Market sees buoyant trade

An improved number forward with trade at least as dear as an overall average of 112p/kg resulted at Bridgnorth Primestock Red Market last week where there were 250 prime cattle on show.

Well-fleshed beasts were easiest sold, especially with shape, although less well conformed cattle sold in front of recent weeks' values.

Quality butchers and supermarket cattle sold to a buoyant trade, with cattle under 24 months in strong demand and a fearsome trade. Thirteen cattle sold passed 140p/kg to a high of 148.5p/kg for heifers and 144p/kg for steers. Well-finished breaking cattle were much dearer generally especially if falling into everybody's specification.

Local butchers were looking for shapely heifers 460-520kg with plenty of fat cover, with fit Hereford steers also required selling to 118p/kg.

A firm level of demand in the bull section with well-finished handyweights more available. Limousins sold to 136p/kg and Holsteins to 108p/kg.

Twenty cattle over 30 months were either meat or very very plain today. Charolais cows off the grass 632kg sold to 71p/kg, Continental heifers 526kg to 79p/kg and 718kg underfed Simmentals sold to 65p/kg. No best Holstein cows forward. 988kg Hereford stock bulls sold to 49p/kg.

There was an improved lamb trade to average 81p/kg, the first time over 80p/kg for some weeks.

Texel x ewes sold to £47.50 with large quality ewes in very short supply. Leaner Suffolks sold to £35, a large number of North Country Mules £25 to £30, meated Beulahs to £24, Scotch to £25, lean Swales to £16 and a single ram realised £27.