AUCTIONEERS RG and RB Williams report a short entry of cattle for the festive period at the Ross-on-Wye livestock auction on December 29 which attracted strong demand topping at £2,680.

Any number of suckler bred cattle sold between 370p and 385p per kilogramme and Dairy cross sorts traded hands between 340p and 365p per kilogramme.

The entry of cattle was easily sold with more cattle required to meet demand for January.

The top vendors were GJ & JE Orgee of Redcastle Farm; DM & CS Andrews of Glen Court Farm and C Simcock & Sons of The Green Farm.

An improved entry of lambs met with a more cautious trade than the previous week with lambs peaking at £190 – 375p per kilogramme. This was a result of large numbers being marketed over the weekend.

Dearest lambs of the day were handy weights averaging 342p per kilogramme and well fleshed medium weights consistently changed hands between 355p and 375p per kilogramme.

Heavy weight lambs sold between £160 and £190 with strong competition. The auctioneer said that more lambs were required to meet demand from buyers.

The overall average price of lambs was £158 per head.

The top vendors were R J Watkins of Great Corras; M Mitchell of Plough Farm and N & I Bevan of Trothlands Farm.

A large entry of cull ewes and rams met a blistering trade topping at £218 per head with any number of ewes selling in excess of £200. Leaner small ewes sold between £130 and £160 and heavier, well fleshed mules sold between £170 and £200. More ewes could have been sold to this trade auctioneer William Probert said.

The top vendors were K A Williams of The Laurels. D A Evans & Partners of Pantygoitre Farm and M R W Johnson of Nibley Mill Farm.