60.46, with William Watson again the top prices achiever in both sections with a £130 Texel pen and a Texel ram at £120.