A SHORTER bank holiday entry of finished cattle met another fast and competitive trade at Ross-on-Wye’s livestock market on August 31.

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

Steers topped the market at £2,372 per head from Messrs JHL & THD Humphreys of Cwm Cayo while a superb run of Angus cross from Messrs DA Woodley of Southworthy Farm attracted fierce competition, selling between 330p and 400p per kilogramme, realising £2,440.

Buyer confidence remains high, with demand appearing to strengthen week by week. The overall average price of finished cattle was £2,032.

A reduced bank holiday entry of spring lambs met a similar trade to previous week, meeting good competition throughout the sale peaking at £200 per head.

Well-finished lambs with good weight and flesh were once again in greatest demand, generally selling between 330p and 356p per kilogramme.

The easiest lambs to sell at the market were those weighing in excess of 46kg where competition remained particularly fierce. These lambs sold between £155 and £209 per head.

Top price of the day was £200 per head for an excellent run of Texel cross lambs from Messrs N & I Bevan of Trothlands Farm, St Weonards.

The day's entry was dominated by medium-weight lambs, with the majority of those weighing between 41kg and 44kg sold between £135 and £160 per head.

The overall average price of lambs was £148p/head.

A short entry of cull ewes also met an excellent trade with prices topping £212 per head for Texel ewes from SW Pugh and Son of Beechgrove Farm, Mathon.

Well-fleshed continental ewes continued to command premium prices and regularily sold between £175 and £212 per head.