Competition from buyers

There were plenty of buyers in attendance at Ludlow Market. All sorts met ready competition despite a reduction in deadweight prices. Quality was at a marked premium with best steers selling to 138p and heifers the same.

Light steers: Best quality to 137.5p (average 137.5p); also rans to 92.5p; overall average 102.2p.

Medium steers: Best quality to 138p (129p); standard quality to 112.5p (107.1p); also rans to 102.5p; overall average 112.7p.

Heavy steers: Best quality to 126.5p (117.9p); standard quality to 114.5p (108.9p); also rans to 104p; overall average 109p.

Medium heifers: Best quality to 133p (122.2p); standard quality to 114.5p (108.4p); also rans to 104p; overall average 111.4p.

Heavy heifers: Best quality to 138p (122.5p); standard quality to 115 (109.1p); also rans to 104p; overall average 113p.

Bulls: Light bulls to 118.5p (97.5p); medium bulls to 125.5p (104p); heavy bulls to 124p (106p).

Cull Cows and OTMS cattle: Another very strong trade with nowhere near enough for the buyers present. There was an overall average for all over-30-months cattle of 72.1 per kilo.

Grade 1 cows to 90.0p (average 83.46p); Grade 2 cows to 78.5p (73.91p); Grade 3 cows to 68.5p (64.55p); Grade 4 cows to 57.5p (52.55p); heifers to 90.5p (82.54p); steers to 97p (78.18p); old bulls to 84.5p (74.87p); overall average 72.1p.

Another excellent lamb trade and more could have been sold to advantage. Best lambs up to 173.5p.

Light lambs to 125p (average 122.8p); standard lambs to 173.5p (131.5p) medium lambs to 166.5p (129.3p); heavy lambs to 128.5p (average 119.7p).

Export quality lambs sold up to 173.5p (134.5p) and home trade lambs to 128p (127.1p).

The killing ewe trade was a little bit less this week with best ewes up to £55.60 and an overall average of £32.20.