Finished cattle – 156: A smaller entry for the Bank Holiday but with some nice cattle in it. Extra buying support present. Trade very similar even though deadweight prices were dropper back again on Friday of last week. Quality was at a marked premium. Some of the heifers were getting plenty good enough. It is understandable vendors hanging on to cattle with prices as they've been but the fact remains you can be at a disadvantage by putting on extra weight if cattle become just too fit. Prices were as follows:-

Medium steers: Best quality to 214.5p av. 202.4p; Standard quality to 180.0p av. 175.7p; Also rans to 169.5p; Overall average 186.9p.

Heavy steers: Best quality to 194.0p av. 189.4p; Standard quality to 183.0p av. 177.5p; Also rans to 169.5p; Overall average 176.8p.

Medium heifers: Standard quality to 174.0p av. 172.0p; Also rans to 158.5p; Overall average 170.0p.

Heavy heifers: Best quality to 219.5p av. 198.2p; Standard quality to 183.0p av. 175.6p; Also rans to 167.5p; Overall average 183.5p.

Medium bulls: To 179.0p average 170.6p.

Heavy bulls: To 186.0p average 180.8p.

Barren cows and old bulls – 24: A nice trade. Plenty of men for the few cows on offer and a good level of demand. No best cows on offer this week. Prices were as follows:-

Grade 2 Cows to 123.50p av. 123.50p.

Grade 3 Cows to 113.50p av. 107.09p.

Grade 4 Cows to 99.50p av. 87.96p.

Overall average 98.21p.

Finished sheep – 2,288: A smaller hogget entry partly because of the Bank Holiday and partly because of the atrocious weather to draw tegs over the weekend. Plenty of buyers in attendance with quality at a marked premium selling up to 242.5p/kg. More needed. Prices were as follows:-

Standard Hoggets to 207.5p av. 195.5p.

Medium Hoggets to 242.5p av. 201.7p.

Heavy Hoggets to 227.5p av. 192.6p.

Overweight Hoggets to 187.0p av. 180.9p.

Export quality hoggets sold up to 242.5p per kilo and averaged 204.5p per kilo and home trade hoggets sold up to 196.5p per kilo and averaged 194.2p per kilo.

Cull Ewes: A smaller entry for the Bank Holiday met a sharper trade again with all sorts being very well competed for. Better sorts selling to £97.50 with no real strength about producing an overall average of £76.50. Rams to £114.50 average £86.90.

Please note:- will less cull stock about at the moment ewe buyers will be arriving earlier from their previous market. Please bear this in mind when bringing cull stock.