FINISHED Cattle – 339: A much improved trade. Just more bite to it. More buyers about and everybody just a bit keener. Steers peaked at 207.5p/kg and heifers 239.5p/kg and bulls 199.5p/kg Prices were as follows:-

Light steers: Best quality to 189.5p average 189.5p; Standard quality to 172.5p average 172.5p; Also rans to 164.0p; Overall average 180.0p.

Medium steers: Best quality to 207.5p average 199.6p; Standard quality to 179.5p average 179.5p; Also rans to 162.5p; Overall average 183.4p.

Heavy steers: Best quality to 199.5p average 193.0p; Standard quality to 187.5p average 178.4p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 178.8p.

Light heifers: Best quality to 224.5p average 224.5p.

Medium heifers: Best quality to 236.0p average 217.0p; Standard quality to 189.5p average 183.3p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 195.3p.

Heavy heifers: Best quality to 239.5p average 209.5p; Standard quality to 189.5p average 179.7p; Also rans to 170.0p; Overall average 188.7p.

Light bulls: To 182.5p average 149.5p.

Medium bulls: To 194.5p average 164.0p.

Heavy bulls: To 195.5p average 172.5p.

Barren cows and old bulls – 61: A very strong trade indeed. All sorts dearer. Prices were as follows:-

Grade 1 Cows to 145.50p average 135.05p.

Grade 2 Cows to 129.50p average 124.57p.

Grade 3 Cows to 118.00p average 113.76p.

Grade 4 Cows to 108.50p average 77.68p.

Overall average 111.98p.

Finished sheep – 4,832: An easier lamb trade. Buyers complaining of a reduced demand on the continent because of Bank Holidays. Best lambs were at a marked premium reaching 252.5p/kg. Prices were as follows:-

Standard Lambs to 252.5p average 203.5p.

Medium Lambs to 244.0p average 204.6p.

Heavy Lambs to 209.5p average 195.9p.

Overweight Lambs to 176.5p average 174.6p.

Export quality lambs sold up to 252.5p per kilo and averaged 216.1p per kilo and home trade lambs sold up to 204.5p per kilo and averaged 196.5p per kilo.

The hoggets were a comparable trade. Quality now starting to diminish. Prices were as follows:-

Standard Hoggets to 189.5p average 179.0p.

Medium Hoggets to 190.5p average 180.1p.

Heavy Hoggets to 185.0p average 174.0p .

Overweight Hoggets to 172.5p average 151.0p.

Export quality hoggets sold up to 190.5p per kilo and averaged 184.9p per kilo and home trade hoggets sold up to 179.5p per kilo and averaged 170.6p per kilo.

Cull Ewes: A good entry in terms of numbers but were short on quality. A lot of runs of small and plain types found a more difficult trade. However, good meated ewes found a strong following with better sorts selling to £113.00 with an overall average of £67.91 inclusive of all weights and sizes. Cull rams a strong trade to £117.00 average £78.80.