A strong entry of 18,652 Mule ewe lambs met a resounding trade at Lazonby yesterday for the Alston Moor sale, with the overall sale average jumping by a massive £18 on last year’s trade to settle at £114.08.
Leading the trade was a pen from Messrs Wallace, Farney Shields, at £360, with these selling to Eddie Bullman. Messrs Wallace’s run took the prize for the best run of 60 or more lambs in the sale.
Next best at £270/head was the second prize pen from the pre-sale show from J Lee, Morley Hill. This pen was bought by F G Marshall. And at £250/head was the first prize pen from the show, this time from W D and B Thompson, East Unthank. These were snapped up by E Taylor and Son.
Other leading prices included a pen from Hightown at £255/head and a pen from Outhwaite at £240, with a pen from High Side knocked down at £200. Messrs Wallace also sold a pen at this money, with the third prize pen from J Lee selling at £190/head.
Overall trade was flying according to the auctioneers, but it was the running lambs that looked dearer on the day, with stronger tupping lambs considered good value by comparison.
It seems the slowing in the prime lamb trade and the moderate gimmer trade in the southern half of the country isn’t denting the confidence of the ewe lamb buyers. We just hope their faith is rewarded when they come to sell their new acquisitions next year.
Average; 18,652 Mule ewe lambs £114.08 (Harrison and Hetherington).
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