A SHORTER entry of very commercial finished cattle continued met a more cautious trade in line with the falling deadweight price at the livestock market in Ross-on-Wye on bank holiday Monday.

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that despite this, the demand remained consistent throughout the sale of steers which topped at £2,621 per head, while cattle remained keenly sought after by retail buyers with prices ranging between 320p and 360p per kilogramme.

There were few traditional butcher-type native heifers and steers forward sold well at 300p per kilogramme. A larger entry of cull cows peaked at £2,071 per head representing 282p per kilogramme. Leaner cows traded hands either side of 200p per kilogramme. The top vendor was DM & CS Andrews of Glen Court Farm.

A larger entry of spring lambs met strong competition from start to finish despite the Bank Holiday. Lambs topped out at £210 per head.

Strongest demand was shown for lambs weighing between 36kg and 41kgs with export lambs selling between 470p and 531p per kilogramme.

Auctioneer William Probert said that meat was the key with spring lambs with buyers for all weights and classes. The overall average price of lambs was £194/head.

The top vendor was B Blandford & Sons of Mayfields Farm.

A nice entry of finished hoggs met a fast trade as seen at the end of the previous week peaking at £201 per head.

A strong contingent of quality export hoggs sold very freely between 420p and 443p per kilogramme meeting keen competition from buyers.

Quality exports weighing between 38kg and 43kg realised £170 to £185 per head. Demand for heavyweight hoggs remained consistent however less than previous weeks with those weighing more than 48kg sold between £180 and £200 per head.

The top vendors were R Cook of Hope Acre and R T Watkins of New House Farm.