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

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that with cattle remaining in short supply nationally, buyers showed increased appetite throughout the sale, held on Spetember 21, resulting in another excellent day's trading.

Steers topped the market at £2,653 per head from DM & CS Andrews of Glen Court Farm and heifers to £2,509 from DE & SJ Cheacker of Ostbridge Manor Farm.

A superb run of Limousin cross heifers attracted fierce competition, selling to 412p to 414p per kilogramme.

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

An entry of predominantly Hereford Cull cows peaked at £1,985 per head for a Hereford cow from PH & KR Smith-Maxwell of Phepson Manor while cull bulls topped at £2,360 from Messrs CJ & R Pugh.

The overall average price of finished cattle was £2,064.

A shorter entry of lambs met a fast and furious trade especially on the heavy lambs peaking at £200 per head (356p per kilogramme).

Well-finished lambs with good weight and flesh were once again in greatest demand, generally selling between 340p and 356p per kilogramme.

Buyers were keen to secure lambs with plenty of finish, proving once again that meat is money.

The easiest lambs to market were those weighing 46kg and over, where competition remained particularly fierce. These lambs sold between £170 and £200 per head.

Top price of the day was £200 per head for an excellent run of Texel cross lambs from Agrigame UK of Cromer Farm.

There continues to be strong demand from buyers for all weights and grades of well-finished lambs.

A good entry of cull ewes and lambs met another excellent trade with prices topping at £200 for Charollais Cross ewes from ND & CA Edwards of The Laurels.