Store lambs more sought than rams
Store lambs more sought than rams
BIDDING for store lambs was fast and furious, but there was less demand for rams at a video sheep sale in Malton, North Yorks, last week.
About half the animals on offer sold, with 2721 going under the hammer. Of the 1686 store lambs knocked down, the highest price was £26.50, with an average of £23.83.
Suffolk cross ewes were the most popular in the gimmer shearling section, with prices reaching £60 and averaging £53/head. Just 27 rams were sold, with the best price of £310 offered for a Texel.
The auction, organised jointly by Boulton and Cooper and Cundalls, was intended to replace the annual Michaelmas breeding sheep sale and attracted only 300 buyers instead of the usual 500.
Although normal commissions applied, auctioneer Charlie Breeze said the video auction took five staff over a month to film on more than 60 farms.
"The sale went quite well and we could have sold another 2000 store lambs if they had been available," said Mr Breeze. "I am thinking about organising a video auction of store lambs and suckler cattle for the end of the month, but no decision has been made yet." *