NICK Champion auctioneer reports 2452 store and ewe lambs, breeding and cull ewes and rams were forward at The Sale Field, Burford, Tenbury Wells on October 3. Trade was brisker in all sections despite the weaker slaughter trade.

2006 store and ewe lambs were forward and the prize winners in the show section were as follows:

- Best pen of 25 or more store lambs - GJ and RW Meredith, Milson - Texel cross - £63

- Best pen of 20 or more ewe lambs - Bickley House Farm, Bickley - Suffolk cross Welsh Mule - £70

Trade was excellent on all types with long term and medium lambs much dearer while the heavier lambs reflected the current slaughter trade, with a premium for continental crosses and an excellent top price of £66 for Charollais cross mixed from Miss S Levi, Newnham Bridge. Medium stores generally sold from £54 to £57, small stores from £48 to £54 and hill and mini types from £34.50 to £44.

Top price for ewe lambs was £85 for Mules from KS Beaumont and Sons, Nash with other stronger sorts readily selling from £70 to £81.

General prices for mixed and wether store lambs

− Suffolk cross sold from £43.80 to £61 from A Walker, Brimfield

− Texel cross sold from £40 to £63 from GJ and RW Meredith, Milson

− Charollais cross sold from £47.80 to £66 from Miss S Levi, Newnham Bridge

− Lleyn cross sold from £42 to £48 from OJE Skyrm and Son, Broadheath

− Welsh cross sold from £34.50 to £48.20 from R Edwards, Coreley

− Mule cross sold from £51.50 to £52.50 (twice) from KS Beaumont and Sons, Nash and R Dahn and Sons, Stoke St Milborough

− Tup lambs sold from £35 to £64 from R Edwards, Coreley.

− The overall average for store lambs was £55.16.

Ewe Lambs

− Suffolk cross sold from £63 to £81 from Bickley House Farm, Bickley

− Mule cross sold at £85 from KS Beaumont and Sons, Nash

− Texel cross sold from £59 to £63 from N Liddell, Hatfield

222 Breeding ewes were forward and despite being final drafts met with a firm demand and a total clearance. Top price was £127 for Suffolk cross yearlings from Cleeton Farming Co, Mamble. White Faced Welsh Mule yearlings sold from £107 to a top of £110 (x 3) from HJ Brown, Clifton-Upon-Teme. Texel cross yearlings sold from £86 to a top price of £91 from JB Jennings, Nash. Bleu Du Maine cross yearlings sold at £110 from Rowley Farm Account, Kinlet. Older ewes sold to a top of £90 for Welsh Mule three year olds from Cleeton Farming Co, Mamble.

209 cull and grazing ewes and rams were forward and trade was much stronger than reported elsewhere since the festival. Top price was £83 for Texel cross ewes, Suffolk cross ewes sold to £78, North Country Mule ewes sold to £69, Welsh Mule ewes sold to £61.80, plain Welsh ewes sold to £30 and boners at £28. Rams sold to £73.50.

A Toggenburg nanny goat and kid made £85.

15 crossing rams were of very variable quality with little strength and met a selective trade. Top price was £283.50 for a Texel yearling from DE Ayres and Co, Texel cross Charollais yearlings sold to £262.50, Beltex yearling sold at £241.50, and a Texel 4 year old sold at £152.25.