Philip wins champion pen of lambs prize at Shrewsbury auction
The champion pen of lambs prize at Shrewsbury Auction Centre’s Christmas Fatstock Show and Sale went to Philip Dudleston from Habberley, near Pontesbury.
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His pen of standard weight Beltex cross Texel lambs caught the eye of judge Simon Jenner from Pak Mecca Meats and sold for the top price of £150 or 385p per kilo.
It had been four years since Philip last won the Christmas market prize, having also been reserve champion a couple of times in the intervening period, and he was “over the moon” to win.
“Winning means that the lambs I am putting in front of the buyers are earning their respect and they are confident that they produce good carcases for the trade,” he said.
Explaining why he had selected Philip’s pen of lambs, Mr Jenner said: “It was a good, uniform pen of lambs with the right weight and fat cover for the butcher.”
Auctioneer James Evans, a Halls director, sold 849 lambs to an overall average of 306ppk.
Lightweights sold to 328pk and £105 per head, averaging 304.37ppk and £94.46. Standard weights sold to 385ppk and £150, averaging 314.36ppk and £117.87. Medium weights sold to 350ppk and £147, averaging 308ppk and £130. Heavy weights sold to 316ppk and £127.92, averaging 301ppk and £127.92. Overweights sold to 360ppk and £180, averaging 301ppk and £144 and super heavy weights sold to 293ppk and £176, averaging 275.65ppk and £160.
Auctioneers Mr Evans and Tom Jerman also sold 516 cull sheep to £208. Ewes topped at £208 from J. H. Jones and Son, Bayston Hill and averaged £121.66. Rams topped at £176 from S. C. Johns, Meadow Croft, Wexham and averaged £140.79.
Mr Evans also sold 205 store sheep to a top price of £115 from C. G. and S. R. Davies, Lower Cilhaul, Cyfronydd, Welshpool and averaged £81.43.
Auctioneers Nick Griffiths and Ben Dutton sold 228 calves to a top price of £535 for a Charolais cross bull calf from C. T. Pain, Stafford. Bull calves averaged £270 while heifer calves peaked at £405 for a Limousin cross from D. W. David and Sons, Halfway House and averaged £227.28.
Auctioneer Henry Hyde sold 13 barren cows, with cows selling to a top price of £1,816 and 200p per kilo from M. C. and Miss W. C. Boston and Higgins, Baschurch and heifers making up to £2,146.08 and 263ppk from the same vendors.
