A smaller show of 2,599 prime sheep at Skipton Auction Mart’s weekly Monday sale saw the top end of the entry dearer on the week.

The 2,086 old season lambs among the turnout achieved an overall average of £80.48 per head, or 192.04p/kg.

Notably, Beltex lambs were up 12p/kg on average at £90.87 per head, or 230.6p/kg, while commercial export lambs traded at 195p-210p/kg, with heavier types averaging up well at 180p/kg.

Beltex and Texel pens from Paul Simpson, of Bolton by Bowland, both hit the day’s joint top high of £118 per head, with another Beltex offering from Sarah Eddleston, of Great Harwood, setting a by-weight top of 268.2p/kg.

Trawden’s Hayley Baines again led the lby-weight Texel pen at 248.9p/kg, while Charollais prices peaked at £100 per head for a pen from P Leeming, of Carleton.

Mule lambs were better to sell on the week, with quality sorts £33 to £35 over the weight and several pens topping £80, producing an overall breed average of £76.79 per head, or 176.8p/kg.

Horned lambs also sold well, with Dalesbred averaging £63.63 per head, or 164.2p/kg, and Swaledale £61.66 per head, or 160.2p/kg.

Horned wether lambs were good to sell, prime weights achieving around £30 and lightweights £22 to £26 per head.

Cast sheep continued the recent good trade, with cull ewes averaging £59.65 per head and selling to a high of £108.50 for a Charollais pen.

Cast rams averaged £61.52 per head.