THE livestock auction marts may be living through unusual times with the Covid-19 restrictions, but the pandemic failed to impact of the North of England Mule Sheep Association’s high profile 2020 gimmer lamb sales season.

Some 149,000 NEMSA-tagged ewe lambs, 2,000 up on the previous year, were successfully sold this autumn at official annual sales staged by northern auction marts – and in every single instance averages were not only up across the board, but also well up in most cases.

Early indications were promising. Mule shearling ewe trade is often an excellent barometer as a sign of things to come. And so it proved to be, as strong shearling sales figures were maintained when North of England Mule gimmer lambs went under the hammer. Without fail, every single auction mart was upbeat about ewe lamb trade.

NEMSA’s national chairman, third generation Mule breeder Chris Harrison, who farms at Coatlith Hill, Alston, enthused: “To say we were pleasantly surprised with ewe lamb trade this year is an understatement. It’s fair to say we were, in fact, bowled over and our warmest thanks and continuing appreciation go to all who helped make this outcome possible – breeders, buyers and auction marts one and all..”

The annual round-up from northern marts staging NEMSA ewe lamb sales, is as follows:

CARLISLE

At Carlisle’s Latter Fair Sale, 4,752 gimmer lambs were forward, including three new vendors. Harrison & Hetherington’s Auctioneer James Little noted: “The show of lambs in Carlisle is the stuff of legends and this year’s offering certainly didn’t disappoint, being a great credit to each and every consignor, making the job of the auctioneer an extremely pleasurable one indeed. A sale average of £108.75 showed a rise of £25.91 per head on the year.”

COCKERMOUTH

Mitchells Auction Mart conducted its annual Lakeland prize show and sale of 10,180 Mule gimmer lambs, with auctioneer John Wharton commenting: “All runs of lambs looked their best in front of a well travelled auction of prospective buyers, who were hugely impressed with the quality of breeding from all consignments and noted that this sale centre is now becoming one of the largest sales of gimmer lambs in Cumbria. The most notable lift in trade was the running type lambs being very easily cashed. The full sale average was an outstanding £98.15, up on the previous year’s £77.60.”

KENDAL

North West Auctions J36 annual Mule gimmer lamb sale on behalf of NEMSA’s Kendal branch attracted the largest entry seen for some time, with over 8,000 forward, which sold to a market average of £94.27, an increase of £18 on the year.Auctioneer Ian Atkinson said: “This included many vendors’ full consignments of tupping, fell and running lambs, which all met plenty of demand, with buyers travelling from far afield, as well as a good backing of local buyers. This year was great to have plenty of interest, with many new purchasers impressed with the quality of lambs on offer. A special thank you much go to both our vendors and buyers in being so understanding in these difficult times during Covid restrictions.” The second sale saw Mule gimmer lambs of all sizes eagerly bid for; the majority forward being fell running lambs. The overall market average was £82.91, again a steep increase on the year especially for the size of lamb on offer.

KIRKBY STEPHEN

While Harrison & Hetherington’s Kirkby Stephen NEMSA opener had a solid catalogued entry of 10,585 lambs, many buyers left short of requirements. Manager and Auctioneer, Mark Richardson, commented: “A wonderful overall sale average of £103.75 was £20.47 up on the year and this was for 80% of the vendors showing their full consignments. Eight new buyers were in attendance, with most being first time KS buyers.“After a couple of years of some sheep producers looking to alternative breeds of sheep, the North of England Mule gimmer lamb bounced back to prove herself as possibly the most resilient long-standing and prolific breeding sheep in the UK and this resulted in an abundance of sheep producers from Aberdeen in the north to Cornwall in the south being present and keen to secure Mule gimmer lambs.”

LANCASTER

North West Auctions’ annual NEMSA Mule gimmer lamb sale at Lancaster was again met by plenty of demand from both local and travelled buyers, selling to an overall average of £105.51, £28 up on the year. Auctioneer Ian Atkinson noted: “Compliments must go to our vendors for the strong show of lambs, with many consignments of tupping lambs. It was great to attract new buyers this year and we look to continue to grow this sale with buyers impressed with the quality on offer. “Lancaster’s annual Hill Fair day was once again well supported and vendors left pleased. Mule gimmer lambs, the majority running lambs, met plenty of demand, with a strong overall market average for NEMSA lambs of £90.53, an increase of £19.48 on the year.

LAZONBY

The annual Alston Moor sale of 15,540 lambs conducted by Harrison & Hetherington saw the Lazonby Mart pens packed to the rafters for what was again the largest single sale of North of England Mule gimmer lambs in the country. Auctioneer James Little said: “This great annual event again attracted a huge amount of interest, with sheep selling to buyers covering the length and breadth of the UK. “The lambs in the majority are sourced from Alston Moor, the East Fellside and the Lakeland Fells of Cumbria, and into Northumberland. They came forward this year in fantastic bloom, being a credit to all vendors, with a 100% turn out on the catalogue, a 100% clearance and an average of £107.02, up £24.03 up on the year. Turnover for the day was in excess of £1.4m.”

LONGTOWN

C&D Auction Marts held their annual sale of North of England & Scotch-bred Mule ewe lambs. A great show of lambs came to the sale, with an abundance of local and distant buyers in attendance. A sale average of £101.29 was achieved, being £24 up on the year.

PENRITH

At Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart’s annual sale of 10,000 North of England Mule gimmer lambs the overall average of £107 was up £26 on the year.Auctioneer Andrew Maughan commented: “A wonderful day was had by all. Lambs were forward in great order from the very first to the last in the ring, all in great bloom and dressed to a very high standard. Buyers were forward from all over the United Kingdom, with several new vendors present taking advantage of this quality offering of sheep.“Both buyers and vendors commented on the sale being the dearest so far. Many more could have been sold to vendors’ advantage. Running lambs achieved the dearest trade of the day.”

WIGTON

David Bowman, of Hopes Auctioneers, said: “Wigton Auction Mart’s standalone NEMSA sale attracted a super show of 1,821 lambs and with demand sharper at previous sales this year vendor expectation was high - and rightly so. The trade did not disappoint, as from the outset buyers were keen to source all classes, producing an uplift on the year of £27 to level at slightly over £102.”