ANOTHER good turnout of 3,055 store lambs at Skipton Auction Mart’s latest Wednesday sheep sale day produced buoyant trade across all classes and a similar overall average on the fortnight of £73.18. (Wed, Dec 2)

Beltex lambs topped at £112, others at the better end making £94-£100, while the biggest Continental lambs, Texels from JM Townsend in Colne, sold at £98 each.

Eight pens of Continental-cross lambs made £90-plus, while the biggest Suffolks made £84-£90.

Flying trade for 400 Mule and Masham lambs saw anything exhibiting size and frame sell either side of £80, with some good meat Mules hitting £90.

It’s the time of year when generous regional farmers are again donating lambs to be sold in aid of deserving local charities. Annabel Sugden, of Laycock, offered a Beltex lamb and Joe and Trevor Stoney, from Pateley Bridge, a Mule lamb, which were both sold in aid of annual beneficiary Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, netting £112 and £70 respectively.

The previous Monday, Gargrave’s Paul Drinkall donated a lamb which realised £160, again for Manorlands, while Roland Carr, of Hawpike, donated a lamb in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which made £104.

Anyone wishing to donate stock to be sold for charity at any of Skipton’s Monday or Wednesday sales should raise awareness when entering or inform the auctioneer at the time of sale.

The next midweek sheep fixture on Wednesday, December 16, also incorporates another major Manorlands fund-raiser, Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association’s 14th annual charity show and sale of donated wether lambs, predominantly North of England Mules.

The seasonal highlight, which over the years has raised close on £50,000, will have socially distanced judging by Laura Robinson and Jenny Dolphin from Carrs Billington Agriculture’s mart-based Skipton branch.