PRIME hoggs - 1237: A good entry of good meated hoggetts sold to a much brisker trade than reported earlier in the week with an SQQ that would be 15p/kg dearer than that National reported yesterday.

Plenty of firms competing fiercely for sheep especially the well meated types with the best pens well into the 190p-200p/kg bracket.

A flying trade on the smalls topping at 222p/kg. The heavies were also in greater demand with pen after pen at £90 topping at £91/head. This trade was certainly more encouraging with a lot more feel and life to it. Lets hope it continues.

Spring lambs - 750: A nice entry of spring lambs sold to a stronger trade, much more buoyancy resulting in the 39-45kg averaging 222p/kg topping at a pleasing 254p/kg for a smart pen of 35½kg lambs from M/s E J and B E Bufton and Son, Upper House.

Plenty of lambs 220p/kg plus but they had to be meat and no heavier than 40kg to hit the optimum in p/kg terms.

The lambs topped at £95/head and at least, although only marginal, this is a move in the right direction.

Not all firms have switched yet so there is hope that once they do we may at least see the trade hold. More springers required next week.

Store hoggs - 287: Numbers drying up which is expected as we are in the final week of April.

It is very late for the hoggs with plainer hoggs harder work.

Stronger hoggs from £70 to £83.20, good farming hoggs from £58 to £68. Smaller hoggs with meat from £50 to £57.50, others from £30 to £45 depending on condition.

Ewes and lambs - 767 and 1068: Another large entry which sold to a better trade on the stronger lowland couples selling to £195 for a pen of 5 pure bred Texel full mouth ewes with their 8 Beltex cross lambs. Younger couples were in short supply and sold to £191 for 5 of 2's and 3's with their 10 lambs.

Other better keeping sorts from £150 to £180. Older lowland ewes with their twins topped at £162 with several consignments from £125 to £158.

Plainer ewes or those with lesser numbers of lambs ranged from £80 to £115 with customers for all sorts. A total clearance was effected.

The larger entry of 189 hoggs and lambs sold to £168 for 10 strong Suffolk cross North Country Mules with their Charollais cross lambs closely followed at £140 to £164 for other better sorts.

Texel cross hoggs with singles sold to £156 with others at £146 and £152.

Hard bred sold to £131 with other very small sorts from £60 to £101.

A much larger entry of 250 hill type ewes sold to better demand for those with stronger lowland lambs, twins from £100 to £119, others from £83 to £90. Better singles from £73 to £89 being Cheviot ewes with strong Charollais cross lambs. Others from £61 to £73. Overall average £117.41/couple, £49.07/life.

Rearing/weaned calves - 20: A good entry of 17 weaned calves but only 3 rearing calves. More rearing calves needed as suckler men come regularly for replacements - those on offer sold to £320 for a 20 day Blonde cross bull. The Limousin cross bull sold at £290 with a Blonde cross heifer at £210.

A lovely consignment of 8 British Blue cross heifers from 5/6 months sold to £550 and all from £490 to £535. The draft of dairy cross weaned calves, 3/4 months sold to £270 for Limousin cross heifers with another at £180. Friesian bulls from £120 to £175. Guernsey bull at £80, all sold.

Dry ewe hoggs - 314: A larger entry with an excellent selection of all breeds. More customers looking on and if the hoggs were strong and stylish then they met a good following. Strong Texel cross Mules topped at £110, with other strong Texel cross Mules to £104, several £90 to £95. Suffolk cross Mules to £100 on 4 occasions. Other smaller sorts from £80 to £90. Smaller Texel cross hoggs from £78 to £85.

A good selection of Mules with some smart Cheviot Mules to £90. Others £80 to £89. Harder bred Cheviot ewe hoggs from £60 to £70. Virtually a total clearance on the ewe hoggs.

Cull ewes - 1884: Excellent entry once again, with sheep travelling a lot of distance to be sold in Hereford. Trade estimated to be £5-£10 better than last week, with all best big ewes between £80 and £100. 6 buyers in attendance with proper competition for all sorts. A lot of Welsh and Speckle ewes on offer but still a very respectable average of over £70.

Average £/head - £71.03.

Continental £118.50.

Suffolks £105.

North Country Mules £85.

Welsh Mules £90.

Speckles £67.50.

Welsh £65.

Cull Rams £110.50.

Cull Wethers £75.