PRIME hoggs - 1086: As expected a more difficult trade especially on the leaner hoggs but quality, as always, the best and easiest to sell. SQQ 180p but a lot of lean hoggs would lower the average by at least 3p/kg. Heavies also more selective - still to £100 but largely £90-£95 rather than £95-£100 as last week. Euro at 79p but orders filled for Easter.

Spring lambs - 52: Some very good lambs on offer, but not a good enough trade to reflect the quality. Best to 266.7p but SQQ only 239.9p, including Dorsets. Top price £100 for a 46kg and again most orders filled for Easter.

Ewes and lambs - 381 and 529: Not the quality of the previous week, trade generally a little firmer on the ewes with more lambs at foot. Stronger bodied ewes always sold to best interest, topping at £178 for 6 good shaped Texel ewes, 3 and 4 years with their 10 lambs from Mr S Farrington, Stoney House. Better sorts from £138 to £160; others from £90 to £120. Ewes with stronger singles to £133 on two occasions from M/s F J and M D Beaumont, others from £82 to £128. A few more younger couples on offer that sold to good interest throughout the sale, most were hard bred and sold from £120 to £146. No more customers but a total clearance effected to average £120.03/couple, £50.25/life.

In-lamb ewes/hoggs - 74: A nice show of in-lambers sold twice to £106 for Suffolk cross Mules with others at £105, all scanned to lamb from 3rd April. Texel cross also sold to £100 on two occasions with others from £74 to £86.

Store hoggs - 872: Less forward but still a good crowd of men for the hoggs despite the easing fat trade. Generally smaller hoggs with several clear up sorts coming forward. The strongest stores to £78.50, other stronger hoggs from £70 to £78. Good farming hoggs from £64 to £69.50. Medium term hoggs from £57 to £63.50, well bred longer keeping sorts from £52 to £56.50. Harder bred and smaller tegs from £44 to £51.50, very small sorts from £34 to £42.

Ram hoggs to £78, stronger sorts £65 to £72, farming hoggs from £52 to £64.50, smaller sorts from £40 to £50.

Rearing/weaned calves - 12: The smaller entry commenced with just 3 rearing calves which sold to £370 for a Limousin cross bull and 2 British Blue cross heifers which both sold at £290. More young calves are needed each sale, 9 weaned calves sold to £350 for 3 smaller Limousin cross bulls, a Welsh Black bull at £330, 2 Welsh Black heifers at £310, Hereford cross heifers at £305 and 2 Friesian bulls at £140. Total clearance effected.

Cull ewes - 1824: A serious trade from start to finish with ewes up to £137.50 with the top 20 prices all over £110.50/head, and plenty £120 to £130/head. An average of £76/head illustrates the excellent trade we had, dearer than last week and all types in hot demand. Buyers for everything - the fat, the best, the small, the lean and the worst. Competition was fierce and hard to believe but more could have been sold. Rams were flying up to £130.50/head with three others at £129 from separate vendors. We endeavour to make the most of your cull stock as they are an increasingly important commodity to farm incomes and today was no exception. Why go anywhere else? More ewes wanted every week.

Average £/head - £76, Continental £137.50, Suffolks £110.50, North Country Mules £100, Welsh Mules £92, Speckles £70, Welsh £82, Cull Rams £130.50, Cull Wethers £86.