In lamb sheep in big demand at Bentham sale

An entry of 1149 in lamb breeding sheep went under the hammer at Bentham Auction’s first Winter Sale of In lamb Sheep. The sale included three dispersals, the first being from J Arthur of Carnwath, Lanarkshire selling due to ill health.

The stock comprised 400 commercial Beltex x and Texel x ewes and shearlings, 26 Pure Beltex and 11 Pure Texel. First ewe in the ring being a Pure Beltex Ewe due February carrying twins to the Beltex making £520 to M E Wannop and Son of Morecambe, who also snapped up the next top price of £390 for another pure Beltex scanned for a Single. A pen of six pure Texel shearlings from the same home made £310 selling to the same buyer. Texel x Ewes topped at £245 and shearlings topped at £190.

The second dispersal of the day was a consignment of 429 commercial ewes and shearlings from W A Ketley and Sons of Essex selling due to a change in farming policy. Mule three crop ewes due April topped at £162 to average £154.51 and 44 Romney ewes from the same home after much interest sold to a top of £160 to average £153. The ring side was full from start to finish and a competitive trade resulted in a complete clearance.