FINISHED cattle – 279: A difficult trade again. Having said that several vendors were pleasantly surprised with their trade. Again smart heifers were the easiest thing sold up to 248.5p/kg. Everything under pressure with several big firms dropping their prices back again on Monday this week. Our cattle in fact would be very little different to the previous week. Prices were as follows:-

Medium Steers: Standard quality to 171.5p average 171.0p; rans to 169.5p; Overall average 171.0p.

Heavy Steers: Best quality to 188.5p average 184.7p; Standard quality to 181.5p average 177.2p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 178.0p.

Medium Heifers: Best quality to 242.0p average 226.6p; Standard quality to 183.5p average 178.0p; Also rans to 144.0p; Overall average 205.6p.

Heavy Heifers: Best quality to 248.5p average 211.9p; Standard quality to 189.5p average 178.4p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 180.6p.

Medium Bulls: To 189.5p average 172.0p.

Heavy Bulls: To 187.5p average 176.0p.

Barren cows and old bulls – 26: A good trade. Plenty of competition. Prices were as follows:-

Grade 1 Cows to 148.50p average 148.50p.

Grade 2 Cows to 127.50p average 121.90p.

Grade 3 Cows to 113.50p average 107.86p.

Grade 4 Cows to 98.50p average 85.46p.

Old Bulls to 119.50p average 119.50p.

Overall average 102.66p.

Finished sheep – 4,520: A good firm hogget trade. Prices up to 230.0p/kg and plenty of buyers in attendance. Prices were as follows:-

Light Hoggets to 197.0p average 191.1p.

Standard Hoggets to 210.0p average 197.4p.

Medium Hoggets to 230.0p average 200.6p.

Heavy Hoggets to 210.0p average 183.6p.

Overweight Hoggets to 185.0p average 167.5p.

Export quality hoggets sold up to 230.0p per kilo and averaged 205.9p per kilo and home trade hoggets sold up to 199.5p per kilo and averaged 194.3p per kilo.

An excellent trade on the spring lambs. More needed.

Standard Lambs to 280.0p average 254.6p.

Medium Lambs to 280.0p average 265.3p.

Heavy Lambs to 221.0p average 213.3p.

Export quality lambs sold up to 280.0p per kilo and averaged 269.3p per kilo and home trade lambs sold up to 261.0p per kilo and averaged 254.1p per kilo.

Cull Ewes: An excellent ewe trade with prices up about £10.00 on previous weeks. With numbers short nationally the trade has taken a definite lift. If you have any killing ewes left about now is an excellent time to sell them. Top price of the day was £124.50 with an overall average of £80.45. Rams to £116.50 average £87.46.