Market reports: Saturday, April 9 to Monday, April 11

Total Store Stock: 5246 Head

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a massive entry of 1315 store cattle, stirks & sucklers for which we thank all Vendors.

Wednesday, April 27 at 4.30pm orange market dedicated sale for bTB Restricted Cattle. Licences to be applied for by April 20 from DEFRA on 03000 200301 or email swenglandtblicensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk. Store Cattle , Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Feeding Cows & Cull Bulls. Vendors require a TB16b or a TB164 Licence, Cattle to be herd, SIT or PMT tested in the last 90 days.

Dairy Cattle (64): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report another good entry although quality generally lacking compared with previous weeks. The trade was a lot better than last week, fuelled by the excellent trade seen at Sedgemoor for a 352 cow dispersal last Tuesday from Gloucestershire.

Top of the day £1560, when others from the same Vendor achieved £1450, £1320 and £1310 for Anthony & Wendy Vigus, whose 4 heifers averaged £1410. Other heifers to £1480 and £1310 for Messrs LG Bagg & Partners; £1320 Mr RH Webb and £1310 Mr AP Ractliffe. Jersey heifers £480 Mr TMP Wall.

Average commercial cows to £1160 Mr AP Ractliffe. More better quality would have sold.

Holstein calves to £130 x2 C Read Partnership. Crossbreds to £60 x2 Messrs Hoskins & Vickery.

1st Quality Heifers min £1300, max £1560, ave £1395; 2ndQuality Heifers £1000 £1250 £1140; 2nd Quality Cows £1160 £1160 £1160.

Store Cattle, Sucklers & Stirks (1315): Store Cattle (754): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a tremendous entry of 1315 store cattle, sucklers and stirks on an almost Spring like day, which saw sun and hail! Still no grass to encourage graziers and ever falling deadweight quotes and increasingly onerous grading specifications are reducing the finished value. All things considered the store cattle trade still looks very dear for the better types.

Top was £1300 for a super shape, yet very lean Blue steer (22m & FA) from Mr RJ Bailey, Crewkerne, who sold smart Blonde steers at £1275 and £1265 (24m & FA) a quality Simmental at £1190 (24m & FA) another Blonde (24m & FA) at £1175 and 22/24m and FA Charolais at £1150. A superb show. Further well grown feeding Charolais steers at £1215 (26/27m & FA ) and £1210 (27m & FA) from Mr KLH Sweet, Highbridge; an excellent confirmation steer (22m & FA) from Mr AL & Mrs JL Burrough, West Buckland achieved £1190 and £1095 was bid for 5 feeding types (19/21m & FA) from Messrs MJ & IM Parkhouse, Marwood. Forward Blue steers (25/29m & FA) at £1160 from Mr DG & Mrs RH Matravers, Pitminster, who sold another 25m and FA at £1100. Quality grazing type Limousin steers (21/22m & FA) from Messrs PA Strawbridge, Honiton shot to £1125. Further good Limousin steers at £1110 (20m & FA) Mr AL & Mrs JL Burrough again; £1095 (18m & FA) Messrs K & N Crang, Mudford and £1092 (21/24m & FA) Mrs PM Hopkins, Offwell. Further better Simmental steers £1125 (23m & FA) for a hard type from Mr AJ Hunt, Claverham and £1115 (23/29m & FA) and £1090 (24/25m & FA) Mr J & Mrs M Richards, Chard.

NATIVE steers rose to £1085 for an Angus (24m & FA) from Mr GN Langley, East Compton, who sold another 28m and FA at £1010. Further good Angus (23/27m & FA) at £1080 from Mr GG Dyer, Chard. A very smart BEEF SHORTHORN steer (23m & FA) from Mr RJ Bailey hit £1075. SOUTH DEVON steers sold to £1075 (24m) from Mr BE Wareham, Hermitage. HEREFORD steers to £1000 (26m, FA & sire) from Mr AJ & Mrs RA Turner, Axminster.

DAIRY BREEDS harder to place than in the new year. Top was £880 for an overage (31m & FA) Friesian from Mrs HD Wilkins, High Ham. Feed Holsteins from Mr RJ Rowe, Spaxton met calls of £835 (18/20m & FA) £785 (16/20m & FA) £762 (14/22m & FA) £750 (14/20m & FA) and £740 (15/22m & FA).

HEIFERS rose to £1090 for a shapely feeding Blue (22m & FA) from Mr WJ & Mrs RA Alford, Craddock. A fleshed Simmental (25m & FA) from Mr GJ & Mrs HR Browse, Butterleigh achieved £1050. Fit Saler heifers (22m & FA) from Messrs RC Loveridge & Son, Axminster returned at £1025. Further fed Simmental at £1015 (24m & FA) Mr J & Mrs M Richards. Better type Charolais heifers at £1010 (23m & FA) Messrs EJ Collins & Son, Chard; £1000 (38m) Messrs W Hilborne & Son, Easton; £995 (26m & FA) Mr KLH Sweet again; £980 twice for 20/21m and FA from Mr JM Parkhouse, Marwood and 24m from Mr DW Parris, Dalwood and £975 (25m) from Mr HS Fry, Long Sutton. Blonde cross Saler heifers (20/21m & FA) from Mr RM & Mrs BM Boundy, Winkleigh hit £1000.

NATIVE HEIFERS peaked at £920 for an Angus (26m) from Mr BE Wareham again. Leaner South Devon heifers at £900 (21/23m & FA) from Mr GB Tuttiett, Eastertown.

Many cattle spoilt by being over 26 months and non FABBL, over 30 or 36 months or poorly done. Some cattle would have been better sold months, if not a year ago. The finished trade is becoming increasingly tight and it is consequently harder and harder for finishers to produce cattle which meet market requirements if they havn’t had them early enough. That means selling store cattle younger to allow others to bring them on, which will ultimately be more profitable.

Steers Max £1300, Ave £829; Heifers Max £1090, Ave £768.

Charolais steers £1215 £1210; heifers £1010 £1000; Limousin £1125 £1110 £960 £950; Simmental £1190 £1125 £1050 £1015; B/Blue £1300 £1160 £1090 £965; Hereford £1000 £935 £855 £850; Angus £1085 £1080 £920 £890; S/Devon £1075 £995 £900 £870;; Devon £985 £975 £855 £730; Blonde £1275 £1265 £1000 £960; Friesian £880 £835 £650 £635; Shorthorn steers £1075; Saler steers £1072; heifers £1025 £930.

Suckler Cows, Calves and Stock Bulls (155): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a larger monthly entry of 155 head saw a good trade for the best. Second quality more difficult to place.

A sprinkling of bulls saw a 6 year old Limousin from Messrs MA & ME Sizmur at £1800 and 2 year old Aberdeen Angus to £1800 x2 for Messrs JH Neale & Son, Cornwall.

A good run of sucklers from the dispersal for Messrs RW & AE Bayley, Castle Cary saw stronger outfits to £1580 for a Hereford cow and Limousin steer calf, when other Hereford cows sold to £1550. Their Aberdeen Angus cows and calves sold to £1440, £1395 and £1240. South Devon cow and calf from Mr CJ Wyatt sold at £1580, when others sold to £1340 from Messrs BE & SM Wareham.

Simmental heifers with calves to £1320 Messrs GJ & HR Browse. Saler cow and steer calf to £1380 Palace Farms. Charolais cow and heifer calf £1240 Messrs CW Moore & Son. Limousin cow and bull calf £1280 Mr RC Ellicott.

Maiden heifers saw pedigree Herefords to £850 and £810 for RBJ & P Vincent’s Snipelands Herd, when March to May born pedigree Charolais rose to £860, Mr GR Gould.

Private Treaty 18m Pedigree Angus Bulls. Please contact Robert Venner 07889-006503.

Saturday, May 14. Monthly Catalogued Sale of Suckler Cows, Calves & Bulls 12.30pm Ring 1.

Please contact Jess Maynard on 01278 410278 for cataloguing purposes & for national advertising in the Farmers Weekly & Farmers Guardian by 29th April

Busk Calves and Stirks (406): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a similar sized entry to last week’s and a comparable trade when buyers were selective on occasion, particularly for plainer types. Most interest shown in the ‘middle’ cattle when some excellent prices were achieved.

Top price of £832 (12m) for a British Blue from Messrs M & T Underhill, who also sold others to £785 (12m) £750 (11m) and £720 x3 (13m). Other Blues to £815 (15m) from Mr CJ Wyatt; £755 x2 (12m) from Mr AC Tanner; £755 (10m) from Mr MB Downing; £745 (11m) from Mrs S Hutter and £735 x2 (9m) from Mrs M Forward. Limousins to £800 (12m) from Messrs CJ & SM Hutter. Others to £800 x2 (13m) from Mr MB Downing who also sold others at £785 (11m). £755 x2 (10m) from Messrs RW & AE Bayley, who sold others to £750 x2 (10m) £745 x2 (12m) and £730 (10m). £740 (12m) from Messrs JA & G Aldworth and £720 (12m) from Messrs CA & B Jarvis. Charolais to £765 x2 (12m) from Mr S Payne, when others sold at £760 (12m) £755 (12m) £740 (12m) and £725 (11m) from Mr CJ Wyatt. Other Charolais to £755 x2 (9m) and £735 x2 (9m) from Messrs BL & MJE Bartlett. Blondes to £830 (12m) and £745 (12m) from Messrs LG Bagg & Partners. Simmentals to £740 (12m) from Mrs S Hutter. Angus to £725 (15m) from Mr R Hares. Herefords to £725 (10m) from Mr S Hutter.

Heifers to £790 (14m) and £780 (14m) for Limousins from Mr MB Downing. Other Limousins to £710 (10m) from Mr MT & Mrs K Jackson, who also sold others to £620 (10m). Others to £650 x4 (11m) from Mr RAD Legg; £650 x2 (12m) from Messrs M & T Underhill; £640 (11m) from Mr A Oddy; £635 (13m) from Messrs CA & B Jarvis and £635 (13m) from Messrs M & H Sweet. Charolais to £778 (15m) from Mr PR Burrow who also sold others at £680 (11m) £655 x2 (12m) £650 x2 (11m) and £635 x4 (11m). Others to £660 x6 (13m) from Messrs W Hilborne & Son; £655 x4 (11m) Messrs MD & NS Hibberd who sold others at £650 x2 (10m) and £640 x4 (12m) from Mr S Payne. British Blues to £718 x2 (11m) from Messrs M & T Underhill who also sold others at £678 (11m) £670 x4 (13m) and £660 x2 (13m) £650 (14m) and £645 x2 (12m). Others to £645 x2 (13m) from Mr AC Tanner. Blondes to £695 x2 (12m) from Mr C Chilcott, when others sold to £680 x2 (14m) from Mr LG Bagg.

Many thanks once again to all who supported the stirks section.

Please try and register all named sires on the passport and detail sire on the entry form. Please can Vendors make every effort to pre-book by email market@gth.net or by phone 01278 410278. Buyers do look at our website pre-entered stock page.

Steers Max £832, Ave £525; Heifers Max £790, Ave £514.

Charolais steers £765 £760; heifers £778 £695; Limousin £800 £785 £790 £780; Simmental £740 £715 £530 £520; B/Blue £832 £815 £718 £678; Hereford £725 £555 £465 £410; Angus £725 £670 £455 £375; S/Devon steers £700; Devon £505 £430 £385 £370; Blonde £830 £745 £695 £680; Friesian steers £385 £382.

Non-Export Calves (490): For Saturday, April 16, Calves born on or before 5th March 2016 will require a pre-movement test.

Beef Breeds (307): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report an excellent entry met a very buoyant trade particularly at the top end. Outstanding demand for Charolais saw high quality young bulls from Messrs SM & DM Turner sell to £490 and £482. Others from Messrs ST & TL Smith to £418, £415 £408 and also £408 from Messrs GA Quick & Sons. Young Blue bulls £440 from Messrs MB & CJN Ayre. Others £436, £430, £460. Simmentals £400 Mr MW Ford and £385 Mr WP Gange & Son; £382 Messrs RF Lee & Son and £350 Messrs AC & JH Loxton. Limousin bulls to £402 Mr DR Clapp and £336 Messrs RJ & SJ Dare. Fleckvieh bulls to £320 Messrs JA & EJ Maltby. Most good bulls £340-£400 and mediums £270-£340, smaller bulls from £200.

Heifers well sought with Blues to £375 Messrs N & B Hutton. Others £340 Messrs GF & DV Bussell; £325 Mr MC Clothier; £315 Messrs MB & CJN Ayre; £310 Mr MC Powell and £302 Mr ES Triggol. Charolais to £322 Mr GA Quick & Sons. Others £320 Ms N Brooks; £265 and £255 Messrs ST & TL Smith and £248 Messrs JA & K Ladd. Simmental heifers £310 Manor Farm Dairy Ltd. Others £262. Medium heifers from £240, small heifers £150 plus.

Native breeds lively. Some superb Angus bulls on show. A 16 week calf from Mr GM Veysey sold to £400. Young types to £323 and £300 Messrs MA & NR Bowditch. Others £295, £294 and £292 and heifers £205 Messrs MA & NR Bowditch. £190 Mr MA Pincombe and £185 Mr R Angell. Hereford bulls to £305 Mr LC Hellier. Heifers to £218 HG Tincknell Ltd. Others £212 Messrs DWC & MA Brunt; £206 Mr LC Hellier. Reared heifers to £368 Messrs N & B Hutton.

Blue Bull £440 MB & & CJN Ayre £436; Hfr £375 N & B Hutton £375; Charolais Bull £490 SM & DM Turner £482; Hfr £322 GA Quick & Sons £320; Limousin Bull £402 DR Clapp £336; Hfr £290 MC Clothier £275; Simmental Bull £400 MW Ford £385; Hfr £310 Manor Farm Dairy Ltd £262; Hereford Bull £305 LC Hellier & Son £260; Hfr £218 HG Tincknell Ltd £212; Angus Bull £400 GM Veysey £323; Hfr £205 MA & NR Bowditch £190; Devon Bull £225 MS & NM Hebditch £150; Hfr £82 MS & NM Hebditch £62; Fleckvieh Bull £320 AJ & ES Maltby £270; Shorthorn Bull £135 P Moon & Sons. Gelbvieh Hfr £174 JN Wyatt £148.

Friesians (183): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a large entry met a competitive trade at all levels when only the plainest calves failed to excite much interest. Rearing Friesians keener to £198 Mr DH Wall. Others £148 Messrs JM & JM Baker; £126 Messrs SW Batten & Sons; £126 Giles Willett. Others £114, £108 and £101. Holstein Friesians to £140 Messrs MB & CJN Ayre. Others £136, £128 and £126. Many good rearing calves £70-£110, mediums £50-£70. Slaughter calves £30-£80 on size.

Sheep (3377): Store Lambs (936): A slightly larger ‘end of season’ entry of 936 store lambs sold to a generally much more difficult trade. The best sold to £86 from Chilson Dairy Farm. Others £83.50 from Mr RJ Whitcombe; £80.50 from Mrs JD Lock; £80 from Messrs P & S Eckett; £79 from Messrs J & YM Hore; £78.50 from Mr J Phillips; £78 from Mr K Lye and Messrs EM & AW Berry and £77 from Mr WJ Pearce. Mediums ranged £50-£65, very small £15.50 plus. Overall average £54.76.

Ram Lambs sold as store lambs are to be declared. Those lots so declared to not contain any ram lambs, which are found post sale to contain undeclared ram lambs, will attract a 25% reduction in the sale price of any ram lambs found.

Grazing Ewes & Rams (1185): An even larger entry of 1185 grazing ewes and rams sold to a generally easier trade for all presented. Rams sold to £125.50 from Mr AJ Green. Others £112 from Mr P Trotter; £110 from Mr RW Hickman; £106.50 from Mr RJ Rowe; £103.50 from Messrs GE & DM Powell and £106 from Mr M Naish, Mr L Habberfield and Mr B Davis. Ewes sold to £116 and £105 from Mr AL Brown. Others £108 and £95 from Mr AJ Willcox; £102.50 from Messrs DW & AE Enticott; £98.50 from Messrs TJ Samways & Son; £97.50 from Messrs VJ & MJ Headon; £96.50 from Messrs RWG & M Dare & Son and Mr SA Norman and £96 from Mr J Stock and Mr MJ Ashman. Mediums ranged £65-£85. Plain £55-£65. Overall average £70.92.

Couples (316 Ewes & 505 Lambs): A smaller entry of couples being 316 ewes with 505 lambs at foot sold to a slightly firmer but still difficult trade, with a continuing lack of grass in the district. Doubles sold to £188 (£62.67/life) from Messrs JH & HJ Diment. Others £172 (£57.33/life) from Messrs DL & ME Gillard; £162 and £150 (£54 and £50/life) from Mr T Stokes and £161 (£53.67/life) from Mr D Hutchings. 12 ewes with 20 lambs sold at £150/couple (£56.25/life) from Messrs E & J Enterprises. 3 ewes with lambs sold at £134/couple (£57.43/life) from Mr R Bell and 4 ewes with 5 lambs sold at £134/couple (£59.56/life) also from Messrs E & J Enterprises.

Singles sold to £162 (£81/life) from Messrs JH & HJ Diment. Others £128 (£64/life) from Mr DJ Griffin and £120 (£60/life) from Messrs E & M Warner. Overall average £46.52/life.

Breeding Ewes (228): A good entry of 228 breeding ewes for the early Poll Dorset sale met a steady level of interest. Shearlings to £112 from Messrs TG & MG Wooff and Messrs RG & E Powell. Others to £98 from Mr MJ Brice and £97 from Messrs Sandley Farm Partners.

Goats (52): A larger entry of 52 goats sold to a strong trade. Billies sold to £103 from Mr G Christodoulou, wethers sold to £69.50 from Messrs RG, AJ & JA Habberfield and nannies with kids sold to £102 from Mr M Michael and £99 from Mr DA Didcock.

Orphan Lambs (108): A larger entry of 108 orphan lambs sold to a more difficult trade. The strongest sold to £40 from Mr RE Webber. Others £30 from Mr AFC Atyeo and £28 from Mr AJ Hunt, however the majority of the feeding lambs were £2-£8. Overall average £8.93.

Centurion Group of Poll Dorset Ewes and Rams (47): Greenslade Taylor Hunt were delighted to welcome back the Centurion Group of Breeders to Sedgemoor Auction Centre for the fourth consecutive year. It is safe to say the sale is going from strength to strength with 47 good quality ewes and rams forward and sold to a larger company of buyers. The highest prices of the day were achieved by Messrs W & K Carson of Northern Ireland, who realised 800gns and 770gns. Other prices of note included 600gns from Messrs G & AB Langford; 580 gns from Messrs R & R Hole and 560gns from Mr DW Rossiter.

100% clearance rate achieved on the pedigree ewes to 340gns and 330gns from Messrs R & R Hole. A good run from Messrs JE Pocock & Son sold to 260gns, 240gns (x5) and 230gns (x4).

The champion of this year’s sale was awarded to a fine ram sold by Mr DW Rossiter.

The Next Fodder Auction is Saturday, November, 19.

The Next Poultry Market is Saturday, April 23.

Pigs: The Next Pig Market is Saturday, April 16.

Monday, April 11

Total Stock: 2185 Head

PRIME Cattle UTM & OTM clean & young bulls (131): UTM (111) & OTM (20) Prime Cattle: Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a very similar entry in terms of throughput at 131 head met a cautious trade.

Beef sales are very slow in the shops, imports of meat from Ireland are plentiful and there appears to be no shortage of cattle to fulfil orders currently. Hence we are in a buyer’s market.

Top was 203.5ppk for a very smart, 19m and 582kg Limousin from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop, Enmore which was purchased by Puxton Park butchers. Further better shape Limousin steers, 590kg from Mr J & Mrs S Vinnicombe & Son, Ottery St Mary at 194.5ppk and bought by Messrs Stillmans and 192ppk (588kg) from Mr CJM Shackleton, Wiveliscombe, purchased by Messrs PJ King & Son of Gloucester. The top 10 priced steers ranged from 582 to 676kg. 700kg and over steers only found homes at lower levels.

Steers sold to £1,229.24 for a superb Blue (778kg) from Mr MJ Chilcott, Catcott, who also sold a heavyweight Simmental (813kg) at £1,200.80 and handyweight Limousin (667kg) at £1,170.59. Other handyweight steers, 582kg Limousin at £1,184.37 from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop and at £1,179.62 (676kg) Blue from Mr DP Leaney, Taunton.

Heifers peaked at 199.5ppk for a quality Limousin (522kg) from Mrs MJ Tuckett & Partners, Ide who also sold a smart Charolais at 196ppk, both purchased by Mr PJ King & Son. Best Limousin heifers from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop met calls of 198.5 and 192.5ppk, purchased by Puxton Park Ltd and Mr PJ King & Son. A well fleshed Limousin from Mr J & Mrs S Vinnicombe & Son was purchased by Court Farm Butchers, Puriton at 194.5ppk. The top 10 heifers ranged from 483 to 595kg.

Heifers sold to £1,120.32 (576m) for a Limousin from Mr J & Mrs S Vinnicombe & Son, who sold another at £1,103.68 (655kg). Charolais and Limousin heifers from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop at £1,101.10 (572kg) £1,094.80 (595kg) £1,054.50 (570kg) and £1,054.30 (661kg). Further well sold heifers at £1,078.41 (698kg Blue) from Mr CJ & Mrs JI Hayman, Yeovil; £1,076.16 (708kg Charolais) from Mr RE Webber, Stringston and £1,052.88 (642kg Blue) Mr AAB Rowe & Son, Bridgwater.

Steers (67): Top Price UTM 203.5p/kg, OTM 156.0p/kg; Average UTM 156.7p/kg, OTM 121.3p/kg; Top price per head UTM £1,229.24, OTM £1,068.55.

Top Vendors: Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 203.5; Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX 194.5; Mr CJM Shackleton LIMX 192.0; Messrs KJ & S Bishop CHX 180.5; Mr DP Leaney LIMX 180.0.

Top Vendors: Mr MJ Chilcott BRBX £1,229.24; Mr MJ Chilcott SIMX £1,200.80; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX £1,184.37; Mr DP Leaney BRBX £1,179.62; Mr MJ Chilcott LIMX £1,170.59.

Heifers (63): Top price UTM 199.5p/kg, OTM 164.5p/kg; Average UTM 157.1p/kg, OTM 133.8p/kg; Top price per head UTM £1,120.32, OTM £987.00.

Top Vendors: Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners LIMX 199.5; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 198.5; Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners CHX 196.0; Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX 194.5; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 192.5.

Top Vendors: Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX £1,120.32; Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX £1,103.68; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX £1,101.10; Messrs KJ & S Bishop SIMX £1,094.80; Messrs CJ & JI Hayman BRBX £1,078.41.

BREED STEERS HEIFERS

AVE TOP AVE TOP

Limousin Steers Ave 159.3, Top 203.5, Heifers Ave 166.7, Top 199.5; B/Blue 160.0, 174.5, 156.4, 178.0; Charolais 167.8, 180.5, 163.8, 196.0; Simmental 151.7, 170.0, 160.3, 184.0; Blonde Heifers 171.5, 171.5; A/Angus 148.5, 159.5, 141.5, 144.5; Devon Heifers 124.5, 124.5; Sussex x Heifers 180.0, 180.0; H/Friesian 119.2, 123.0, 114.8, 123.0; Fleckvieh Steers 132.5, 132.5.

Eurogrid Liveweight Averages: All weights, sucklers and dairy, assured and not, corn & grass fed.R4L equivalent of Steers 303.0ppk and Heifers 311.0ppk deadweight at 53%.

STEERS HEIFERS

Grade Ave Max Ave Max

U+3 Steers Ave 197.7, max 203.5;

U+4L Steers Ave 175.5, max 175.5, Heifers Ave 187.0, max 196.0; U-2 Steers 176.5, 180.5; U-3 170.6, 194.5, 169.7, 198.5; U-4L 151.9, 169.5, 170.7, 199.5; U-4H Heifers 150.5, 150.5; R2 Steers 169.8, 176.0; R3 164.8, 171.5, 161.7, 167.0; R4L 161.0, 161.0, 164.6, 180.0; O+3 153.9, 169.5, 145.6, 147.5; O+4L 143.5, 159.5, 143.2, 154.5; O+4H Heifers 134.5, 134.5; O-3 144.7, 149.0, 142.2, 158.0; O-4L 141.2, 143.0, 140.0, 158.5; O-4H 115.5, 115.5, 152.5, 152.5; P+3 Heifers 109.5, 109.5; P+4L 121.4, 123.0, 113.3, 117.0; P-2 Heifers 88.5, 88.5.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a slightly reduced entry of cull stock met another cracking trade. It does not make sense that clean beef is slow to sell, yet cows fly. The cows produce a cheaper product which currently fits the general public’s pockets more comfortably. Mince, mince and more mince is the order of the day.

Top was 136.5ppk for a well fleshed and shapely Limousin from Mr CJ & Mrs J Lang, Moorland, who also sold a Blue at 122.5ppk and Simmental at 121.5ppk. Some good sucklers on offer, which rose to 128.5ppk for a Limousin from Mr RW Darby, Bridgwater; 128.5ppk again for a Charolais from Mr MR Lee, West Buckland and 126.5ppk for a Limousin from Mr JA & Mrs G Aldworth, Madford.

Native cows peaked at 115.5ppk for an Angus from Mr MR Lee again.

Sucklers sold to £998.38 for a Blue from Mr CJ & Mrs J Lang. £900.68 was achieved by Mr JA & Mr G Aldworth with their Limousin.

Dairy breeds rose to 119.5ppk for a well fleshed Friesian from Mr F & Mrs EJ Strawbridge & Sons, Axminster. A young Holstein (35m) from Mr BL Davies & Son, Ilminster met a call of 117.5ppk. Other better black and whites 109 to 114.5ppk. Good meat cows 100ppk to 107ppk. Steakers 90ppk plus.

The dearest looking cows were the plainest again. Very plain 70ppk plus and bags of bones 60ppk plus. Cows sold to £943.28 for a Holstein from Mr BL Davies & Son again. £904.05, Holstein, Mr MJ Frampton & Sons, Beaminster and £884.76, Holstein, Mr NW Doble & Sons, Clapton. More cows kindly requested to fuel current demand.

Barren Cows (130): Top Price Continental Beef 136.5p/kg, Native Beef 115.5p/kg, Dairy 119.5p/kg; Average 116.9ppk, 104.8ppk, 88.8ppk; Top price per head £998.38, £780.00, £943.28.

Cows only Grade 1 Ave (ppk) 123.9 Top (ppk) 136.5, Ave (£) £867.46, Top (£) £998.38; Grade 2 104.6, 128.5, £739.23, £943.28; Grade 3 88.9, 102.5, £587.61, £796.95; Grade 4 70.8, 107.5, £402.63, £780.00.

Top Suckler Vendors: Messrs CJ & J Lang LIMX 136.5; Mr RW Darby LIMX 128.5; Mr MR Lee CHX 128.5; Mr JA & G Aldworth LIMX 126.5; Messrs CJ & J Lang BRBX 122.5.

Top Dairy Vendors: Messrs F & EJ Strawbridge & Sons BF 119.5; Messrs BL Davies & Son HF 117.5; Messrs DC Dennis & Son Ltd HF 114.5; Messrs TH & CL Johnson Ltd BF 112.0; Messrs NW Doble & Sons HF 111.5.

Suckler Vendors: Messrs CJ & J Lang BRBX £998.38; Mr JA & G Aldworth LIMX £900.68; Messrs CJ & J Lang LIMX £887.25; Messrs CJ & J Lang SIMX £874.80; Mr RE Webber SIMX £844.44.

Dairy Vendors: Mr BL Davies & Son HF £943.28; Messrs MJ Frampton & Sons HF £904.05; Messrs NW Doble & Sons HF £884.76; Messrs MJ Frampton & Sons HF £856.26; Messrs BL Davies & Son HF £855.40.

Bulls (2): Top price 92.5p/kg, Average 82.1p/kg.

Top Vendors: Messrs LC Hellier & Son HE 92.5.

Messrs LC Hellier & Son HE £741.85.

Finished Lambs & Hoggs (1922): Lambs (568), Hoggs (1354): Top price p/head Lambs £94.00, Hoggs £88.50; Top price p/kg 241.0p/pk, 185.0p/pk; SQQ Average 216.09p/pk, 174.14p/pk.

Standard (32.1-39.0kg) 219.85; Medium (39.1-45.5kg) 208.50, 174.14; Heavy (45.6-52kg) 191.12, 159.79; Others (Over 52kg) 157.89, 146.04.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a similar entry of 1354 hoggs sold to a difficult trade for all presented. The best sold to 185ppk from Mr RB Cox. Others 177ppk from Hopkins Developments; 175ppk from Mr NR Huxter; 174ppk from Mrs CD Byrne; 171ppk from Messrs EP Hughes & Co and 170ppk from GJ Warren Farming and Messrs Fisher & Son.

Heavier hoggs sold to £88.50 from Messrs J Sprake & Partners. Others £88 from RJ Willcox Ltd; £86 from Messrs RJ, HA & MR Popham and Hopkins Developments and £85 from Messrs MP & DM Hine, Mrs V Urch, GJ Warren Farming, Mr P Webber and Messrs MB & KN Crabb. Overall average £78.41.

A slightly larger entry of 568 lambs also sold to a difficult trade for all presented. The best sold to 241ppk from Mr DM Dyer. Others 235ppk from RJ Willcox Ltd; 233, 232 and 231 (x3) from Messrs L Habberfield & Sons; 228ppk from Messrs PG & K Smith and Messrs F Dening & Sons; 226ppk from GJ Cottrell and 225 from Messrs J & JM Hurford and Mr R Norman. Top prices were £94 from Mr DM Dyer and RJ Willcox Ltd. Others £90 from Mr R Norman (x2) Messrs R & J Legg & Son, Mr G Michael and Mr ST Pierce and £89.50 from Messrs JH Waterman & Son. Overall average £83.50.

Lambs: 36.0 £84.00 Messrs L Habberfield & Sons; 36.0 £83.00 Messrs L Habberfield & Sons; 36.0 £81.00 Messrs J & JM Hurford; 37.0 £86.00 Messrs L Habberfield & Sons; 37.0 £84.50 Messrs PG & K Smith; 38.0 £86.50 Messrs F Dening & Sons; 38.0 £86.00 Mr GJ Cottrell; 39.0 £94.00 Mr DM Dyer; 40.0 £94.00 RJ Willcox Ltd; 40.0 £90.00 Mr R Norman; 40.0 £89.00 Mr SG Yates; 41.0 £89.00 Mr G Michael; 41.0 £89.00 Mr DR Howe; 43.0 £89.50 Messrs JH Waterman & Sons; 45.0 £90.00 Mr R Norman.

Hoggs: 41.0 £72.50 Hopkins Developments; 42.0 £70.00 Messrs EP Hughes & Co; 43.0 £79.50 Mr RB Cox; 43.0 £72.00 Mr P Carnell; 44.0 £77.00 Mr NR Huxter; 44.0 £76.50 Mrs CD Byrne; 44.0 £75.00 GJ Warren Farming; 45.0 £76.50 Messrs Fisher & Son; 46.0 £78.50 Messrs EP Hughes & Co; 46.0 £77.00 Messrs GA Quick & Sons; 46.0 £77.00 Hopkins Developments; 48.0 £81.00 Mr NR Huxter; 48.0 £80.00 Messrs AF Quick & Son; 49.0 £80.50 Messrs AA, L & R Johnson; 50.0 £82.50 Hopkins Developments; 51.0 £83.00 Messrs AF Quick & Son; 51.0 £82.00 Mr RC Stock; 51.0 £82.00 Messrs CHJ Atwell & Sons; 53.0 £82.50 Messrs J Sprake & Partners; 54.0 £83.00 Messrs MP & DM Hine; 57.0 £85.00 Messrs MB & KN Crabb; 59.0 £86.00 Hopkins Developments; 60.0 £86.00 Messrs RJ, HA & MR Popham; 63.0 £88.00 RJ Willcox Ltd; 69.0 £88.50 Messrs J Sprake & Partners.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report sold to £85 from Mrs J Hillman. Others £82 from Messrs MW & S Edwards and £80 from Messrs JH & SA Denbee to average £71.15.

Forthcoming sales:

APRIL:

Saturday 16, Honiton YFC Show & Sale (to include pigs) Cattle at 1.30pm.

Saturday 16, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.

Saturday 16, Special Sale of Continental Store Stock 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 16, Special Sale of Busk Calves 11am Ring 3.

Thursday 21, General Household Effects Sale 11am (Tel 01278-410250).

Saturday 23, Monthly Sale of Native Store Cattle 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 23, Collective Catalogued Sale of Purebred Poultry 12 Noon.

Wednesday 27, Orange Market Dedicated Sale for bTB Restricted Cattle. Store Cattle -15 Months & Over, Prime Cattle & Barren Cows. Stock to be booked in with the market office by 20th April. Licences to be obtained from Truro Trading Standards on 03000 200301 or swenglandtblicensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk Sale commences 4.30pm

Saturday 30, Yarcombe Show & Sale (to include pigs) Cattle at 1.30pm.

Saturday 30, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.

MAY

Monday 2, Bank Holiday No Market .Office Closed.

Tuesday 3, Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Prime Lambs & Killing Ewes.

Saturday 7, Monthly Catalogued Sale of Organic Store Stock 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 7, Special Catalogued Sale of Ewe Hogg Couples 12pm.

Saturday 14, Monthly Catalogued Sale of Suckler Cows 12.30pm Ring 1.

Saturday 14, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.

Saturday 14, Special Catalogued Sale of Dorset & Dorset x Breeding Ewes 12 Noon.

Tuesday 17, May Collective Dairy Sale of Freshly Calved Cows, Heifers, Youngstock & Bulls.

Thursday 19, General Household Effects Sale 11am (Tel 01278 410250).

Saturday 21, Collective Catalogued Sale of Purebred Poultry 11am Ring 1.