McCARTNEY’S of Kington report a good entry of 1305 sheep on April 20.

Hoggets: We had an entry of 900 hogget’s which sold to a level trade on the week.

The hoggs on offer were a heavier mixed quality entry. There was a marked difference between the best meated hoggs and those with not enough finish. Don’t be afraid to feed because of the time of the year you can never over feed. Prices varied from £1.60 to £1.90ppk which speaks for its self.

The hogget’s averaged £1.80ppk and sold up to £1.90ppk for some 45kg hogget’s from WH Lyke.

All the hoggets averaged £82 per head up to £102.50 per head for some 65kg hogget’s from Steven Giordano.

Hogget’s between 32.5kg to 39kg averaged 1.80ppk up to 1.87ppk.

Hogget’s between 39.1kg to 45.5kg averaged 1.80ppk up to 1.90ppk.

Hogget’s between 45.6kg to 52kg averaged 1.75ppk up to 1.85ppk.

Hogget’s over 52kg averaged 1.70ppk up to 1.82ppk.

We are fortunate to have excellent buyer support from 6 buyers giving excellent competition for the hogget’s.

Spring lambs: We had a good entry of 80 spring lambs which sold to a good trade on the week. Lambs up to 40kg averaged a good £2.25ppk. Lambs over 43kg averaged £2.15ppk. The overall SQQ averaged was £2.20ppk.

The buyers are looking for lambs between 37kg to 42kg to obtain premium market prices.

Cull ewes, tups, wethers, store lambs: There was a good entry of 325 cull and store sheep, which sold to an improved trade on the week. Again meat makes money.

The cull sheep sold to a top of £106 per head for some Texel cross ewes from B and M Chilman and averaged a good £74 per head.

Continental ewes averaged £100 per head and sold up to £106 per head.

Mule types ewes averaged £70 per head and sold up to £80 per head.

Welsh, Speckle and smaller hill type ewes averaged £55 per head and sold up to £65 per head.

Tups averaged an excellent £98 per head and sold up to £141.50 per head.

Small Store hoggets averaged £53 per head up to £67.80 per head.

Light lambs under 32kg averages 1.78ppk.

We have buyers requiring store hoggets and light hoggets each week to suffice their orders.

We have buyers for in excess of 3000 hoggets and 750 cull sheep per week to meet our buyers’ requirements.

McCartneys at Kington, offer an on-farm livestock grading and marketing advice service on a free of charge basis.

Kington Market is every Thursday, commencing at 11am with Hoggets followed by Cull sheep.

For further information please contact contact Gareth Wall on 01544 230316 or 0797414336.