A GOOD entry of finished cattle met another fast and competitive trade with cattle remaining in short supply nationally at the livestock auction in Ross-on-Wye.

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that Monday, September 14 auction saw buyers showing increased appetite throughout the sale, resulting in another excellent day's trading.

Steers topped the market at £2,603 per head from Messrs J Howells of Colethrop Court Farm and heifers to £2,579 from Messrs DE & SJ Cheaker of Ostbridge Manor Farm which also saw a superb run of Limousin cross heifers attracting fierce competition, selling to 392p per kilogramme.

Retail and wholesale buyers remained keen to secure quality finished cattle, with well-finished Continentals regularly selling between 350p and 380p per kilogramme.

There were fewer traditional native bred-type cattle on offer, but those forward sold well.

Overall, buyer confidence remains high, with demand appearing to strengthen week by week. The overall average price of Finished Cattle was £2,090.

The entry of predominantly Hereford Cull Cows peaked at £1,780 per head for a Hereford cow from GE & SE Jackson of Marsh Farm.

Other Hereford cows peaked at an astonishing 302p per kilogram from Krislin Herefords. Cows freely sold from 250p - 300p per kilogramme.

The overall average price of cows was £1,338.

A good entry of Lambs met a fast trade meeting strong competition throughout on all classes peaking at £194 per head.

The easiest lambs to market were those weighing 46 kilogrammes and over, where competition remained particularly fierce and sold between £165 and £194 per head. Top price of the day was £194 per head for an excellent run of Texel cross from Messrs N & I Bevan of Trothlands Farm.

The first Monday Store Cattle Sale certainly went off with a bang, with exceptionally strong demand far outweighing available supply.

The trade was electric from start to finish, with buyers showing tremendous appetite throughout.