Market lambs at correct weights, auctioneers warn

McCartney’s of Kington reported a smaller entry of 1,600 sheep at their sale last week, with 1,400 lambs selling to a similar trade to the previous week.

Less numbers are being marketed due to the easier trade nationally and possible six day stand still rules from farmers buying in breeding stock, report auctioneers. There is a risk that if farmers hold back lambs to much which are ready for marketing in the hope of better prices that history may repeat it self, and we may find ourselves in the position we were in, in the spring with to many lambs being marketed in a short period and at the wrong weights, they warn.

The trade is similar to last year at present and it may be wise to take advantage of it. Meated lambs were again at market premiums and therefore it is well worth grading the lambs well at home to obtain these higher prices.

Lambs between 32kg & 39kg averaged 1.64ppk up to 1.65ppk

Lambs between 39.5kg & 45.5kg averaged 1.69ppk up to 1.75ppk

Lambs between 46kg & 52kg averaged 1.65ppk up to 1.68ppk

Lambs over 52kg averaged 1.58ppk upto 1.60ppk

The lambs sold to £85 per head for some 52kg lambs from T Joseph

All lambs sold to a good trade for the time of the year. The lambs were in good demand from the buyers and

meated lambs again sold to premium prices.

Some 41kg lambs from T R and G M Layton made £70.10, 42kg lambs from G ET Jones made £72.60, 43kg lambs from O H Price and Son made £73.10, 45kg lambs from M G and G J Morgan made £80.30, 46kg lambs from M P and R C S Edwards made £76.80, 48kg lambs from T Joseph made £79.20

There was a smaller entry of 200 cull ewes selling to a slightly better trade but there is still a large number of cull sheep being marketed nationally. The buyers are requiring meated ewes which are not fat, which sold to premium prices. The ewes sold to a top of £117 for some Texel ewes from N C and G M Lewis and all the ewes averaged a good £60.10 a head with many hill ewes forward. Tups and weathers sold to a good trade and sold to £80 and averaged £60. The cull ewes included a large proportion of thinner mule ewes and smaller hill ewes.