PRIME lamb trade at Skipton Auction Mart stepped up yet another gear on Monday, as the 2,258 prime and lightweight hoggs forward averaged over £3 per kilo at 302p/kg (SQQ 308p), or £130.44 per head.
All classes were dearer by some margin, especially heavy lambs and commercial handy to medium weights, with 37-43kg Continentals and other lowland-bred lambs short of requirements and more required each week.
The strength of demand for heavies was clearly illustrated when lowland lambs over 52kg sold to a weight range average of 280p/kg, or £152 per head, with the Hutchinson family from Faceby in the north-west corner of the North Yorks Moors returning with multiple top-notch pens across most classes.