A noticeable increase in hill-bred lambs was evident at Skipton Auction Mart’s weekly prime sheep sale, with 1,145 mule and horned entries among the 2,922 head of old season lambs forward.

They achieved an overall selling average of £77.28 per head, or 188.14p/kg, an improvement on the previous week’s £75.75, or 182.5p/kg.

Mules themselves averaged £73.91 each, or 175.23p/kg, with Silsden Moor’s JH Throup producing the leading per head price of £85, with a by-weight top of 189.50p/kg for a pen from Peter Houseman, of Padside, Harrogate.

Horned lambs were generally a touch dearer, with Dalesbred averaging £63.89 each, or 165.29p/kg, and Swaledale £62.08, or 167.17p/kg.

Suffolk and Continental-crosses were dearer on the week, with all weights seeing a lift in price.

At the top end of the sale, 16 pens made £100 or more, while 51 more pens sold at £90 to £99.

Beltex lambs again led the trade when averaging £91.71 per head, or 218.76p/kg, selling to a per head high of £118 for a pen from Hannah Brown, of Newton-le-Willows, with a by-weight top of 271.80p/kg from Burton-in-Lonsdale’s Robert Garth, who sold four three-figure pens.

Texel lamb prices peaked at £115 each for a pen from Ellis Bros, of Addingham Moorside, with Trawden’s Jimmy Baines best by weight at 252.4p/kg.

Suffolks averaged £82.05 per head, or 185.02p/kg, with highs of £97.50 and 200p/kg, with respective pens from Silsden’s R Emmott and John Mellin, of Black Lane Ends.

The pick of the Charollais pens from Newark’s Stephen Dorey sold at £100 each, or 212.80p/kg.

Cast sheep numbered 375, with recent improved trade for strong cull ewes maintained and plenty of pens achieving well into three figures.

There was a £125.50 per head high for a Texel pen from Barnsley’s Steve and Sherry Richardson. The best hill-breds made over £70.

Cast rams averaged £58.50 per head overall, with a Beltex from RA&M Earnshaw in Flasby top at £99.50.