WHILST Monday saw a large show of over 2,000 spring lambs at Skipton’s Craven Cattle Mart, trade was not as dear as expected in the lead up to Eid-al-Adha.

This week, it was the Ellis bros who reached the day’s top prices per head at £185 and £182; these were also the top price per kilo at 443p and 440p/kg. Other standouts on the day achieved 330p/kg to 395p/kg, including goods from P Johnson of Trawden at 395p/kg, P Crabtree and Son of Otley at 380p/kg, and D&A Livestock of Harrogate 376p/kg.

M Ryder and Son of Harrogate presented a good run of lambs making up to £180 with others at £169, £168 and £167. MW Harrison of Elslack achieved £175 and £167, M Crabtree of Harrogate £168, and WH Marsden of Crossgates £167.

Commercial lambs sold at 285p to 310p, depending on types, with the higher quality end reaching 310p to 330p. Several consignments of Mule wether lambs selling today, with a good enquiry for these against some commercial lowland bred lambs.

Monday also offered a substantial showing of over 1,000 hoggs of very mixed quality. The better end sold at £120 to £135, and the smartest sorts in small lots got away at £140 plus. Auctioneer, Ted Ogden noted three quarters of the day’s hoggs sold as mature, and prices/averages were in keeping with this.

Cast ewe and ram trade remained as positive as previous weeks, with top price ewes selling to £241.50 from A&K Kiernan, Preston. The best bred ewes with weight averaged £200-£240, best bred mediums £165-£180, and lighter goods £120-£150. Heavy first Texel cross and Suffolk crossed ewes sold well at £155-£180 pen after pen. Medium, full meat ewes £120-£135, and lean ewes £100-£115. Pure Suffolk ewes sold to a top of £181.50.

Mule ewes sold to £137.50 from AJ Taylor, Broughton. Heavy mules got away at £110-£120, with full meat ewes £98-£108. Lean ewes sold either side of £90 and plainer goods sold at £68-£78. Swaledale ewes sold to £94.50 from JH Throup, Silsden Moor, whilst Swaledale Tups sold to £99.50 from JK Wilson & Son, Otley. Well fleshed Swale ewes sold well at £70-£85, with mediums £62-£70, leaner types £40-£52 and light, plain ewes £25-£38.

Over in the cattle rings, the calf showing was much smaller this week, with vendors busy in the field and a larger show expected to return next week. Blue bulls sold to £450 from PJ&JE Bolland, Airton with medium bulls £345-£380. Blue heifers sold to £370, with mediums at £320-£360 and young calves £265-£300. Limousin bulls sold to £490 from G Hayton & EC Stocks, Bolton Abbey and Limousin heifers sold to £330 from the same vendor.