With sheep numbers light countrywide, the 1,677 prime hoggs sold at Skipton Auction Mart on Monday averaged 257p/kg (SQQ of 264p), or £110.29 per head, which was dearer than expected in the circumstances, especially for handy weights. Per head prices peaked at 420p/kg, or £168 per head, for 40kg Beltex from J&M Blakey & Son, of Bolton-by-Bowland, the same gross achieved by Malhamdale’s Jeff Burrow with 44kg Beltex. Both pens sold to Brayton Farm Shop, Selby. Other best quality pens in the 36-45kg weight range made £130-plus, or 320-350p/kg, while the lowest price among the 46-52kg lowland lambs was £108 per head, with highs of £150, or 312.5p/kg, for a 48kg pen again from the Blakeys and again bought by Brayton Farm Shop.