A GOOD entry of finished cattle continued to meet a fast trade at Ross-on-Wye’s livestock auction on Monday, July 13.

Auctioneers RG and RB Williams report that demand remained consistent throughout the sale with steers topping at £2,758 per head, from Messrs DM & CS Andrews of Glen Court Farm while quality heifers peaked at 415p per kilogramme from Messrs DE & SJ Cheacker of Ostbridge Manor Farm.

Cattle remained keenly sought after by retail buyers with prices ranging from 350p – 380p per kilogramme.

There were a number of traditional butcher-type native heifers and steers that sold well either side of 340p per kilogramme.

The auctioner William Probert said that more cattle would have been sold to this trade and will be wanted for the forthcoming weeks.

The overall average price of finished cattle was £2,346.

A reduced entry of lambs met strong competition from start to finish peaking at £200 - 400ppkg.

Meat and weight were the calm of the day trading between 370p and 400p per kilogramme with meat being the key with it paying to put that extra finish on.

Premium prices were paid for high quality export lambs topping at 400p per kilogramme.

Lambs topped at £200 for a run from W G Thomas with the entry dominated by heavier sorts with all those weighing more than 43kg traded between £170 and £200.

Meat is key with lambs with buyers for all weights and classes. More lambs could have easily been sold to this electric trade.

The overall average price of lambs was £168p/head with the top vendor being W G Thomas of Llansoar Farm.

A nice entry of cull ewes met strong demand topping at £205 from Messrs AJ & GM Kear.

Continental cross ewes continued to trade between £180 and £205 per head.