Markets

Brightwells reports a large entry of 2,326 breeding ewes, ewe lambs and rams well received by a large crowd of purchasers at its special prize sale on the sale field, Worcester Road, Burford, Tenbury Wells, held by kind permission of Miss B C Kemp and MT Morgan & Co on Saturday, September 4.

There was an excellent entry of quality yearling ewes on offer with in particular some exceptional runs of Suffolk x and North Country Mules. Trade was brisk on all the Mule ewes and stronger Suffolk x, whilst the smaller Suffolk x and Crossbred ewes were a more selective trade.

Top price was £97 for Welsh Mules from BW Leighton & Co, North Country Mules sold to £95 from Mrs C Davies-Levinge and Suffolk x to £88 from JC Harris & Sons.

Prices for North Country Mule ewes would only be about £7 less on average than last years record sale, with most selling from £85 to £90.

All the strongest Suffolk x ewes sold in excess of £80, with medium sorts £70 to £80 and smaller or plainer ewes from £50 to £65.

The Welsh Mules sold to a firm demand with better sorts £85 to £93 and smaller and lighter-faced types £61 to £75.

In the show section the judges Mr R Handley and Mr H Richards made the following awards:

Class 1: Suffolk x Yearling Ewes

1st JC Harris & Son, Pencombe, £87; 2nd BW Leighton & Sons, Bredenbury, £84; 3rd JC Harris & Sons, Pencombe, £88.

Class 2: North Country Mule Yearling Ewes

1st Mrs C Davies-Levinge, Abbeydore, £95; 2nd SJ Yarnold & Sons, Eastham, £89; 3rd BW Leighton & Sons, Bredenbury, £88.

Class 3: Welsh Mule Yearling Ewes

1st BW Leighton & Sons, Bredenbury, £97; 2nd RJ Rogers, Stanford Bishop, £85; 3rd BW Leighton & Sons, Bredenbury, £93.

The championship was awarded to JC Harris & Sons with the reserve to Mrs C Davies-Levinge.

The strong Suffolk x ewe lambs met a firm demand as did the better quality rams with limited demand for second quality types.

General Prices as follows:-

Breeding Ewes:

1,084 Suffolk x Yearling Ewes sold to £88 to average £68.60p

731 North Country Mule Yearling Ewes sold to £95 to average £86.95p

238 Welsh Mule Yearling Ewes sold to £97 to average £82.12p

25 Texel x Yearling Ewes sold to £68 to average £60.00p

25 Rouge x Yearling Ewes sold to £63 to average £63.00p

10 Clun x Yearling Ewes sold to £47 to average £47.00p

40 Suffolk x 2 year old Ewes sold to £66 to average £66.00p

50 Crossbred 2 & 3 year old Ewes sold to £46 to average £46

Ewe Lambs:- 106

Top price was £53 for Suffolk x North Country Mules from R Nicklin with others £49 x 2, £48.50p and £38 to average £48.17p

Rams:- 17

Top price was £378 for a Charollais Shearling from Mrs S Morton with the same vendor selling another at £315.

Charollais ram lambs sold to £210. Suffolk Shearlings sold to £147, Texel shearling sold to £136.50p.

MARKET

FINISHED LAMBS 590

A reduced entry due to the good harvesting weather and the six-day rule tying up vendors who have bought in breeding ewes. Trade was easier as greater number are on offer in upland markets. Not the quality of last week, but better quality Continental lambs sold from 112p to 114.1p for 44 kg Texel x AT £50.20P. Good trade on heavies with Charollais x to 113p for 46kg at £52 and top head price of £55.80p for 53kg.

Averages

Standard (32.5-39kg) 112.6p Top, 108.5p Ave; Medium 939.5-45.5kg) 114.1p Top, 109.6p Ave; Heavy (46.0-52kg) 113.0p Top, 107.5p Ave; Over (52.5kg +) 105.3p Top, 105.2p Ave.

Standard quality quotation (26.0-45.5kg) 109.5p

Quality price reporting:

(30.5-36kg) Prime 109.8p; (36.5-43kg) Premium 112.2p, Prime 109.4p; (43.5-48kg) Premium 113.2p, Prime 108.9p.

CULL SHEEP 114

Very few meaty ewes on offer but a firm demand throughout, with grazing ewes dearer on the week. Top price £45 for Suffolk x and Charollais x ewes, Mules to £44.80p, Grazers and Boners from £24 to £34.50p.

Averages (£ per head)

Lightweight Ewes £35.20 Top, £30.98 Ave; Heavyweight Ewes £45.00 Top, £41.67 Ave; Rams £32.50 Top, £32.50 Ave; Wethers £33.00 Top, £33.00 Ave.

Overall Market average £34.04.

LUDLOW

SALES MARKET

Finished Cattle - 384

A very strong trade indeed on the smart cattle. Quite a lot of this week's entry were barely finished. Several cattle just coming to time Well meated sorts were the easiest sold with steers selling up to 134.0p per kilo and heifers up to 141.0p per kilo. Prices were as follows:

LIGHT STEERS Best quality to 114.5p ave 114.5p; Standard quality to 101.5p ave 101.5p; Also Rans to 99.0p; Overall averaged 101.6p.

MEDIUM STEERS Best quality to 134.0p ave 114.3p; Standard quality to 108.5p, 104.0p; Also Rans to 99.0p; Overall average to 104.0p.

HEAVY STEERS Best quality to 130.5p ave 114.6p; Standard quality to 108.5p ave 105.6p; Also Rans to 100.5p; Overall average 106.7p.

MEDIUM HEIFERS Best quality to 136.5p ave 115.6p; Standard quality to 105.5p ave 105.0p; Also Rans to 99.0p; Overall average to 108.2p.

HEAVY HEIFERS Best quality to 141.0p ave 117.4p; Standard quality to 105.5p ave 103.7p; Also Rans to 97.5p; Overall average to 111.6p.

Bulls The bulls were a firm level of demand with plenty of Friesians in the entry but nevertheless a good level of competition especially considering prices quoted for deadweight on Monday morning. Light Bulls to 105.5p ave 92.2p; Medium Bulls to 112.5p ave 97.6p; Heavy Bulls to 117.0p ave 103.0p.

Finished Sheep - 3,178

A very strong lamb trade again with nowhere near enough for the buyers present. We have buyers for some 3,000 lambs each and every Monday now, without depressing returns. More needed. Prices were as follows:

Super Light Lambs to 115.0p ave 115.0p; Standard Lambs to 132.5p ave 117.5p; Medium Lambs to 125.5p ave 117.3p; Heavy Lambs to 119.0p ave 116.5p; Overweight Lambs to 109.0p ave 105.4p.

Export quality lambs sold up to 132.5p and averaged 118.1p with home trade lambs to 116.0p and averaged 114.7p.

The killing ewes on offer were a nice trade. Ewe to £51.00 still and an average of £32.53.

n Finished Cattle - 488

A more difficult trade. Best cattle were again easiest sold but secondary sorts were far more difficult. Wholesalers are complaining of a lack of shop demand but in addition to this there is an absence of killing this week because of the Jewish Passover holiday. There were plenty of buyers for the cattle present but they were all bidding just a bit less money. Prices were as follows:-

MEDIUM STEERS Best Quality to 114.5p av.111.1p; Standard Quality to 107.0p. 102.4p; Also Rans to 97.5p; Overall Average to 101.5p.

HEAVY STEERS Best Quality to 133.0p av. 112.0p; Standard Quality to 107.5p av. 102.9p; Also Rans to 98.0p; Overall Average to 104.7p.

LIGHT HEIFERS Also Rans to 93.0p; Overall Average to 98.4p

MEDIUM HEIFERS Best Quality to 120.5p av. 111.8p; Standard Quality to 104.5p av. 101.5p; Also Rans to 93.5p; Overall Average to 101.3p.

HEAVY HEIFERS Best Quality to 123.0p av. 111.3p; Standard Quality to 105.5p av. 102.0p; Also Rans to 97.5p; Overall Average to 106.2p.

BULLS

The bulls were a comparable trade. Plenty of Friesians again in the entry with ready competition. Leaner Continental bulls were more difficult to clear however. Light Bulls to 109.5p av. 86.3p; Medium Bulls to 119.5p av. 97.1p; Heavy Bulls to 120.5p av. 101.4p.

Finished Sheep - 3,190

An easier lamb trade with the lack of export demand starting to be felt. Having said this our lambs would average far more than a lot of Monday markets and there were plenty of buyers for them. Prices were as follows

Light Lambs to 103.0p av. 102.8p; Standard Lambs to 115.5p av. 106.1p; Medium Lambs to 119.5p av. 110.0p; Heavy Lambs to 111.0p av. 105.2p; Overweight Lambs to 100.0p av. 95.6p.

Export quality lambs sold up to 119.5p and averaged 111.5p with home trade lambs to 108.0p and averaged 105.5p.

The killing ewes on offer were a firm level of demand with ewes up to £54.60 and an overall average of £29.73. Plenty of light weight ewes in this week's entry.

n Store Cattle - 345

A good entry for September. Plenty of buyers present. A lot of red-carded steers and several Friesians, which reduced the average. All of the steers of whatever type, quality and size averaged 116.2p per kilo with all of the heifers 108.5p per kilo and all of the bulls, again to include a lot of Friesians and a lot of red carded bulls, 111.3p per kilo.

Those blue-carded steers that will not attract a second payment obviously were less money at this sale as were green-carded steers that would not attract two payments. All of the green-carded steers averaged 120.0p per kilo, all of the blue-carded steers averaged 118.0p and all of the red cards 108.0p per kilo. Breed prices were as follows:-

Charolais Steers to £636, £630, £615, £600, £590, £566, £560, £548, £520, £520, £508 (x2), £502, £490, £420, £390 (Top: 149.3p av. 129.2p)

Charolais Heifers to £548, £428, £418, £412, £390, £375, £336 (Top 115.4p av. 110.1p)

Simmental Steers to £605, £385 (Top 119.8p av. 117.6p)

Simmental Heifers to £522, £520, £500, £478, £412, £384, £366 (Top 114.6p av. 106.0p)

Limousin Steers to £722, £650, £632, £615, £608, £595, £594, £584, £580, £570 (x2), £555, £548, £525, £496, £486, £480, £465, £442, £440, £428, £426, £400, £370, £346 (Top 155.0p av. 121.0p)

Limousin Heifers to £508, £498, £488, £470, £446, £442, £424, £400 (Top 134.2p av. 110.0p)

Belgium Blue Steers to £646, £478 (Top 126.4p av. 125.0p)

Belgium Blue Heifers to £448 (x2), £412, £400, £396, £392, £350 (Top 116.3p av. 108.0p)

Hereford Steers to £570, £530, £496 (x2), £472, £450, £400 (Top 119.5p av. 106.0p)

Blonde D'Aquitaine Steers to £592, £565, £510, £508, £478, £440 (Top 137.2p av. 127.0p)

Blonde D'Aquitaine Heifers to £480, £446, £428, £418, £396, £380, £368, £328, £282, £260 (Top 126.0p av. 115.0p)

Welsh Black Steers to £572 (124.3p)

Jersey Steers to £488 (103.8p)

Aberdeen Angus Steers to £498 (104.8p)

Aberdeen Angus Heifers to £484, £448, £170 (Top 106.0p av 99.3p)

Shorthorn Steers to £442, £300 (Top 106.5p av. 91.5p)

Shorthorn Heifers to £366 (93.0p)

Friesian Steers to £528, £390, £388, £364, £355, £352, £342 (Top 110.0p av. 97.0p)

Friesian Heifers to £462 (110.0p)

Saler Heifers to £366 (93.0p)

The bull prices were as follows:-

Charolais Bulls to £530, £485, £480 (Top 160.0p av. 142.6p)

Simmental Bulls to £560, £420, £280 (Top 129.2p av.126.6p)

Limousin Bulls to £518, £505, £490, £476, £470, £420, £395, £370, £360 (Top 151.0p av. 131.0p)

Belgium Blue Bulls to £570, £530, £525, £510, £500, £450 (x2), £415, £400 (Top 159.6p av. 128.0p)

Hereford Bulls to £480, £255, £220 (Top 126.3p av.117.0p)

Friesian Bulls to £465, £430, £390, £365, £350, £340, £300, £245, £205, £200, £180 (Top 38.7p av. 96.0p)

Aberdeen Angus Bulls to £230, £215 (Top 110.2p av. 106.0p)

Store Sheep - 2,843

Plenty of buyers there for all of the store lambs present. All of the lambs in the yard averaging £39.32 per head. Strong store lambs sold up to £48.50 averaged £44.00. Medium store lambs to £42.00 averaged £39.80. Small store lambs to £39.50 averaged £37.20. Mini lambs to £33.00 averaged £28.10.

The ewe lambs on offer were in keen demand selling to £48.50 and averaging £45.00 right the way through.

There was much interest in all of the breeding ewes with Clun yearling ewes selling up to £100.00. A lot of the yearlings in the mid £80.00 bracket and an overall average for all of the yearling of £73.00. Two-year-old Clun ewes sold up to £65.00 and all of the two year old ewes to £60.00 and three year old ewes to £60.00 and four year old ewes at £54.00.

CLUN FOREST

There was the special show and sale of Clun Forest rams with the Champion making £651.00. All of the shearlings averaged £228. Ram lambs to £315.00 averaged £155.00. The prize winners in the show classes were:-

Class 1 - Best Yearling Ram: 1st RC Meredith, Altbough; 2nd WG & EJ Smith, Burrington; 3rd WG & EJ Smith, Burrington.

Class 2 - Best Ram Lamb: 1st RC Meredith, Altbough; 2nd IT Davies & Son, Dan-yr-Eglwys; 3rd D Searle, Barley Park Farm.

Class 3 - Best Aged Ram: 1st Mrs E Spice, 26 Fieldway; 2nd JG Williams & Son, Upper House; 3rd N/A

Class 4 - Champion Ram: 1st RC Meredith, Altbough; 2nd WG & EJ Smith, Burrington; 3rd N/A

The winner of the RJ Price Silver Salve was RC Meredith, Altbough. The winner of the Arthur Williams Silver Salver was WG & EJ Smith, Burrington. The winner of the John Gwilliams Challenge Cup was RE & CM Price, Trewyrlod. The winner of the Ivor Davies Memorial Cup was RC Meredith, Altbough.

KERRY HILL

The annual show and sale of Kerry Hill sheep attracted many enthusiasts with Kerry Hill shearlings to £640.00 averaged £152.00, Kerry Hill ram lambs to £168.00 averaged £100.00. Ewe lambs to £315.00 averaged £100.00, ewes to £315.00 averaged £115.00.

Calves - 21

Another good entry for the calves and weanlings section again this week with another good trade to match. Top priced animal of the day was a Simmental bull calf reaching up to £168. Simmental Heifers to £60; British Friesian bulls to £148, £62, £60 (x3); Holsten Friesian bulls to £58, £52, £34, £20, £18, £9 (x2); Belgian Bulls to £110; Limousin Heifers to £122, £96, £64; Aberdeen Angus Heifers to £94, £58.

ROSS

CLEAN CATTLE (138 forward)

STEERS Overall Average 101.5p, 15 Medium, 109.0 Max, 100.07 Average; 52 Heavy, 120.5 Max, 101.96 Average.

HEIFERS Overall Average 96.4p, 12 Medium, 115.0 Max, 95.97 Average; 49 Heavy, 118.0 Max, 96.53 Average.

YOUNG BULLS Overall Average 93.5p, 4 Medium, 95.0 Max, 86.5 Average; 6 Heavy, 103.0 Max, 98.2 Average.

DAIRY CATTLE (72 forward)

Calved Heifers £945 Max, Calved Cows £772 Max.

CALVES (100 forward)

BULL CALVES Continental to £248, Hereford Cross to £165.

HEIFER CALVES Continental to £180, Hereford Cross to £98.

SHEEP

LAMBS (1688 forward)

Overall Average 108.4p: 30 Light, 100.0 Max, 100.0 Average; 251 Standard, 122.3, Average 109.3; 1060 Medium, 119.5 Max, 108.4 Average; 282 Heavy, 113.5 Max, 106.3 Average; Overweight 65, 100.9 Max, 98.7 Average.

STORE LAMBS (297), £42.00 Max, £37.88 Average.

CULL EWES (248) £40.00 Max, £27.89 Average.