Cast and breeding sheep in big demand at Skipton

A total of 541 cast sheep was penned for sale at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest weekly Monday turnout, with cull ewes again in the majority and averaging £115 per head.

Medium meat ewes were a flying trade, with heavies selling to usual buyers wanting numbers. North of England Mules sold to £127.50 at an overall average of £100 per head. The biggest made £110-plus, mediums with meat £100 and lean/smaller Mules £80-£92. Swaledale ewes sold to £116.50.

White-faced ewes were again in strong demand, averaging £126 with buyers keen on numbers. The best end with size made £160-plus and first-cross heavies £130-plus, with some best end pens hitting £145-150.

Medium full meat ewes proved the trade of the day when making £120-£135, with a few leaner sorts £115-£120. Smaller white-faced ewes sold at £105-£115. Suffolks made £135-£147.50 for first-cross large sorts and mediums £115-£125, with some lean ewes either side of £105. Cast rams averaged £115.75, while several goats among the entry sold to £129.50.

The weekly breeding sheep sale comprised 125 ewes and lambs, which sold to a good-sized audience looking for stock with grass now growing fast. Texel hoggs and single lambs traded to £240 from Nigel Peacock, of Thirsk, followed by £230 from Airton’s Ian Mellin.

Trade was very similar on the week and while fewer North of England Mules were in the market, nice making hoggs with singles were nicely sold at £202-£215. Suffolks sold to £230, again from Mr Peacock, with JCD Farming, of Darley, also selling a pen of ten at £215.

Texel hoggs with singles averaged £227, those with twins £205. Suffolk hoggs with single lambs averaged £210 and Mule hoggs with singles £203. More breeding sheep are required on a weekly basis with auctioneer Kyle Hawksworth the man to contact.