Bordley and Beckwithshaw farmers claim victory at wether lambs show
John Tennant, of Bordley, took top prize in the Swaledale show at Skipton Auction Mart on Wednesday with a pen of 50 wether lambs. (SEPT 21)
Raised on the moor at Low Bucker House Farm, Bordley, the Swaledales were sold for £41 per head.
David Wilson, of Beckwithshaw, picked up the red rosette for his pen of 40 Dalesbreds, all got by home-bred tups, which fetched £43 per head.
A total of 7,640 were put forward in CCM Auctions fortnightly store lamb sale, with a large company of buyers and an overall average of £57.51.
Suffolk and Continental lambs were a sharp trade for all classes, strongest stores being mid to late £60s, nice types either side of £60 and long keep ones in the mid £50s.
Some pens of drawn gimmers stood out, with Alan Duckworth, of Paythorne, having a good day when leading the sale with three pens of Texel Mules at £92, £88 and £85. James Bailey, from Leyburn, made £85 and Kath Chapman., from Long Preston, achieved £80. The average for Texels was £59.13.
Malcolm Metcalfe from Baldersby topped the Suffolk crosses at £84, while Cowling’s Adam Staveley brought another good run to top at £81, with Suffolks overall averaging £63.10.
Mule wethers were a very similar trade, with an average price of £55.91, whilethe first large lots of horned wethers now starting to appear saw the strongest end sell into the £40s.
Beltex averaged £73.03, with E Fairburn & Son, of Marriforth Farm, Thornton Steward, near Ripon, fetching top price of £92 per head.
Swaledales averaged £38.01, while Dalesbreds averaged £39.02. W Banks & Son, of Barden, came second in the Swaledale show, with E&E Metcalfe, of Ickornshaw, Cowling, third, while in the Dalesbred show David Charnley, of Litton, was second. The show was judged by James Spensley, of Elslack, and sponsored by Top Tags.
The next sale is Wednesday October 5, with an entry of 8500 expected. Entries close on Monday October 3.