Ringside: Lamb prices vary at Melton Mowbray

Ringside at…

Melton Mowbray Market, Leicestershire. A much larger entry of 1508 new season lambs produced a wide range of prices at Tuesday’s (8 June) sale.

Trade for the best lambs increased to peak at 214p/kg, but the reduced average SQQ of 190.1p/kg reflected the poorer general quality on offer.

Almost 580 hoggs also met good demand, especially for well-fleshed types which sold to 181p/kg, with plainer types depressing the SQQ to 158.1p/kg – 5p down on the week.

A smaller entry of 480 cull ewes commanded higher prices, up £9 on the week, to peak at £110 a head and average £80.51. Buyers competed strongly for almost 490 ewes with lambs at foot, clearing the pens to a top of £76 a life.