Hawes Auction Mart this morning to meet with farmers. The auction mart here is 100 years old and renown for its September sales of North of England Mule sheep.
This mule is produced in the hills and uplands of northern England and is a cross between a Bluefaced Leicester ram and a local Swaledale ewe. The Mules combines the best of both breeds: the Leicester is known for its leanness, early-maturing, and prolific breeding and the Swaledale for its hardiness, thriftiness and longevity. Farmers travel from all over to trade these sheep in Septmber at Hawes, and over 25,000 were sold this year!
I chatted to local farmers about the impact of tagging, the 6-day standstill, and sheep burial regulations.