STORE cattle - 449: A good entry for the first sale in April. Despite the pressure in the fat ring a good firm level of demand and plenty of men around the ring. Steers peaked at 259.0p/kg to average 188.5p/kg, heifers peaked at 239.0p/kg to average 180.7p/kg, young bulls peaked at 250.0p/kg to average 190.0p/kg right the way through to include Friesians.

Feeing cows sold to £675.00 and averaged £553.00 (top 122.0p/kg average 110.0p/kg). Hereford breeding bull sold up to £1,144.00.

The prize winners in the show classes were:-

Class 1 – Best pen of four or more steers of any age or type suitable for further fattening:- 1st J H Martin, Lower Court.

Class 2 - Best pen of four or more heifers of any age or type suitable for further fattening:- 1st GJ and DIR Thompson, Oldfields Farm.

Class 3 - Best pen of four or more bulls of any age or type suitable for further fattening:- 1st H Leyshon, Pentwyn Farm, 2nd J C Bright and Son, Upper House Farm, Felindre, 3rd J C Bright and Son, Upper House Farm, Felindre.

Prices were as follows:-

Charolais Steers to £1030, £980, £975, £955, £925, £835 (top 209.0p/kg average 193.0p/kg).

Charolais Heifers to £1075, £1070, £960, £940, £880, £870, £675, £635, £590, £580 (top 219.0p/kg average 184.0p/kg).

Simmental Steers to £1090, £1060, £1010, £1000, £995, £980, £970, £955, £950, £925, £920, £870 (top 215.0p/kg average 191.0p/kg).

Simmental Heifers to £965, £875, £845, £830, £810, £790, £715, £710, £705, £600 (top 195.0p/kg average 175.0p/kg).

Limousin Steers to £1015, £1000, £995, £980, £940, £935, £930, £895, £885, £860, £855, £815, £800, £765, £735, £730, £710, £695, £665, £640, £635, £615, £580 (top 259.0p/kg average 204.0p/kg).

Limousin Heifers to £940, £920, £915, £825, £820, £815, £805, £800, £795, £780, £775, £770, £755, £745, £740, £730, £725, £705, £695, £680, £665, £650, £635, £625, £620, £600, £590, £585, £545 (top 239.0p/kg average 189.8p/kg).

Aberdeen Angus Steers to £755 (216.0p/kg).

Aberdeen Angus Heifers to £780, £770, £745, £715, £705, £650, £595, £570, £470 (top 177.0p/kg average 155.0p/kg).

British Blue Steers to £1100, £1045, £1000, £980, £975, £920, £850, £790, £630 (top 193.0p/kg average 174.0p/kg).

British Blue Heifers to £1000, £995, £990, £985, £930, £920, £910, £900, £875, £830, £820, £770, £755, £750, £575 (top 225.0p/kg average 197.5p/kg).

Hereford Steers to £1010, £1000, £895, £885, £805, £800, £795, £740, £705, £660, £605 (top 222.0p/kg average 177.7p/kg).

Hereford Heifers to £745, £735, £700, £695, £680, £625, £610, £600, £590, £580 (top 176.0p/kg average 160.0p/kg).

Blonde D'Aquitaine Steers to £970, £805 (top 227.0p/kg average 207.0p/kg).

Blonde D'Aquitaine Heifers to £725, £540 (top 180.0p/kg average 175.0p/kg).

Saler Steers to £805 (221.0p/kg).

Saler Heifers to £885 (182.0p/kg).

Shorthorn Steers to £745, £630 (top 155.0p/kg average 150.0p/kg).

Red Poll Heifers to £590 (157.0p/kg).

Bull prices were as follows:-

Charolais Bulls to £950, £875, £830, £825, £800, £755, £750, £730, £700, £650, £635, £630, £625, £605, £600(top 250.0p/kg average 210.0p/kg).

Limousin Bulls to £900, £880, £860, £855, £850, £840, £815, £800, £740, £730, £705, £700, £690, £660, £655, £645, £595, £575 (top 248.0p/kg average 202.7p/kg).

Blonde D'Aquitaine Bulls to £845, £605, £500 (top 212.0p/kg average 194.3p/kg).

Saler Bulls to £940, £930, £850, £845 (top 215.0p/kg average 199.2p/kg).

Aberdeen Angus Bulls to £855 (194.0p/kg).

Hereford Bulls to £700, £585, £580, £525 (top 187.0p/kg average 165.0p/kg).

Friesian Bulls to £640, £595, £480, £465, £460, £440, £425, £355, £350, £315 (top 150.0p/kg average 135.0p/kg).

Jersey Bulls to £600 (129.0p/kg).

Store sheep - 790: Still interest in the few store lambs on offer with medium lambs to £75.00 average £66.50, small store lambs to £62.15 average £57.50, mini store lambs to £53.00 average £48.00. Ewes lambs to £106.00 and £85.00.

Considerable interest now in couples. With ewes and lambs selling to £143.00 and cross bred hoggs and lambs at £101.00. Both ewes and lambs and hoggs and lambs average £49.50 per life.

Calves and weanlings - 29: A more selective trade. Rearing calves a good price with small rearing bull calves to £160.00, weaned bull calves to £445.00 average £347.00, weaned heifer calves to £360.00.

April 11

Finished cattle - 386: A difficult trade. Continued pressure from meat from abroad is wreaking havoc with home prices. No matter how low the cattle are meat men can't seem to trade at a profit. Again the best butchers heifers were easiest sold. On a morning when several deadweight firms dropped their prices back again and others imposed more stringent weight restrictions and serious penalties on big steers we always were going to have our backs against the wall. Having said this the trade would still be by comparison with other places a fair one. That doesn't help but it is some consolation. Prices were as follows:-

Medium steers: Best quality to 199.5p average 194.8p; Standard quality to 175.0p average 174.8p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 172.0p.

Heavy steers: Best quality to 191.0p average 185.4p; Standard quality to 179.5p average 175.5p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 178.0p.

Medium heifers: Best quality to 220.5p average 206.3p; Standard quality to 169.5p average 168.8p; Also rans to 160.0p; Overall average 172.0p.

Heavy heifers: Best quality to 233.0p average 201.7p; Standard quality to 182.5p average 174.9p; Also rans to 166.5p; Overall average 180.6p.

Light bulls: To 164.0p average 147.2p.

Medium bulls: To 189.5p average 165.6p.

Heavy bulls: To 199.0p average 172.1p.

Barren cows and old bulls - 38: A very good trade. More men seem to want cows than anything. Prices were as follows:-

Grade 1 Cows to 138.50p average 136.75p.

Grade 2 Cows to 124.00p average 121.40p.

Grade 3 Cows to 117.00p average 109.06p.

Grade 4 Cows to 98.50p average 81.05p.

Old Bulls to 117.50p average 100.33p .

Overall average 99.10p.

Finished sheep - 3,580: An easier hogget trade. Some of the biggest plants in the country have suddenly started cutting and packing New Zealand lamb. There has been an immediate effect on the trade. Quality was at a marked premium. Some hoggets still sold up to 239.5p/kg. Prices were as follows:-

Light Hoggets to 178.5p average 158.5p.

Standard Hoggets to 234.5p average 186.4p.

Medium Hoggets to 239.5p average 178.3p.

Heavy Hoggets to 185.0p average 170.3p.

Overweight Hoggets to 165.0p average 155.8p.

Export quality hoggets sold up to 239.5p per kilo and averaged 192.9p per kilo and home trade hoggets sold up to 183.5p per kilo and averaged 175.7p per kilo.

Spring lambs were a firm level of demand. The majority of springers were indoor lambs. Smarter outdoor sorts sold to 270.0p/kg. Prices were as follows:-

Standard Lambs to 270.0p average 240.8p.

Medium Lambs to 270.0p average 246.0p.

Heavy Lambs to 211.0p average 208.4p.

Export quality lambs sold up to 270.0p per kilo and averaged 256.6p per kilo and home trade lambs sold up to 245.0p per kilo and averaged 244.5p per kilo.

Cull Ewes: The killing ewes on offer were a marvellous trade. With a good entry of ewes foinding a strong trade from start to finish. Top price of £130.00 averaging £78.84. More could have been sold on this trade and more needed for next week. Rams to £139.00 average £91.71.