In spite of the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic there was unprecedented trade right through the North of England Mule Sheep Association's (NEMSA) 2020 gimmer lamb sales season.
Some 149,000 NEMSA-tagged ewe lambs, 2,000 up on the previous year, were sold this autumn at official annual sales at northern auction marts with averages up across the board.
NEMSA's national chairman, Chris Harrison, Alston, says: "To say we were pleasantly surprised with ewe lamb trade this year is an understatement.
CCM's sales manager Ted Ogden says: "The sales went ahead as normal, albeit with social distancing and crowd control regulations in place.
"Lambs were shown in good order and trade was definitely stronger all season long, with runners at our mid- to late-season sales seeing great rises in averages on the year. Show lambs and top pens received strong interest at the early sales, rewarding consignors for producing lambs with body and bone that will go on to make strong breeding ewes with longevity.
Auction mart averages
Bentham - The 9,397 lambs at the first sale averaged £112.89, up £35.62 on the year.
At the second sale there were more tupping lambs forward than normal, producing an overall average for 4,921 per head of £90.04, up £28 on the year.
Barnard Castle - The first day of the two-day show and sale was open to both members and non-members of North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA) with 2,000 lambs averaging £106.74. Day two comprised 4,200 NEMSA gimmer lambs which averaged of £113.36.
Carlisle - At the Latter Fair sale the 4,752 gimmer lambs forward averaged £108.75, a rise of £25.91 on the year.
CCM Skipton - The early season opener saw 7,045/head average £104.81, up £14.06 on the year. At the second sale 6,185 lambs levelled at £102.26, an increase of £25.
At the third sale, 2,106 ewe lambs averaged £90.74, an increase of £19.60, while at the fourth the average was £82.79, up £22.40.
Cockermouth - The Lakeland prize show and sale of 10,180 Mule gimmer lambs averaged £98.15 up from £77.60 the previous year with the most notable lift in trade in the running type lambs.
Hawes - The two-day sale saw 20,827 NEMSA gimmer lambs average £109.01, up on the previous year's £80.38. The second sale of 7,913 lambs averaged £90.34, an increase on 2019's £69.74, while the third sale saw 2,150/head average £86.20 (up £18.80 on 2019).
Hexham - At the opening show and sale for Mule ewe lambs (ex North of England Blackface ewes) the 1,745 lambs averaged £127.24, which was up £27.60 on 2019.
The second sale of 1,710 lambs (ex Northumberland type Blackface and Swaledale dams) averaged £104.78 up £13.20. The average for the 600 plus Blackface gimmers was £152.46, compared to £140.86 in 2019.
Kendal - At J36's first sale more than 8,000 Mule gimmer lambs averaged £94.27, an increase of £18 on the year. At the second sale, where the majority were fell running lambs, the average was £82.91.
Kirkby Stephen - The 10,585 lambs averaged £103.75, up £20.47 up on the year.
Lancaster - The NEMSA Mule gimmer lamb sale averaged £105.51, £28 up on the year and the annual Hill Fair day saw gimmer lambs, the majority of which were running lambs, average £90.53, an increase of £19.48 on the year.
Lazonby - The Alston Moor sale of 15,540 lambs is largest single sale of North of England Mule gimmer lambs in the country. There was a 100 per cent turn out on the catalogue, a 100 per cent clearance and an average of £107.02, up £24.03 up on the year. Turnover for the day was in excess of £1.4 million
Leyburn - The 1,271 lambs averaged £109.30, up £27 on 2019.
Longtown- The sale of North of England and Scotch-bred Mule ewe lambs averaged £101.29, £24 up on the year.
Middleton-in-Teesdale - The 1,550/head averaged £92.12, up £23 on the year.
Penrith- The sale of 10,000 lambs averaged £107, up £26 on the year.
St Johns Chapel - The 2,400 lambs averaged £105.11, up £23.96 up on 2019
Tow Law - The 4,905 lambs averaged £106.52, a rise of £24.56 on 2019.
Wigton - Demand was sharper on the year with the 1,821 lambs seeing a rise in the average of £27 to slightly over £102.
