A LARGER entry of quality finished cattle continued to meet strong demand throughout the sale at the livestock auction in Ross on February 2.

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that steers topped at £2,782 per head, with heifers reaching £2,718 400p per kilogramme.

Despite a softer deadweight trade, cattle remained keenly sought after by retail buyers, with prices ranging from 360p – 400p per kilogramme. There were few traditional butcher-type heifers; however, a smart run of Angus cross heifers from Messrs Orgee sold well at 350p to 360p per kilogramme.

An excellent show of quality Continental cross heifers from Messrs GH & GG. Savidge sold between 380p and 400p per kilogramme with heavyweight heifers achieving between £2,600 and £2,718 per head. The top vendor was M A Hardy of New Farm.

A larger entry of cull cows met fierce competition, with the sale largely comprising Grade two and three beef cows.

The trade peaked at 289p per kilogramme with well-fleshed cows generally selling between 270p and 289p per kilogramme.

The top vendor was CE & EC Freeman of Vain Farm.

A larger entry of finished hoggs met a sharper trade on the week, peaking at £174 per head.

A strong contingent of quality export hoggs sold very freely between 350p and 366p per kilogramme, meeting keen competition from buyers and quality exports weighing between 38kg and 42kg realised £140 to £154 per head.

Demand for heavyweights remained consistent. Hoggs weighing in excess of 48kg sold between £150 and £174 per head.

The overall average price of hoggs was £150 per head. The top vendor was RT Watkins of New House Farm.

A good entry of cull ewes and rams met strong demand in both weight and meat factors topping at £188 per head. Well-fleshed stringer ewes regularly sold between £160 and £188, while a large entry of mule cross ewes realised between £145 and £175.