Breeding ewe sales notice uplift as trade picks up at marts

Annual sales of breeding ewes and shearlings are now in full swing at livestock markets across the UK, with prices seemingly up on last year’s levels.

A much needed flush of grass following recent rainfall in most regions has added a bit more confidence to the sector, along with strong cull ewe prices.

Penrith Auction Mart held its annual breeding show and sale on 9 September, with an entry of more than 6,600 sheep.

It achieved an overall sale average of £229/head, up by £26/head on the previous year.

Trade was particularly strong for older ewes, with prices lifting by £30 a head on the year.

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Meanwhile, mule shearlings were £16 higher on the year to average £226/head, while continental shearlings averaged £242/head, up by £11 on last year’s levels.

At Lanark Agricultural Centre on 3 September, Lawrie & Symington held its main lowland breeding sheep event, alongside its annual show sale of Scotch mule gimmers and ewe lambs.

More than 1,400 Scotch mule gimmers were sold, and auctioneers said the very best sheep were dearer on the year, topping at £350/head, while commercial ewes were a similar trade to last year.

In Cumbria, land agents and auctioneers Hope’s of Wigton held its annual Wigton Whites sale on 6 September, with just shy of 2,500 breeding sheep going under the hammer.

Overall, ewes averaged £210.76/head, while gimmer lambs averaged £204/head.

Auctioneers reported a strong crowd, with more than 90 different buyers from across the North of England and southern counties purchasing stock.

Pedigree sales

Melton Mowbray Mart held its annual multibreed sale of pedigree sheep (pictured above) on 6 September, with an entry of more than 550 ewes and a sale clearance rate of 80%.

Auctioneer Scott Ruck said the sale brought many new faces to the market, with sheep travelling from all four corners to meet “possibly the busiest ringside” they had ever seen at the sale.

Texels entered the ring first, with an exceptional run of 49 Texel shearling gimmers from Phil Weaver, Newark, averaging 745 guineas a piece.

Suffolks also sold well on the day, with prices peaking at 1,700 guineas.