Strong trade for Skipton store lambs

Store lambs returned to the fold for the opening seasonal show at Skipton Auction Mart. With 2140 lambs forward, entries were down on the corresponding fixture in 2006, though this could be put down to the fact that, with lambs well ahead of last year in growth terms, many farmers are taking advantage of favourable trading levels at weekly Skipton prime lambs sales, coupled with a clash of the fixture with the Great Yorkshire Show.

With total clearance achieved, a 40-strong pen of Texel-cross lambs from Trevor Shackleton, of Hebden Bridge, took first prize in the Continentals class, selling for £39.20 each to W F Alton, of Wetherby. Top price in class at £41.40 per head went to the second prize pen from Annabelle Sugden, of Laycock, Keighley, bought by Les Skipton regular Thackray, of Mickley, Ripon.

The first and second prize Suffolks 40’s both came from Michael Parker, of Winterburn, and both went to the same buyer, show judge, John Nutter, of Hurst Green, Clitheroe, for the same price of £39.60 each.

An across-the-board average price of £36.56 per head, compared to £34.68 in 2006, was achieved.

The second store lambs sale at Skipton on Wednesday, July 25, also features a prize show for Down-cross lambs, while the Robert Morphet Memorial Trophy will be awarded for the best pen of 50 Suffolk-cross lambs.