Swaledales reach £25,000 at Kirkby Stephen

By Jeremy Hunt

Swaledale sheep breeders were moving nicely into gear yesterday on the second day of the breed association’s three-day fixture at Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria where prices reached £25,000. The call secured a shearling ram from the flock of J W Porter and Sons, Low Oxnop and saw him go in a two-way split to Messrs Wilson and White. The ram had earlier stood reserve champion but ringsiders were also keen to get their hands on the top ticket winner from P and K Sowerby’s noted Mossdale flock. Their champion made £24,000 to Messrs Skidmore, Ireland and Wear. The 525 deals struck yesterday were just 24 less than last year but the average of £1573 was up £159 on the year.