CONFIDENCE at Skipton Auction Mart is running high ahead of the forthcoming autumn show and sale season for North of England Mule ewes, shearlings and ewe lambs.

These are soon to again go under the hammer at auction marts across the north with high expectations of a good turnout.

The keynote Mule gimmer lamb shows and sales at Craven Cattle Marts, Skipton, take place on Tuesdays, September 10 and 24.

Blubberhouses-based mart regular Kevin Wilson, chairman of the North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA), long-time custodian of the ever-popular breed, is upbeat about improved prospects for this year.

He said: “A mild, virtually trouble-free winter, followed by a good spring, particularly during lambing time, and early summer, with plenty of grass about, have left the North of England Mule in great shape and fine heart.

“This year’s scanning results were extremely positive and we are anticipating a significantly increased turnout at our annual autumn highlights.

“Hopefully, there will be improved trade on the year to match.

“All the signs look good and we are very positive.”

Confidence was boosted at the recent Shearwell Thame Summer Sheep Fair, the traditional pipe-opener to the main UK breeding sheep sale season.

Here, 6,500 North of England Mule shearlings and 2-shears sold to an overall average £5 up on the year.

Mr Wilson commented: “This augurs well for future sales, in particular our keynote Mule gimmer lamb highlight.

“These kick off in early September and run through until the beginning of October at auction marts across our North of England heartlands.

“Last year, despite an extremely harsh winter and wet spring, the NEMSA membership, around 1,000 of them at the last count, covering an area stretching from the English/Scottish border down to Derbyshire, did well under very difficult circumstances to consign over 200,000 ewe lambs.

“We are expecting at the very least that number this year.

“Our members are busy carefully preparing their North of England Mules for the keynote autumn sales season.”

He stressed it was all the more important to keep up momentum of the high standards achieved.

He added: “We all remain keenly aware that as Mule breeders we must not only seek to maintain the high-held standards of the breed, but also look to improve them at every opportunity.

“This will be to the benefit of all our buyers and users – shepherds the length and breadth of the UK.

“We look forward to welcoming both regular and potential new purchasers again this year.”