Market prices from regional auctions, including Ruthin and St Asaph

RUTHIN Farmers' Auction reports sales of 1,614 prime hoggets to 312.3ppk / £130; 142 cull ewes and rams to £140 and two prime heifers to 251ppk / £1,195.15.

Hoggets (auctioneer: Elfor Morris):

Ruthin vendors were treated to an overall average on their prime hoggs of £2.51ppk, with a sale yard average of £101 per lamb.

Top price per kilo went to Arwyn Jones, Segrwyd Goch with 36.5kg Texel lambs achieving £114 or (£3.12ppk).

An overall top price went to D Esmor Evans of Monfa with a pen full of Charollais tup lambs weighing 50kg and topping the market at £130 per head.

More lambs are required on a weekly basis.

Top priced:

Lights: E W, I N & G E Jones, Ysgeibion Farm 2.469ppk and £79 by same vendor.

Standard: A Jones, Segrwyd Goch 3.123ppk and £114 by same vendor.

Medium: R V Jones, Pentre 3.00ppk and D J, & M J Hughes & Son, Ty Cerrig, Prion £129.

Heavy: D J & M J Jughes & Son, Ty Cerrig, Prion 2.745ppk and Esmor Evans, Monfa £130.

Contact Elfor Morris to discuss or just take your lambs to the auction anytime between 6am and 10am.

Lambs are also required on Friday.

Light to 2.469 Average 2.275; Standard to 3.123 Average 2.541; Medium to 3.00 Average 2.52; Heavy to 2.745 Average 2.42; Overall Average 248.2; SQQ 251.5.

Cull ewes and rams (auctioneer: Paul Roberts):

Top priced: Esmor Evans, Monfa £140.

Less entries forward due to weather conditions, but there was a brisk trade on stronger ewes, a larger percentage of the smallest ewes forward, average £57.86.

Texel ewes to £140; Charollais ewes to £135; Mule ewes to £100; Texel ram to £80; Welsh ewes to £55.

More ewes are required on Fridays.

Prime cattle (auctioneer: Glyn Owens):

Prime heifers: Top price HJ & FJ Williams, Maes Gadfa with a Lim heifer weighing 505kg achieving £229.5ppk / £1195.15.

St Asaph livestock market - February 6

OLD season lambs (1,874):

A good entry forward were again a very good trade!

The best quality sold to over £3/kg and even the Welsh got to 250p/kg.

Top price Light - 257p/kg shown by M H & ME 7 G Williams, Ysceibion and £80/head shown by the same vendors.

Top price Standard 300p/kg shown by G P Lloyd, Tyddyn Ucha and £115/head shown by the same vendor.

Top price Medium 310p/kg shown by E Jones, Gosen and £130/head shown by the same vendor.

Top price Heavy 257p/kg shown by E Jones, Gosen and £125/head shown by the same vendor.

Top price Overweight 217p/kg shown by E Jones, 14 Stad and £132/head shown by the same vendor; SQQ 235.65.

Light ave 218.83p/kg to 257.00p/kg to £80.00/hd; Standard ave 232.71p/kg to 300.00p/kg to £115.00/hd; Medium ave 240.12p/kg to 310.00p/kg to £130.00/hd; Heavy ave 230.61p/kg to 257.00p/kg to £125.00/hd; Overweight ave 204.95p/kg to 217.00p/kg to £132.00/hd.

Cull ewes and rams (726):

A good show of ewes again, with recent prices being maintained.

Best ewes to £140/head; Welsh ewes to £55/head; Mule ewes to £94/head and tups to £125/head.

Ewes to £140.00, ave £70.03; Rams to £125.00, ave £72.63.

Beef cattle (5):

Steers to 178p/kg from R W Jones, Cae Isa.

Med ave 170.97p/kg to 172.00p/kg to £935.00/hd; Heavy ave 166.29p/kg to 178.00p/kg to £1,122.00/hd.

Fodder beet:

24 tonnes of fodder beet sold to £30/tonne.

Mold primestock sale - February 10

LAMB trade remained very dear.

The recent beef trade was maintained and cull cows were still selling at fast rates.

Highlights: Top 10 Beef 223.20 (1438.04); Top 20 Beef 216.40 (1405.44).

Prime cattle (123 entries - 42 hfrs, 71 strs, 10 bulls):

Heifers (under 30m): Heavy Continental Heifers to 209 (1254), Av 190.57; Medium Continental Heifers to 211, Av 191.21; Light Continental Heifers to 188, Av 184; Heavy Native Heifers to 180 (1285.10), Av 177.50; Medium Native Heifers to 194, Av 182.50.

Steers (under 30m): Heavy Continental Steers to 222 (1431.90), Av 188.20; Medium Continental Steers to 231 (1420.65), Av 199.71; Light Continental Steers to 191, Av 169.67; Heavy Native Steers to 181 (1310.40), Av 173.50; Medium Native Steers to 178, Av 171.60; Heavy Friesian Steers to 164 (1137.15), Av 146.50; Medium Friesian Steers to 156, Av 150.25.

Bulls (under 30m): Heavy Continental Bulls 212 (1510), Av 198; Medium Continental Bulls to 225 (1440), Av 219; Heavy Native Bulls to 159, Av 159; Medium Native Bulls to 157, Av 157; Medium Friesian Bulls to 154, Av 154.

Heifers (30-36m): Heavy Continental Heifers to 208 (1310.40), Av 208; Medium Continental Heifers to 189, Av 176.33; Heavy Native Heifers to 165, Av 165; Light Native Heifers to 130, Av 130.

Steers (30-36m): Heavy Continental Steers to 187, Av 187; Medium Continental Steers to 184, Av 179; Heavy Native Steers to 182, Av 155.50; Medium Native Steers to 140, Av 140; Heavy Friesian Steers to 135, Av 135.

Heifers (over 36m): Heavy Continental Heifers to 198 (1263.50), Av 182.60; Medium Continental Heifers to 185, Av 185.

Steers (over 36m): Heavy Native Steers to 140, Av 140.

Cull cows (75 entries - 53 dairy, 22 beef):

Young Lim cows (38m) to 198 (1247.40); Young Char Cows (40m) to 190 (1263.50); Aged Lim Cows (51m) to 175 (1155); Aged BA Cows (55m) to 170 (1113.50); Aged Char cows (57m) to 143 (1279.85); Aged BRB Cows (11 yr old) to 137 (1102.85); Top 10 Beef Cows Av 161.90 (1138.42); Top 20 Beef cows Av 143.15 (1017.99); Overall beef cow av 131.20; HF Cow to 120 (1050); Ho Cow to 118 (932.20); FR cow to 116 (915.20); BF cow to 116 (870.10); Top 10 Dairy cows Av 113.90 (881.66); Top 20 Dairy cows Av 110.40 (821.13); Overall dairy cow av 98.70.

Cull bulls (3 entries): Here to 110 (1287).

Lambs: Light to 210, Av 210; Standard to 235, Av 228.60; Medium to 283, Av 250.10; Heavy to 256, Av 219; Sqq 237.30.

Ewes: Ewes to 100, Av 73.47.

Ruthin store and breeding stock sale - February 6

RUTHIN Farmers' Auction reports sales of 171 cattle to £1,285; 32 calves to £320; nine OTM cattle to £1,107.60; 491 store lambs to £91.50; 19 stirks to £500; 421 breeding ewes to £172; 215 couples to £245 and 12 cade lambs to £25.

Sheep section:

Couples (auctioneer: Paul Roberts):

A total of 212 couples were forward (being 518 lives) with doubles averaging £200.

Blue Texel singles to £245, Doubles to £170; Texel singles to £166, Doubles to £250; Romney singles to £132; Crossbred singles to £165, Doubles to £248; Dorset singles to £145; Lleyn singles to £140, Doubles to £222; Mule singles to £146, Doubles to £236.

In-lamb ewes (auctioneer: Paul Roberts):

Lleyn yearling ewes to £172; Mule full mouth ewes to £146; Beulah full / broken mouth ewes to £100; Texel X full / broken mouth ewes to £144; Welsh full mouth ewes to £68; Cade lambs from £5 to £25.

Store lambs (auctioneer: Rich Lloyd):

An expected reduced entry of 491 store lambs and yet another increase in price!

Plenty of purchasers were around, some of which were new and travelled some distance.

There was an overall average of £67.73 with prices as follows:

Texel X ram lambs to £91.50 from Glan Terrig Farm; Suffolk X ram lambs to £86.50 from R P Jones, Bryn Llech; Suffolk X ewe lambs to £86 from A Owen, Penyfed; Mules to £84 from D Jones, Plas Pigot; Welsh to £67 from R P Jones, Bryn Llech.

Store lambs are still very much in demand, anybody who has any to sell should contact the auctioneer.

Store cattle (auctioneers: Glyn Owens and Emyr Lloyd):

There was an increased entry of quality cattle, with younger cattle remaining in keen demand.

Some 9 month charolais steers achieved £980.

There were a lot of customers around the ring, resulting in a brisk trade.

More cattle are required weekly to satisfy demand.

Heifers:

Top price: £1,030 from Gerallt Jones, Tai’n Maes; 17 month Charolais achieved £1030; 21 month Lim achieved £995; 17 month Charolais achieved £980; 18 month Lim achieved £975; 15 month Lim achieved £935; Overall heifers average £858.49.

Steers:

Top price: £1,285 from RJ & ED Breese, Gogarth; 23 month Lim achieved £1285; 20 month Lim achieved £1185; 22 month Hereford achieved £1156; 17 month Charolais achieved £1130; 19 month Hereford achieved £1095; 22 month Charolais achieved £1080; Overall steers average £967.48.

OTM cattle:

A 29 month Hereford cow weighing 515kg achieved 150ppk.

A 45 month Lom weighing 570kg achieved 148ppk.

A 61 month Lim weighing 725kg achieved 145ppk.

A 61 month British Blue weighing 780kg achieved 142ppk.

A 61 month Aberdeen Angus cross weighing 770kg achieved 137ppk.

Calves (auctioneer: Dafydd Parry):

Calves were in short supply with with trade on fire.

Several purchasers went home with empty trailers.

A 3 week old Lim bull from Jones, The Gables hit the jackpot selling to £320.

British Blue bulls from Lightfoot, Llidiart Fawr hit the £295 mark.

5 week old British Blue heifers to £290; 4 week old Aberdeen Angus bulls to £210; 4 week old Aberdeen Angus heifers to £140; 3 week old Charolais bulls to £200; 4 week old Charolais heifers to £280.

More calves are required on a weekly basis to meet demand.

Weanlings:

Weanlings remained a firm trade for all types.

8 month Hereford dairy bred bullocks to £500, with heifers to £470.

St Asaph livestock market - February 8

OLD season lambs (198):

Store hoggs met a very fast trade, selling to £100/head from M Oare, Pant y Groes.

Super Super Light ave 135.00p/kg to £27.00/hd; Super Light ave 230.91p/kg to 240.00p/kg to £60.00/hd; Light ave 233.27p/kg to 293.00p/kg to £79.00/hd; Standard ave 246.91p/kg to 250.00p/kg to £85.00/hd; Overweight ave 175.44p/kg to £100.00/hd.

Old ewes and rams:

Ewes to £80.00, ave £61.55; Rams to £48.00.

In-lamb ewes (79):

Texel X to £175/head; North Country Mules to £122/head.

Ewe and lamb couples (5):

X Bred Doubles to £131; Suffolk Singles to £65.

Pet lambs (4):

Pet lambs sold from £6/head to £8/head, averaging £7/head.

Bryncir fatstock auction - February 5

BRYNCIR auction reports an entry of 605 hoggets, cull ewes and eight cull cows.

Trade in all sections reached premium prices, with stronger entries required weekly.

Lambs: Overall average 207.8.

Hoggets:

Light to 223.0p - Williams & Jones, Cae Poeth, Llanuwchlyn.

Standard to 245.0p - A Hughes, Cae Iago.

Medium to 240p - T Pritchard, Ynys Fawr, Llaerchymedd.

Heavy to 240p - I Roberts, Cellar.

Overall £116 - I Hughes, Dolwen.

Cull ewes:

Suff ewes to £120 - A Owen, Maes Gwyn.

Tex Ewes to £105 - W O Jones, Betws Fawr.

Xbred Ewes to £103 - D H & M I Jones, Bryn Rhedyn.

Welsh Ewes to £68; Cull Rams to £120.

Cull cows: Overall average 118p.

Lim to 175p (£1207.50) - D O Evans, Hendy

BB to 130p; Sim to 129p; Dairy to 110p.

Welshpool market - February 3

BARREN and cull cows (29):

A similar number of OTM cattle were on offer during the week, seeing a top price of £1,245.38 (146ppkg) for a British Blue x OTM weighing in at 853kg from SB Owen & Co, Garreg.

TH & ME & EJ Jones, Plas Coch made 138ppkg for a Limousin x weighing 659kg making £909.42.

Younger cows (48-72 months) topped at £1414 (175ppkg) for a Limousin x weighing 808kg from CV & EM Lewis, Buttington New Hall.

E LL Jones, Bryngwaeddan made 157ppkg for a Blonde d'Aquitaine x weighing 527kg making £827.39.

Heifers under 48 months topped at £1348.24 (152ppkg) for a Limousin x heifer weighing 887kg from S Richards & Son, Gwern Y Pwll.

TH & ME & EJ Jones made 176ppkg for a Limousin x heifer weighing 626kg making £1101.76.

Bulls under 72 months saw a top price of £1288.56 (168ppkg) for a Limousin bull weighing 767kg.

Averages of the day were as follows: OTM Cows (13) 121.58ppkg / £748.19; OTM Bull (2) 111.1ppkg / £1187.07; Cows 48-72 Months (5) 139.64ppkg / £926.68; Heifers Under 48 months (4) 151.07ppkg / £1097.52; Steer Under 48 months (2) 139.11ppkg / 541.15; Bull Under 72 months (2) 165.68ppkg / £1187.07; Overall Average 132.34ppkg.

Prime hoggs (3,483):

Hoggs returned a fantastic average of 231.49ppkg, with a top price of 269ppkg for a pen of hoggs weighing 39kg making £105 and £129/head for 82kg hoggs from AE Casewell, Bodynfoel.

Best quality, better shaped hoggets continue to find tremendous demand with plenty of good quality pens selling at 245ppkg and above.

JA Wood & Sons, Kinnerton Farm sold a tremendous run of 411 hoggets that averaged 238.2ppkg or £108.72/head.

The biggest rise in price to the previous week were the heavy hoggs with a rise of 15.74ppkg on the week.

Lights (368) to 259ppkg from DE Morgan & Co, Cefntwlch. Or £79/head from the same vendor. Others to 255ppkg from DE Morgan & Co, Cefntwlch. Average of 225.85ppkg.

Standards (660) to 262ppkg from TK Robinson, Tynewydd. Or £105/head from R & G Evans. Others to 259ppkg from IE Roberts & Son, Maesdyfnant. Average of 227.86ppkg.

Mediums (1658) to 260ppkg from JA Wood & Sons, Kinnerton Farm. Or £115.50/head from the same vendor. Others to 253ppkg from JA Wood & Sons, Kinnerton Farm. Average of 233.65ppkg.

Heavies (678) to 255ppkg from TE Rowlands Ai Fab, Tyddyn Du. Or £128/head from GT Jones, Neuadd Fawr. Others to 247ppkg from GH Ellett, Cefn Derwen.

Average of 223.36ppkg.

Cull ewes (1,885):

The week saw an increased entry of 1,762 cull ewes that met a terrific trade once again with an overall average of £69.38 being achieved.

There was a shortage of heavy ewes forward that had a big influence on the average.

Top price of the day went to GL, GS & A Howells, Shadog Farm that sold a fantastic pen of 19 Texel ewes for £150, closely followed by Tynybryn Farms that also sold a pen of Texel ewes for £144.50.

A total of 115 cull rams met a stronger trade with a top price of £120 being achieved by JK & DM Jones, Caebettin.

Texel x ewes to £150; Beltex x ewes to £128; Suffolk x ewes to £110; Mule ewes to £98; Welsh ewes to £81; Dolgellau type Welsh ewes to £58.50.

Cows and calves:

An entry of 16 cows and calves met with a solid trade for all the outfits presented with competitive bidding on all lots.

Leading the way at £2,180 was RP Jones, Llanfair Hall Farm who sold a Charolais x British Blue 2nd calver with her Limousin x heifer calf.

From the same home were two Pedigree Limousin 2nd calvers, one with a heifer calf and one with a bull calf, which sold for £2,000 apiece.

Presented by DK Davies, Cwmydrefor were five Limousin x cows with Limousin calves at foot which were part of an ongoing herd dispersal, which sold to a top of £1,750 to average £1,620.

From PR Williams, Llwyngwilym was a Limousin x 3rd calver with a heifer calf which made £1,850.

From the same home was a British Blue x 1st calver with a Limousin x heifer calf selling at £1,650 and two 2015-born cows with Limousin calves making £1,500 each.

A Salers 1st calver with a Salers bull calf from M Williams, Wern Holding sold for £1,620.

A breakdown of all prices achieved were as follows: £2000+ 3 lots; £1800-2000 1 lot; £1600-1800 5 lots; £1400-1600 5 lots, <£1400 2 lots.

Store lambs:

Store hoggs hit £100 as prices prove some of the dearest all season as feeding men continue to fight over the entry!

Theaves: Texel £86.50, £84.50 and £84 twice; Suffolks to £69; Welsh to £60.50, £58 twice and £53.50; Beltex to £85, £83 and £81 and Charollais to £65.

Mixed and clean: Texels to £83, £77 and £76 twice; Suffolks to £90 and £79; Welsh to £55 and £49; Charollais to £87.50, £82.50 and £68 and Dorsets to £73.50.

Wethers: Texels to £59; Suffolks to £71 and £71 and Mules to £69.50.

Tups: Texels to £96, £78 and £73.50; Suffolks to £100, £93 and £86; Welsh to £71 twice, £70 and £69.50; Beltex to £72 and Charollais to £80 and £78.

Averages: Theaves - £61.18; Mixed and clean - £67.79; Wethers - £69.21; Tups - £69.77; Overall - £66.69.

In-lamb ewes:

There was an increased entry of in-lambers again, which sold to a buoyant trade.

Mule 3/4 year olds carrying triplets to £148 from Evans & Mills, Ffynnon Fair.

Welsh 4 year olds carrying carrying twins to £70 from HW & SW Nutting, Cwmrhwyddor.

Mule 4 year olds carrying twins to £148 from ED & MJ Jones, Gelli.

Full mouth Texels carrying twins to £145 and full mouth Texels carrying triplets to £130 both from TH, ME & EJ Jones, Plas Coch. Cheviot x 4/5 year old ewes scanned at 125% to £85 and Cheviot 2/3 year old ewes scanned at 120% to £86, both from E Jackson, Lane Farm.

Rhayader livestock sale - February 6

PRIME hoggets (1273):

SQQ 241.98p/kg; Overall 240.4p/kg

Standards (236) average - 241.92p/kg. Sold to 270p/kg from H Jones, Glanyrafon, Paincastle or £100/head from the same vendor.

Mediums (708) average - 242.47p/kg. Sold to 265p/kg twice from GR Moseley, Dairy Barn, Knockin or £112.50/head from the same vendor.

Heavies (196) average - 237.62p/kg. Sold to 250p/kg from H & E Powell,

Llwyngwilym, Rhayader or £121/head from GR Moseley, Dairy Barn, Knockin.

Over weights (9) average 209.94ppkg. Sold to 222ppkg from JV Davies & Co,

Garth Fawr or £123/head from MJ & JM Price, Penycrug.

Cull Ewes (96):

Average - £69.41, sold to £130/head; Beltex ewes to £130; Texel x ewes to £120; Mule ewes to £84

There was a tremendous trade and entry in both sections once again!

Welshpool market - February 10

BARREN and cull cows (11):

A similar number of OTM cattle were on offer during the week, seeing a top price of £1,292 (152ppkg) for a British Blue x OTM weighing in at 850kg from G & H Jerman, Tynyrwtra.

M & T Jones, Geseilfa Uchaf made 136ppkg for a Limousin x weighing 644kg making £875.84.

Bulls under 72 months topped at £1357 (115ppkg) for a Charolais bull weighing 1180kg from EG & AW Pugh, Cefn.

JR James, Lower Trawscoed made 114ppkg for a Salers bull weighing 984kg making £1121.76.

Steers under 48 months topped at £1137.42 (142ppkg) for a steer weighing 801kg from EE & MJ Jones & Sons, Cwmbychan.

Averages of the day were as follows: OTM Cows (7) 130.12ppkg / £876.28; OTM Heifer (1) 119ppkg / £1004.36; Steers Under 48 months (1) 142ppkg / £1137.42; Bulls Under 72 months (2) 114.55ppkg / £1239.38; Overall Average 126.18ppkg.

Prime hoggs (2,992):

A smaller entry of hoggs forward sold to return an average of 245.55ppkg, with a top price of 287ppkg for pen of hoggs weighing 38.5kg making £110.50 from O'Kane & Morgan, Penygelli, and £126/head for 47kg hoggs from the same home.

A smaller number of hoggs forward, mostly due to the weekend's bad weather, sold to a flying trade from start to finish with plenty of buyers present creating competitive bidding on all weights and grades of hoggs.

Best quality, best shaped hoggs continue to find tremendous demand selling up to 287ppkg and £126/head.

Most demand was for the heavyweight hoggs (50 kilos+) with plenty of these types selling between 240-250ppkg, returning £120+.

Export and supermarket weight hoggs also sold very well, particularly the better meated types at price levels far in front of the current dead weight price.

Very few lightweight hoggs were on offer, which resulted in fierce competition with again a good number of these going back out on farm as stores.

With national numbers of hoggs coming onto the market remaining small, demand for all types is far greater than supply which is resulting in this recent surge in prices.

How long this will last is unknown, but all vendors are encouraged to keep taking advantage of the current very strong live weight prices.

Lights (187) to 286ppkg from O'Kane & Morgan, Penygelli.

Others to 250ppkg from the same home. Average of 233.33ppkg.

Standards (540) to 287ppkg from O'Kane & Morgan, Penygelli. Others to 264ppkg from RA Davies, Llwynderw. Average of 242.12ppkg.

Mediums (1195) to 280ppkg from TG Davies, Home Farm. Others to 279ppkg from RA Davies, Llwynderw. Average of 248.18ppkg.

Heavies (907) to 268ppkg from O'Kane & Morgan, Penygelli. Others to 255ppkg from EW Jones & CO, Tytanyfoel. Average of 238.99ppkg.

Cull ewes (1,419):

A smaller entry of 1,350 cull ewes met another terrific trade during the week with an overall average of £67.10 being achieved.

There was a shortage of heavy continental ewes that had a big influence on the average.

However, the trade on the strongest ewes was sharper than the previous week with any amount of the best Texel and Suffolk x ewes £100 plus.

The top price of the day was achieved by C Vaughan, Llanon that sold Charollais ewes for £153.

A total of 57 cull rams were forward and they averaged £79.57, with a top price of £130 being achieved by WD Morris & Son, Greenfields.

Charollais ewes to £153; Texel ewes to £129; Suffolks x ewes to £119; Mule ewes to £105; Welsh ewes to £84

Store hoggs:

Trade continues to be incredibly strong as weekly numbers and quality reduces.

Best lambs £85 plus, with the majority trading between £70 and £75.

Theaves: Texels to £78 and £72 and Charollais to £87.50 and £55.

Mixed and clean: Texels to £94.50 and £89; Suffolks to £70; Mules to £76; Welsh to £77.50 and Beltex to £90, £89 and £78.

Wethers: Texels to £84.50; Suffolks to £67 and Welsh to £56.

Tups: Texels to £100, £99.50 and £97; Suffolks to £80 and £70.50; Mules to £78; Welsh to £86, £65 and £60 and Charollais to £76.50.

The first cade lamb of the year sold for £24.

Averages: Theaves - £75.08; Mixed and clean - £74.07; Wethers - £68.08; Tups - £71.81; Overall - £72.55.

In-lamb ewes:

There was a similar entry, however purchasers took a more cautious approach due to the current weather conditions.

Mule 2 year old ewes carrying twins sold to £152 from A Roberts & Sons,

Dolau. Mules 3/4 year old ewes scanned at 187% sold to £122 from JR Phillips & Sons, Bank Farm.

Full mouth Texels carrying twins to £120 and full mouth Suffolks carrying twins to £108, both from M Lloyd, Merryvale.

Full mouth Mules carrying triplets to £122 from AJ Hamer, Gwernybaurth. Full mouth Welsh scanned at 162% to £82 from C Roberts, The Cwms.

Overall average £103.48.

Couples:

A small seasonal entry of couples sold to a very good trade considering the current unsettled weather.

MM & R Morris, Maestanyglwyden sold full mouth and as found Texels with twins to £242, £232 and £225, with singles from the same home to £160, £148 and £120.

DG Davies, Lan Farm sold aged Suffolks with twins to £208 and singles to £178.

Store cattle:

The smaller mid-month sale of 90 cattle attracted a good number of buyers

with a good trade throughout, but particularly on cattle suitable for summer grazing.

The top prices were reflected in the higher average prices achieved.

Steers averaged 199.8ppkg or £948.06 per head and heifers averaged 202.49ppkg or £815.98 per head, and a small entry of bulls averaged 197.28ppkg or £813.75 per head.

Top price per head (steers): Limousin 22 mo 725kg £1280 DS Jones & Co, Fronheulog; Limousin 20 mo 597kg £1185 DS Jones & Co, Fronheulog; Limousin 18 mo 600kg £1160 DS Jones & Co, Fronheulog; British Blue 21 mo 610kg £1130 DJL & SJ Evans, Rhoscyninfa; Limousin 19 mo 572kg £1115 DS Jones & Co, Fronheulog.

Top price per head (heifers): Limousin 21 mo 490kg £1060 WT Jones & Co, Croesllwyn; Limousin 16 mo 460kg £1050 M & T Jones, Geseilfa Uchaf; Limousin 21 mo 505kg £1025 SJ Smith, Penybryn; Charolais 14 mo 483kg £1015 RA Roberts, Pennant; Limousin 21 mo 477kg £1010 M7 T Jones, Geseilfa Uchaf.

Top price pence per kilo (steers): Limousin 9 mo 355kg 233.9ppkg P & C Marsh, Glyn Farm; Limousin 15 mo 423kg 222.2ppkg GP Vaughan & Son, Dolcorsllwyn; Limousin 14 mo 307kg 221.5ppkg PL & PG Bumford, Rhosfawr; Charolais 10 mo 388kg 219.1ppkg RA Meddins, Hafod; Limousin 11 mo 480kg 217.7ppkg DJL & SJ Evans, Rhoscyninfa.

Top price pence per kilo (heifers): Limousin 19 mo 415kg 228.9ppkg WT Jones & Co, Croesllwyn; Limousin 16 mo 460kg 228.3ppkg M & T Jones, Geseilfa Uchaf; Limousin 14 mo 330kg 222.7ppkg PL & PG Bumford, Rhosfawr; Limousin 21 mo 490kg 216.3ppkg WT Jones & Co, Croesllwyn; Limousin 21 mo 477kg 211.7ppkg M & T Jones, Geseilfa Uchaf.