McCARTNEY’S of Kington report an entry of 1399 of sheep on October 15 for their weekly fat sheep sale.

Lambs - We had a smaller entry of 897 lambs due to the more difficult trade reported earlier in the week. Due to less numbers being marketed on the day, greater demand was created and saw our average level at 1.48ppk which is a marked improvement on the previous day's trading. Again we have a very heavy yard of sheep with the heaviest over 48kg being the most difficult to sell. Farmers have held back lambs in the hope of a stronger trade and we now have an over supply of heavier lambs on the market, which is depressing the trade in that weight range.

Well bred and meated lambs were again achieving market premiums, so it is well worthwhile selecting the right lambs to market and leave the leaner ones at home for further finishing.

The lambs averaged £1.48ppk and sold up to £1.58ppk.

All the lambs averaged £65 per head up to £71 per head

Lambs between 25kgand 32kg averaged 1.40ppk up to 1.41ppk

Lambs between 32.5kgand 39kg averaged 1.42ppk up to 1.43ppk

Lambs between 39.5kgand 45.5kg averaged 1.49ppk up to 1.58ppk

Lambs between 46kgand 52kg averaged 1.39ppk up to 1.43ppk

Lambs over 52kg averaged 1.30ppk up to 1.32ppk

We are fortunate to have excellent buyer support from six buyers giving excellent competition for the lambs.

Cull ewes, tups, wethers, store lambs

There was a good entry of 502 cull and store sheep, which sold to a good trade on the week. We had a mixed entry with a number of thinner and hill ewes forward.

We have seven excellent buyers in attendance and good competition between them and require more sheep to suffice their demand on a Thursday.

The ewes sold to a top of £90 and averaged a good £54 per head.

The cull tups sold up to £101.50 per head and averaging £60 per head.

Light weight lambs under 36kg were a reasonable trade and they averaged £1.42ppk up to £1.46ppk.

Store lambs also sold to a good trade and averaged £46 up to £51 per head.

We have buyers requiring light lambs each week to suffice their orders. The cull ewes included a large proportion of thinner mule ewes and smaller hill ewes.