THE high profile annual North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA) autumn sale season is fast approaching and multiple breeders across the region are busy preparing their ewes and lambs to ensure that they once again arrive at the sales in tip-top condition.

They are also looking forward to once more welcoming droves of end-users from across the country, who are again preparing for their much anticipated annual exodus north to source yearly consignments of the all-purpose North of England Mule, notably crops of quality ewe lambs.

Sales of North of England Mule ewes and shearlings are already underway and run right through to the third week in October, while keynote gimmer lamb sales begin as usual with the traditional opener at Hexham on Friday, September 3 and continue until the end of month with the big Lazonby sale on Wednesday, September 29, when up to 20,000 ewe lambs will again go under the hammer.

Other northern auction marts also staging official NEMSA ewe lamb shows and sales are Skipton, Kirkby Stephen, Kendal, Hawes – up to 30,000 lambs will again be on offer at this keynote two-day fixture on September 13 & 14 – Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Leyburn, Tow Law (at Hexham) and St John’s Chapel.

Further ewe lamb sales are also staged at Bentham, Longtown, Lancaster, Wigton, Carlisle, Penrith and Cockermouth, with dates and potential numbers for all sales of North of England Mules – ewes, shearlings and ewe lambs – posted on the Association website at www.nemsa.co.uk

NEMSA’s national chairman, Cumbrian sheep farmer Chris Harrison, enthused: “The weather has been kind and not only do prospects look extremely promising for our 2021 autumn sales season, but after a torrid 2020, with its many restrictions due to the pandemic we are, thankfully also returning to near normality, with renewed confidence and optimism.

“The northern auction marts who staged our 2020 sales coped remarkably well under extremely difficult circumstances and we cannot thank them enough. But the stage is now set for 2021 and our legions of NEMSA breeders are again carefully and expertly preparing their lambs for the autumn highlights, so both regular and potential new buyers can rest assured that they will arrive not only in significant numbers, but also in peak condition.”