Good trade at town market

Similar numbers (288 prime cattle) once again saw a very good trade throughout at Bridgnorth Primestock Market, with ordinary commercial cattle seeing an upturn in values and best quality beasts holding values.

There was a fresh buyer attending, which helped the bull trade especially. Competitive bidding on all shapes and sizes produced an overall average of 112p/kg.

Supermarket grade cattle were dearer, especially on second quality heifers and with plenty of orders for well fleshed breaking bodies, saw steers to 134p/kg.

A better entry of butchers' heifers with plenty of competition for bodies under 24 months. Heifers sold to 147p/kg. There was plenty of overfat heifers forward which sold readily, especially with shape.

Young bull trade proved fair with export quality sucklers to 132p/kg. Handy-weight 480-540kg shop bulls were in firm demand, with fresh orders for heavy bulls also helping returns. There were very few Friesian Holsteins forward.

Over-30-month cattle (41): With less OTMs nationally, this was a pleasing entry although well down on last week's 69. There were some extremely good cows forward which sold to 120.5p/kg for 692kg Blonde. Grade 1 Limousin cows sold to 100p/kg for 824kg and 98.5p/kg for 778kg. Two others sold in the 90 pences with Grade 2 Continentals 85-88p/kg. Friesians topped at 85p/kg for 792kg.

A good entry of steers sold to 95p/kg for 738kg Simmental cross, with four others past 90p. Boning cows were 45-65p/kg generally, with only small plain dollies below 50p/kg. 816kg stock bulls sold to 68p/kg.

42 Steers sold to 134p/kg (average 115p/kg), 145 Heifers 147p/kg (113p/kg), 103 Young Bulls to 132p/kg (109p/kg), 41 OTM cattle to 120.5.5p/kg (84p/kg).