PRIME hogg trade remains on fire at CCM Skipton, selling prices on Monday showing yet another solid rise on the week, 3,443 head averaging £161.45 per head, or 359.3p/kg (SQQ 366.28p/kg).

Heavies and overweights were in peak demand, with 1,512 lambs scaling 46kg or more achieving some incredible averages, the highest gross levelling at £195.15 each for 186 head from Lincolnshire’s WR Gill, closely followed at £194.75 for a quartet from H Metcalfe, Silsden, then £194.40 for 91 from EP&JM Hutchinson, Faceby.

Smart lambs were again highly sought after across all classes, 25 pens making £200 or more, 145 pens £180-plus, with regular per kilo prices of 420-500p, 90 pens achieving 400p or more, two vendors selling at £5 per kilo or more. The top per kilo selling average was 440p for 28 lambs from Henry Atkinson, Felliscliffe.

Commercial lambs were the trade of the day, many at 38-43kg finding a strong trade at 370-400p/kg, especially those farm assured, which could make over £4 per kilo.

The March show saw Clark Bros, also travelling north from Lincolnshire, stand both champion and reserve with Beltex-x pens. The 47kg victors made £195 to Nick Dalby, Hartwith, purchasing for Knavesmire Butchers, York, the 38kg reserves away at £184. The third prize 45kg Texel-x pen from Sam and Jen Bradley, Silsden, went to Joe Bosworth, Rossendale, at £166.

North of England Mules and Mashams were both dearer on the week by around 10p/kg, at 328.6p/kg, £147.38 per head, for the former, £151.68, 329.1p/kg, for the latter. H Downs & Son, Skipton, and RG Church, Askwith, both sold Mules to £166, the Heath Partnership, Macclesfield, taking top price per kilo of 348p.

Also penned for sale were 725 cast sheep, cull ewes again seeing a flying trade, Texel from KP Drinkall, Gargrave, topping at £269.50, with a section average of £109.69. Cast rams averaged £115.95.

Similar numbers of breeding sheep, 226 in all, produced an overall average price increase, £284.04 for Texel, Suffolk and Mule outfits with twins, £211.76 for singles. Anthony and Heather Hewetson, Bank Newton, were again the standout performers, topping at £330 with a pen of five Texel ewes with twins, others at £320 and £310, also heading the singles at £260.