PRIME Lambs - 2725: Not quite the trade of yesterday as the pound has risen pushing the Euro from 87p down to 83p, which makes export much more difficult. SQQ 191.5p but heavies to £102 and every sheep averaging £77.69. Trade a year ago 150.7p, 41p up, £16/head on a 40kg lamb. Meat and weight still very much the critical factors. 3000 needed every week.

Breeding ewes - 665: A much improved quality entry highlighted with two annual drafts of Suffolk cross 2 year olds. The consignment from Nigel and Robert Bowen topped the sale at £145 for 3 pens of Suffolk cross Halfbreds with their run of 230 ewes all selling from £130 to £143. Strong Suffolk cross 2 year olds from George and John Sevenoaks all caught the eye and sold from £108 to £143.

Throughout the sale older ewes were keenly sought with 3 year old Texel crosses at £120. Stronger Suffolk cross 3 and 4 year olds from £101 to £119. Beltex cross Texel mixed ages at £110. Others from £73 to £98.

A few yearlings on offer met a more limited trade with stronger Texel cross to £128. Others from £94 to £112. Suffolk cross to £114, others from £100 to £112. A single hogg with her lamb sold at £134.

Store lambs - 1417: A record entry of store lambs for the middle of July with vendors taking advantage of current demand with customers with grass keen to buy something to graze it with. Despite an entry of over double from last week, an excellent crowd of purchasers from the local counties and South Wales in attendance. Strong lambs in good demand topping at £72.50 for Mule wethers. A run of Aberfield wethers to £64.80, with other stronger sorts from £60 to £64.

Good farming lambs from £56 to £60. Medium type lambs from £52 to £55.80 with level bunches to a premium. Long-keep sorts the dearest sold from £46 to £51.50, small lambs £40 to £45.50. Very small and plain £34 to £39.80. Ram lambs to £68, others £62 to £67.20. Medium keep sorts £52 to £56. Overall average of £57.33.

Rearing/weaned calves - 31: A good selection of 14 rearing calves sold to keen demand for all topping at £420 for a Blonde cross heifer, just 16 days old. Other stronger calves to £360 for a Limousin cross bull and £350 for a British Blue cross bull. Other bull calves from £185 to £300 for a Hereford cross. Other heifers from £160 to £305. A Norwegian Red bull sold at £125, with a Friesian bull at £95.

17 weaned calves topped at £500 for a bunch of 6 month British Blue cross steers with a Blue bull a little younger at £480. Other bulls included Angus cross, 10 weeks at £375 and £405. Heifers continually meet demand with a 4 month British Blue at £460. Angus cross weaned 11/12 month heifers sold to good interest at £290 and £285.

Cull ewes - 2025: Another good entry of ewes with all ewes except the smaller hill type ewes dearer, stronger meat ewes short of requirement with Texels topping at £128.50. Other best continental ewes £95 to £108.50. Suffolk cross Mules to £98, all strength from £85 to £95. Leaner sorts £70 to £80. Mules to £80, most stronger sorts £70 to £75. Half meat types £60 to £70. Best hill ewes £55 to £60, nice meat from £48 to £54.50, plain £38 to £45 and small and plain ewes from £20 to £34.50. Ewes in the wool would be slightly discounted against shorn counterparts.

Average £/head - £63.41.

Continental £128.50.

Suffolks £98.

North Country Mules £80.

Welsh Mules £79.

Speckles £60.

Welsh £62.

Cull Rams £115.

Cull Wethers £80.