McCartneys reported a strong turnout at Knighton Market on Thursday, January 16, with 977 hoggets and 301 cull sheep entered for sale.

Hoggets (977) averaged 331.94p per kg SQQ and 333.67p overall. The trade topped at 349p per kg for Texel lambs from G. Roberts & Son, reaching £138 per head. Other notable prices included £159 per head for 46kg Welsh Texel X lambs from P.R. Price & Son (346p per kg) and £136 per head for 39.5kg Texel X lambs from J.E. & D.J. Morris (344p per kg). The top price per head was £185 for 65.5kg Texel X lambs from A. Price.

The trade was excellent, with a significant rise in the heavier hoggets, resulting in an overall average of £150 per head. The most popular weights were those between 39-45kg, with these averaging £163 per head, followed by the 48-65kg range. All 8 buyers attended, which was encouraging. We require 1,500 hoggets weekly to meet the demand.

Ewes (301) averaged £115.12, with a top price of £188 for Texel ewes from K. Tortoriello T/A Price Bros. Mules fetched £169 from G.T.R. Gough, while Welsh ewes from K. Tortoriello T/A Price Bros made £120. Rams reached £177 for Cluns from J.G. Williams & Son.