THOSE ALL-IMPORTANT PRICES

BRECON OCTOBER 27

STORE CATTLE (724): This was a superb entry of quality store cattle, mainly from holdings of birth. We had a surprising entry of strong stores to include many excellent well-bred Charolais alongside our usual show of top-quality stores. Demand was fierce as we predicted, with some new buyers in attendance, all of whom went home well-impressed with the quality and types on offer. Messrs Price & Morgan had some exceptional steers on offer, with a top of 340p/kg and another at 312p/kg to average 294p/kg and £1,233 on cattle under 10 months of age, while Messrs Davies & Millichap, Rhiwgarn, had an exceptional run of cattle which topped at £1,295 for steers and £1,310 for heifers to average on incredible £1,232 and 270p/kg. However, the top call of the day went to Bernard Price, who made £1,480 of an exceptional steer, and PL Watkins from Hay-on-Wye, being a neighbour, made £1,410 of a good heifer. Many more cattle could have been sold to advantage as the steers averaged £1,046 and 220p/kg and heifers £1,017 and were similar to the steers’ 221p/ kg average. BREEDING STOCK: We had an excellent entry of 16 pedigree Limousin heifers from the Glangwden herd belonging to CL & FE Jerman, which topped at £1,700 and £1,580 to average £1,285 for a superb run of maiden heifers, while bulls reached £1,420. CULL COWS AND BULLS (59): This was the biggest surprise of the day, with everyone predicting a drop in the trade following reports from other centres – however, our averages and general trade were the dearest we have seen all year. They topped at £1,660 for a tremendous cow from Jones of Tyisaf, but the average of £1,100 per head to include some £190 specials confirmed the trade which everyone benefited from. They reached 216p/kg and averaged 158p/kg, which would be well up on last month.

TALGARTH OCTOBER 27

SPRING LAMBS: A nice entry of 954 lambs sold to an improved trade on the day previous, to average 166p/kg. Best lambs still in good demand, with a pen of 40kg lambs from Messrs AF Morris, Rosedale, making 200p/kg and a pen of 43.5kg from Eckley Farms, Fforddfawr, making 192p/kg. Still plenty of lambs in excess of the SQQ. The hardest lambs to sell on the day were the heavies, however, with only a top price of £83/hd achieved for a pen of 58kg from Messrs DJ & KM Probert, Caenant Farm. CULL EWES: A nice entry of 244 cull ewes sold to a very good trade, considerably sharper than many were expecting and certainly sharper than earlier in the week. Best ewes to £119/hd for a pen of ewes from PL Watkins, Caenantmelyn. A large majority of hill-bred ewes forward, which is reflected in the average, hence the overall averages were more a reflection of the type of ewe forward than the good trade. Tups to £100/hd for a tup from Messrs TD James, Nantybar, and averaged £83/hd.

CARDIGAN NOVEMBER 6

FAT LAMBS (295): A far better entry than the previous week, but more lambs are definitely needed. Reaching a top of £87 were heavyweights from Wells, Glaneri. The overall average was at 168p/kg, an increase of 3p from the previous week. STORE LAMBS & CULL SHEEP (19): Stores reached £68.50 for 43.5k from Davies, Alltgoch; £66 for 41.5k from Phillips & Sons, Tredafydd Isaf, who also sold 36k at £60. Cull sheep peaked at £75.50 for a ram from Wells, Glaneri, who also sold other rams at £74.50, £73.50 and £72.50. STORE CATTLE & GRAZING COWS (35): A Hereford bull weighing 1,030k topped at £1,030 from James Partners, Penrallt Llyn Farm, who also sold a 1,000k Hereford bull at £990; £950 for an 850k Hereford cow from Evans & Co, Pantirion; £830 for a 550k BB from Williams, Blaenbarre; £790 for a 700k Charolais cow from James, Ffynnonwen; £780 for a 700k Hereford cow from James, Glynmaen. A small entry of store cattle reached £770 for a pair of 16m Hereford heifers from James, Glynmaen, who also sold another pair of Hereford heifers at £695; £720 for a 22m Friesian steer from Hopkins, Llaingrog, who also sold a 27m Ayrshire steer at £630. CALVES (69): The best beef calves topped at £298 for a Lim heifer from Morris, Graigwrtheyrn; other leading prices at £260 for a BB bull from Francis & Son Ltd, Pentre Farm, who also sold another BB bull at £235; £255 for a BB heifer from Jenkins & Rees Cyf, Trefere Fawr, who also sold a BB bull at £245; £255 for a BB heifer from Davies, Dyffryn Farm; £215 for a Hereford bull from Thomas, Glandwr Ceibwr. The best black and white bulls reached £102 for a Friesian from Davies, Maesgwyn; £94 for a Friesian from Evans, Troedyraur; £90 for a Friesian from Davies & Sons, Penrhiwlas.

MONMOUTHSHIRE NOVEMBER 6

FINISHED LAMBS: 803 lambs to an improved but selective trade, with all weights seeing an improvement on the week. Top price on the day 189p/kg (£79.50-42kg) from JL Williams, other medium weights to 183p/kg (£71.50-41.5kg) from RM Edwards; 182p/kg (£81.80-45kg) from D Radnor and 180p/kg (£76-42.2kg) from BL Hughes & SJ Carr. Heavier lambs to four different buyers to a top of 187p/kg (£86-46kg) BG Greenow & Ptns; 178p/kg (£87-49kg) TP & AA Beavan & Sons; 176p/kg (£86-49kg) JJ Greenow & Sons. Standard weights to 181p/kg (£64.20- 35.4kg) WT & JM Probert; 180p/kg (£59.80-33.4kg) DJ Sainsbury and (£68.50-38kg) DR Treasure. Lightweights much improved to 170p/kg (£54.50-32kg) DR Treasure & (£51.80-30.5kg) PA & MJ Rymer. Welsh lambs to 169p/kg (£44.80-26.5kg) A Fussell and (£50-29.5kg) EK Vowles. CULL SHEEP: A small entry of cull sheep, the best to £81.50 for Suffolk X Texel from JL Williams and £80 from J & M Herring. Best of the Welsh to £40 from DA Burrows. STORE LAMBS/BREEDING SHEEP: Store lambs sold to a fast trade and strong competition. Charollais ewe lambs from JP & MJ Morgan sold to £101. Feeding lambs to £55 from T Ruck, Welsh lambs to £47.50 from EK Vowles, most £25-£38. A pen of full mouth Welsh ewes from Vaughan & Gibbs sold to £37.50. PIGS: The monthly sale drew an entry of 48 pigs and a slightly improved trade to a good selection of buyers, including a few new faces. Cull sows to £120 & £110 from J Williams. Boars to £100 and gilts to £95 from the same home. Smaller gilts to £48 from Caerphilly County Council, and gilt weaners to £25 from AJ Windsor.