Market prices from Ruthin, St Asaph and elsewhere

RUTHIN Farmers' Auction reports sales of 1,959 prime hoggets to 236.4ppk / £100; 352 cull ewes and rams to £169.00 and four cattle to 237ppk / £1,262.25.

Prime lambs (auctioneer - Elfor Morris):

There was a good entry, with firm trade on the week.

Heavier lambs were a bit more difficult to sell in general.

Good strong types were still in keen demand, selling up to 238.5ppk.

Top priced per kilo: 236.4 by A Jones, Segrwyd Ucha; 235.3 by W J & J A Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Whitchurch; 233.3 by W J & J A Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Whitchurch.

Top priced per head: £100.00 by J E Jones & Co, Cae’r Gai; £100.00 by W J & J A Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Whitchurch; £98.00 by W J & J A Forrester, Twemlows Farm, Whitchurch.

Light to 200.0, average 179.4; Standard to 236.4, average 192.0; Medium to 235.3, average 189.2; Heavy to 210.5, average 177.8; Overweight to 171.4, average 157.7; Overall sverage 183.9; SQQ 189.3.

Cull ewes and rams (auctioneer - Paul Roberts):

Ewes were a brisker trade on the week, reflecting in the increase of £6 per head average.

A pen of good Texel ewes topped at £169.

More are required weekly to meet demand.

Top priced rams / ewes: £169.00 by D Esmor Evans, Monfa; Texel ewes to £169.00; Charollais ewes to £100.00; Texel rams to £94.00; Suffolk ewes to £90.00; Cheviot rams to £84.00; Cross Bred ewes to £83.00; Welsh rams to £50.00; Welsh ewes to £41.00; Overall ewes / rams average £54.08.

Heifers (auctioneer - Glyn Owens):

Top priced per kilo 237ppk by H J & F J Williams, Maes Gadfa; Top priced per head £1,262.25 by H J & F J Williams, Maes Gadfa; Overall heifers average 234.1.

OTM: 156.0ppk for Limousin cows.

St Asaph livestock market - March 2

OLD season lambs (116):

A mixed show of hoggs were a steady trade, selling to £84/head from E W Foulkes, Nant Isa.

Super Super Light ave 162.50p/kg, to £26.00/hd; Super Light ave 166.78p/kg, to 171.00p/kg, to £41.00/hd; Light ave 159.77p/kg, to 181.00p/kg, to £57.00/hd; Standard ave 172.88p/kg, to 187.00p/kg, to £70.00/hd; Medium ave 167.78p/kg, to £75.50/hd; Heavy ave 175.00p/kg, to £84.00/hd.

Old ewes and rams (39):

Ewes to £61.00, ave £35.09; Rams to £59.00, ave £46.00.

In-lamb ewes (55):

Mule shearlings to £78/hd; Welsh full mouths to £70/hd.

Pet lambs (5):

Pet lambs to £6/hd.

Mold primestock sale - March 4

LARGE numbers of cattle were forward.

Beef trade would be down on the previous few weeks, although it would still seem favourable compared to deadweight reports.

Cull cows met an excellent demand, resulting in a brisk trade.

Hoggets were steady.

Highlights: Top 10 Beef 214.40 (1488.22); Top 20 Beef 211.50 (1416.79).

Prime cattle (143 entries - 76 hfrs, 55 strs, 12 bulls):

Heifers (under 30m): Heavy Continental Heifers to 220 (1364), Av 193.62; Medium Continental Heifers to 224 (1299.20), Av 196.89; Light Continental Heifers to 211, Av 190.50; Heavy Native Heifers to 180, Av 168.33; Medium Native Heifers to 194, Av 180.40; Light Native Heifers to 173, Av 172.50; Light Friesian Heifers to 160, Av 160.

Steers (under 30m): Heavy Continental Steers to 215 (1526.50), Av 199.29; Medium Continental Steers to 213, Av 190.29; Light Continental Steers to 205, Av 194.33; Medium Native Steers to 188, Av 188; Heavy Friesian Steers to 145 (1029.50), Av 141.67.

Bulls (under 30m): Heavy Continental Bulls 205 (1752) Av 180.60; Medium Continental Bulls to 207, Av 206; Light Continental Bulls 164, Av 164; Medium Friesian Bulls to 172, Av 148.33; Light Friesian Bulls to 169, Av 140.25.

Heifers (30-36m): Heavy Continental Heifers to 188, Av 181; Medium Continental Heifers to 212, Av 193.60; Light Continental Heifers to 160, Av 160; Heavy Native Heifers to 170, Av 156.75; Medium Native Heifers to 130, Av 130.

Steers (30-36m): Heavy Continental Steers to 195 (1316.25), Av 178.40; Medium Continental Steers to 198, Av 180.25; Light Continental Steers to 124, Av 124; Heavy Native Steers to 142, Av 142; Medium Native Steers to 105, Av 105; Medium Friesian Steers to 155, Av 135.33.

Heifers (over 36m): Medium Continental Heifers to 166, Av 166.

Steers (over 36m): Heavy Continental Steers to 154, Av 147; Light Native Steer to 126, Av 126.

Cull cows (60 entries - 35 dairy, 25 beef): BR cow to 160 (1176); Lim cow to 156 (1154.40); Top 10 Beef Cows Av 140 (1012.78); Overall beef cow av 125.20; HF cow to 116 (907.50); Ho cow to 110 (855.75); Fr cow to 109 (852.60); BF cow to 109 (837); Top 10 Dairy cows Av 108.10 (809.35); Overall Dairy Cow Av 92.80.

Cull bulls (1 entry): Lim to 120.

Hoggets (290 entries): Light to 148, Av 148; Standard to 189, Av 183.50; Medium to 195, Av 185.10; Heavy to 175, Av 170.90; Sqq 184.50.

Ewes: Ewes to 68, Av 48.91; Rams to 75.

Dolgellau market - March 1

FARMERS Marts reports entries of 625 cast ewes, rams, in-lamb ewes and store and ewe hoggs.

Prices: Welsh Cast Ewes £43; Welsh Rams to £54; Crossbred Cast Ewes to £60; Yearling Wethers to £65; Texel Cast Ewes to £63; Suffolk Rams to £58; Speckled Face Cast Ewes to £36; Welsh In Lamb Ewes to £62; Speckled Face Hoggs to £40; Welsh Ewe Hoggs to £43; Welsh Hoggs to £57; Scotch Blackface Hoggs to £49; Crossbred Hoggs to £58.40; Crossbred Ewe Hoggs to £66.

Ruthin store and breeding stock sale - February 28

RUTHIN Farmers' Auction reports sales of 156 store cattle to £1,305.00; 46 calves and stirks to £490; nine OTM cattle to £1,030.40; 125 ewe and lamb couples (275 head) to £185; 132 in-lamb ewes to £118 and 357 store lambs to £79.

Calves (auctioneer: Dafydd Parry):

There was a full house!

A total of 47 sold with all types selling to a firm trade.

Strong stirks were well in demand, selling to £480 for a 3 month old bull and £440 for three-month old Brit Blue heifer.

Smaller stirks achieved £400 for Brit Blue bull and £380 for Brit Blue heifer.

Calves were also a flying trade throughout, with an eight-week-old Limousin bull selling for £380.

An eight-week-old Brit Blue bull sold to £360.

Aberdeen Angus calves were to £225 for six-week-old bulls and £180 for a four-week-old bull.

Younger calves were also in keen demand, with a four-week-old Charolais bull selling for £170 and a three-week-old Limousin bull for £150.

In the entry of Friesian calves, the eight-week-old achieved £130.

Store cattle (auctioneer: Emyr Lloyd):

An entry of 156 store cattle remained in keen demand from nine-month steers to £1,100 to 28m Limousin heifers to £1,305.

Good shapely cattle of all ages were in keen demand.

A large number of prospective purchasers were present and more could have been sold.

Heifers: 28m Limousin to £1,305.00 by R M Jones, Pen y Bryniau; 23m Limousin to £1,045.00; 19m Limousin to £1,030.00; 10m Limousin to £1,020.00; 16m Aber Angux x to £1,190.00; 16m Charolais to £1,040.00; 12m Charolais to £1,020.00.

Steers: 29m Limousin to £1,250.00 by R G Thomas, Wern; 27m Limousin to £1,190.00; 22m Limousin to £1,105.00; 13m Limousin to £1,090.00; 26m Brit Blue to £1,205.00; 16m Brit Blue to £1,160.00; 9m Charolais to £1,100.00; 23m Charolais to £1,085.00.

OTM: 34m Limousin cows to £1,030.40; 11 year old Limousin cows to £944.70.

Sheep section:

Store lambs (auctioneer: Richard Lloyd):

A total of 357 lambs were forward, with all types in good demand, as they have been through the season.

Strong Texel types made £79.00, returning an increase of £8 in the overall average on the week.

Texel to £79.00; Suffolk to £78.00; Dorset to £72.50; Cross Bred to £66.00; Welsh to £46.00; Overall average £52.23.

Ewe and lamb couples (auctioneer: Paul Roberts):

A total of 275 head being 125 ewes and 150 lambs entered.

Texel to £162 (singles), £175 (twins); Suffolk to £185 (twins); Charolais to £180 (singles), £166 (twins); Welsh to £120 (singles), £122 (twins); Cross Bred to £180 (singles), £166 (twins).

In-lamb ewes (auctioneer: Paul Roberts):

Half bred ewes to £118; Texel to £100; Half bred ewe lambs to £82; Welsh ewes to £66.

St Asaph livestock market - February 28

OLD season lambs (2,381):

A good entry of hoggs met a steady trade throughout.

Demand was excellent for the best, even for the heavy hoggs.

Top price Light 213p/kg shown by M H & G Williams, Ysgeibion and £64/head shown by the same vendors.

Top price Standard 238p/kg shown by D G Davies, Bron Llan and £90/head shown by the same vendor.

Top price Medium 237p/kg shown by O T & H C Williams, Hendre Blaenau and £103/head shown by the same vendors.

Top price Heavy 217p/kg shown by G M Wynne & Son and £100/head shown by the same vendors.

Top price Overweight 189p/kg shown by G M Wynne & Son and £110/head shown by the same vendors. SQQ 193.50

Super Light ave 169.13p/kg, to 180.00p/kg, to £45.00/hd; Light ave 180.82p/kg, to 213.00p/kg, to £64.00/hd; Standard ave 192.33p/kg, to 238.00p/kg, to £90.00/hd; Medium ave 195.65p/kg, to 237.00p/kg, to £103.00/hd; Heavy ave 185.11p/kg, to 217.00p/kg, to £100.00/hd; Overweight ave 162.24p/kg, to 189.00p/kg, to £110.00/hd.

Cull ewes and rams (903):

A better trade for all sorts of ewes, with Welsh ewes to £50/head, continental ewes to £100/head and tups to £135/head.

Ewes to £100.00, ave £55.45; Rams to £135.00, ave £65.89.

Beef cattle (4):

Steers to 200p/kg and heifers to 190p/kg from E G Wynne, Bronydd.

Steers (2): Heavy ave 200.00p/kg, to £1,160.00/hd.

Heifers (2): Heavy ave 188.77p/kg, to 190.00p/kg, to £1,216.00/hd.

Mold stock sale - March 1

THERE was another incredible weekly entry of 374 store cattle and stirks, with trade remaining extremely brisk.

Weekly entries of fresh calved dairy were met with a fast trade, whilst a special entry of in-calf heifers met tremendous demand resulting in flying trade.

A reasonable entry of calves were met with excellent demand around the ring, resulting in a pleasing trade.

Store cattle (238 entries):

Steers: Lim (22m) to 1135; BR (27m) to 1090; Lim (19m) to 1090; AA (19m) to 1040; Here (20m) to 1035; BR (18m) to 1030; BS (24m) to 1030; Flec (22m) to 975; BA (23m) to 975; Char (18m) to 930; BF (23m) to 885; Mont (27m) to 865; HF (23m) to 780; SWE (25m) to 730.

Heifers: Lim (21m) to 1020; AA (21m) to 985; Lim (19m) to 985; Sim (24m) to 950; Char (22m) to 945; BR (20m) to 915; BR (16m) to 835.

Stirks (136 entries):

Steers: AA (12m) to 820; Lim (11m) to 780; Char (11m) to 700; Here (12m) to 680; BR (14m) to 640; Sim bull (8m) to 610; Lim (7m) to 590; Sim (10m) to 555; BF (15m) to 555; Flec bull (14m) to 555; HF (14m) to 545.

Heifers: Char (15m) to 820; Lim (11m) to 795; AA (16m) to 745; Char (12m) to 710; BR (13m) to 505.

Dairy (21 entries): HF Cvd hfr to 1900; HF Cvd Cow (2nd) to 1850; HO cvd hfr to 1720; FR cvd hfr to 1680; Jers x HF to 1280; 15 x HF in calf hfrs (due April – May) to 1700 (twice) Av £1547.

Calves (45 entries): Here bull to 330; Br bull to 305; Lim bull to 200; Sim bull 160; AA bull 125; Mont Bull to 100; HF bull to 95; BR hfr to 270; Here hfr 160.

Gaerwen market - Wednesday February 27

MESSRS Morgan Evans & Co report an entry of 500 old season lambs and 272 cull ewes and rams.

Lambs sold to a steady trade, averaging 175ppk and topping at £90.

Cull ewes and rams sold fast, topping at £110 for three continental ewes by Messrs W J & H Thomas, Bryn Garth, Llanerchymedd.

Highest priced pen of hoggets p/kilo: 197ppk by A Carlisle, Rhos Cryman Farm; 195ppk by Gwyneth Campbell, Bodwarren Farm, Holyhead; 194ppk by Messrs M W, E W & M Harper, Llanllibio Fawr, Llanfachraeth.

Highest priced overall hoggets: £90 by Archer Farms Anglesey Ltd, Llwydiarth Fawr, Llanerchymedd; £90 by Messrs M W, E W & M Harper, Llanllibio Fawr, Llanfachraeth; £90 by G Hughes, Tyn Cae, Brynteg; £90 by G Owen, Neuadd Wen, Brynsiencyn.

Highest priced overall pen of ewes: £110 by Messrs W J & H Thomas, Bryn Garth, Llanerchymedd; £100 by T C Gittins, Cerrig Engan, Bodorgan; £98 by H P Evans, Cwyrtai, Ty Croes.

Highest priced overall ram: £90 by Messrs W, E & E M Stephen, Fferm Bwlch Y Fen, Tyn Lon; £88 by Gwyneth Campbell, Bodwarren Farm, Holyhead; £75 by J Parry, Ty Mawr, Llantrisant.

Market averages:

Hoggets: Number sold 500, average 175ppk. Light to 148ppk, average 142ppk; Standard to 179ppk, average 174ppk; Medium to 197ppk, average 178ppk; Heavy to 198ppk, average 189ppk; Overs to 189ppk, average 176ppk.

Ewes: Number sold 260, average £60. Heavy ewes to £110, average £73; Light ewes to £46, average £31.

Rams: Number sold 12, to £90, average £65.

Bryncir sale - March 6

CATTLE:

Cull cows: Dairy sired (7) ave 68.4p/kg; Beef sired (7) ave 127.7p/kg; All cull cows ave 98.1p/kg.

Sheep:

Old season lambs: Light (22) ave 165.7p/kg; Standard (34) ave 175.9p/kg; Medium (39) ave 176.6p/kg; Heavy (3) ave 159.9p/kg; SQQ 173.8.

Total cull ewes (110): Ave £63.30/hd.

Rhayader market - March 5

SHEEP:

Old season lambs: Medium (144) ave 194.5p/kg; Heavy (37) ave 176.3p/kg; SQQ 194.5.

Total cull ewes (22): Ave £24.70/hd.

Llanrwst market - March 5

CATTLE:

Heifers: Medium (3) ave 189.3p/kg; Heavy (3) ave 189.3p/kg; All heifers ave 189.3p/kg.

Cull cows: Beef sired (1) ave 121.0p/kg.

Sheep:

Old season lambs: Light (37) ave 151.1p/kg; Standard (107) ave 175.9p/kg; Medium (81) ave 183.6p/kg; Heavy (48) ave 166.4p/kg; SQQ 174.6.

Total cull ewes (91): Ave £37.00/hd.

Welshpool market - March 4

CATTLE:

Heifers: Light (1) ave 170.0p/kg; Heavy (3) ave 140.3p/kg; All heifers ave 147.8p/kg.

Cull cows: Dairy sired (1) ave 96.0p/kg; Beef sired (19) ave 101.7p/kg; All cull cows ave 101.5p/kg.

Sheep:

Old season lambs: Light (153) ave 170.8p/kg; Standard (686) ave 188.1p/kg; Medium (1,490) ave 189.6p/kg; Heavy (957) ave 172.0p/kg; SQQ 187.9.

Total cull ewes: Ave £55.50/hd.

Bala market - February 28

SHEEP:

Old season lambs: Light (110) ave 170.3p/kg; Standard (15) ave 170.7p/kg; Medium (2) ave 161.0p/kg; SQQ 170.2.

Total cull ewes (3): Ave £32.00/hd.

Knighton sale - February 28

SHEEP:

Old season lambs: Light (3) ave 175.0p/kg; Standard (58) ave 186.8p/kg; Medium (547) ave 192.8p/kg; Heavy (202) ave 1879.4p/kg; SQQ 192.2.

Total cull ewes (156): Ave £61.00/hd.