A LARGE entry of finished cattle met a blistering trade from start to finish at the livestock market in Ross-on-Wye on January 12.

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that any number of quality butcher steers and heifers sold between 410p and 432p per kilogramme.

The entry was dominated by well finished dairy cross sorts which were easily sold between 350p and 380p per kilogramme as liveweight cattle prices remain consistent with demand throughout.

Heavy weight steers peaked at £3,034 with an entry of 18 steers weighing in excess of 650kg, averaged £2,672 with stronger heifers peaking at £2,914 for Charolais cross from M A Hardy Ltd of New Farm.

An improved entry of cull cows saw well-meated cows to lean dairy cows attracting strong demand throughout.

Well meated beef cows peaked at £2,228 per head. Any number of better fleshed cows consistently sold between 280p and 308p per kilogramme.

A large run of dairy cows topped at 260p per kilogramme with well meated dairy cows trading hands between 230p and 260p per kilogramme.

The overall average price of cows was £1,460 equalling 222p per kilogramme.

The top vendor was GH & GG Savidge, of Dean Common Farm.

A nice entry of hoggs met a fast trade from start to finish peaking at £181. The strongest demand was shown on quality export sorts selling between 340p and 354p per kilogramme and a large entry of heavy hoggs consistently sold between £160 and £181.

The overall average price of hoggs was £147/head.

The top vendor was D J Waters of Thornwell Farm.

A larger entry of cull ewes and rams met strong competition throughout. Sulfolk cross soared to £202 with other stronger Continental cross ewes selling between £170 and £202. The overall average of ewes was £133 per head. The top vendor was WD & EJ Kerr of Matthews Farm.