Market reports: Saturday, May 14 to Monday, May 16

Total Store Stock: 6263 Head

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report their biggest market of the year to date.

Wednesday, June 29 at 4.30pm. Orange Market dedicated Sale For Btb Restricted Cattle

Licences to be applied for by 22nd June from DEFRA on 03000 200301 or email swenglandtblicensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk. Store Cattle , Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Feeding Cows & Cull Bulls. Cattle to be herd, SIT or PMT tested in the last 90 days.

Dairy Cattle (75): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report another excellent entry when more milkers were forward which sold to a better trade for medium quality. The best were at last week’s levels. Top of the day was £1430 for a heifer from Messrs M & K Churchill & Son. Others to £1420 and £1380 for Panda Holsteins (Molly Westwood); £1350 Messrs MC Powell; £1320 Adrian Ractliffe and Messrs NR & D Norris; £1300 x2 Mr NC Taylor and £1300 Mr LF Hutchings.

Cows to £1300 Mr RH Webb. Incalf heifers to £1050 Messrs PH Creed & Son. Bulling heifers to £670 x3 Messrs B Rose & Son. Saturday, May 21, Special Entry in the Dairy Section. The Sale of 35 Pedigree Holstein, Commercial Holstein & Ayrshire x Bulling Heifers Ref: DRB.

1st Quality Heifers min £1300, max £1430, ave £1350; 2ndQuality Heifers £980 £1280 £1160; 1st Quality Cows £1300 £1300 £1300.

Store Cattle, Sucklers and Stirks (1485): Store Cattle & Grazing Cows (899): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a massive entry of 1485 strong stores, stirks and sucklers, including 899 stores which met a very good trade when there was more life in the finished and close to finishing cattle and a roaring trade for young grazing continental steers in particular.

Top was £1265 for a forward Charolais steer (22m & FA) from Mr RE Webber, Stringston, who sold another at £1190. A 26m and FA Charolais from Mr RH & Mrs FJ Ellicott, Raddington hit £1200. A super run of grazing, pure Charolais from Messrs B & T Baker, Alverdiscott rose to £1172 (21/25m & FA) when others from the same farm sold tremendously at £1165 (24/25m & FA) and £1155 (23/25m & FA). An outstanding run of Blue steers from Mr R & Mrs E Baker & Son, Cannington peaked at £1245 (20/21m & FA) when others from the same farm sold well at £1240 twice (20m & 19/21m & FA) and £1210 (18/20m & FA). Further better Blues £1235, £1210 and £1195 (31/32m & FA) from Mr GW & Mrs GM Long, Chardstock; £1170 (22m) Messrs GT White & Son, Broadoak and £1102 (17/21m & FA) Messrs F & H Farms, Calverleigh. Simmental steers rose to £1192 (23/24m) for grand types from Mrs JC Williams & Son, Glastonbury who sold others at £1190 (24/25m). Further strong Simmentals at £1145 (25/26m & FA) from Mr RH & Mrs FJ Ellicott. Limousin steers at £1108 for good grazing types (20/22m & FA) from Mr RJ & Mrs GM Tucker, High Bickington. Other shapely types £1100 (16/20m & FA) from Mr JA Selway Ltd, Axbridge.

NATIVE steers peaked at £1100 for a 21m, FA Hereford with sire details from Brightley Farms, Umberleigh. Angus to £1080 (21m, sire & out of a Blue cow) from Messrs GT White & Son, Broadoak. Further Angus £1025 (25m, sire) Mr WR & Mrs NA Rich, Northleigh; £1015 (25m & FA) Mr IR & Mrs VR Hael, Buckland Newton and £1000 (22/25m, sire) Mr TJ & Mrs SM Hobbs, Spaxton. South Devons at £1040 (20m) Mr G Barnes, Whitchurch Canonicorum and £1002 (18/24m & FA) Mr JC Salmon, Newquay.

Young stores in exceptional demand as graziers return to £1075 for a 13m Limousin steer from Mr RR & Mrs J Symons, South Molton. £1000, Charolais steer (16m & FA) Messrs MD Fone & Sons, who sold others 15/16m at £960. £980, Limousin (15m & FA) Mr PK & Mrs RJ Heard, Cheriton Fitzpaine, who sold 12/14m Charolais steers at £945. £945 was also bid for 12/13m and FA Limousin steers from Mr RR & Mrs J Symons again.

Dairy bred steers peaked at £935 for well grown types (20/22m & FA) from Mr RJ & Mrs GM Tucker, who sold others at £785 (19/22m & FA). £820 (16/20m & FA) Mr JA Selway Ltd; £800 (27m & FA) Mr T Webber, Loxhore; £785 (25/28m & FA) and £765 (24/25m & FA) Mrs CM Parker & Mrs IF Burnett, Templeton; £775 (30m) and £750 (25/27m) Mr JC & Mrs WE Down & Son and £755 (17/22m & FA) Messrs Blewett & Partners.

Heifers sold to a huge price of £1230 for a grand feeding South Devon (28m & FA) from Mr PR & Mrs T Eustice, Newquay. A fit Simmental (24m) from Mrs JC Williams & Son again achieved £1085. Very heavily fleshed Blues (22m & FA) from Messrs RC Rowe & Son, Upottery achieved £1080. Forward Charolais (22/25m & FA) from Messrs B & T Baker shot to £1072. Fit Limousins (22/24m & FA) from Mr C Jones, Stogursey returned at £1070. Well bred Charolais (27/28m & FA) and Blues (29m & FA) from Mr RMG & Mrs RG Salter, Buckland St Mary achieved £1038 and £1020 respectively. £1025 was bid for a 26m and FA Charolais from Messrs Ellicott Bros, Chilton Trinity. Fleshed Blues (27/28m & FA) from Mr TL Greenshields, Hawkchurch met a call of £1012, when Limousins (26m & FA) from the same farm rose to £1005. Grazing Limousin (20/23m & FA) at £1000 from Mr AC Rich, Dowlish Wake, who sold others 18/21m at £925. £1000 for a plum 14m Limousin from Mr JG & Mrs WE Down, South Chard. Grazing Charolais £995 (24/25m & FA) Messrs HC Derryman & Son, Stockland. £995 was also bid for good turn out Charolais (17/22m & FA) from Mr CG, Mrs GR & Mrs MS Spiller, Upottery.

Native heifers sold to £1015 for a strong 21m and FA Angus from Mr P & Mrs N Tapp, Washford. Further Angus heifers (25m, FA & sire) from Mr J Stott, Westbury Sub Mendip; £955 (29m, FA & sire) Mr IR & Mrs VR Hael and £940 (24m & FA) Puncknowle Manor Farm, Puncknowle and £930 (25/26m, FA & sire) Mr BA & L Male, Fivehead. Hereford heifers to £925 (18/22m & FA) Messrs Blewett & Partners, St Austell.

Steers Max £1265, Ave £860; Heifers Max £1230, Ave £783.

Charolais steers £1265 £1200; heifers £1072 £1070; Limousin £1108 £1100 £1070 £1005; Simmental £1192 £1190 £1085 £985; B/Blue £1245 £1240 £1080 £1020; Hereford £1100 £995 £925 £870; Angus £1080 £1025 £1015 £990; S/Devon steers £1040 £1002; heifers £1230; Devon £965 £885 £770 £670; Blonde £1050 £980 £775 £750; Friesian £935 £820 £845 £800; Shorthorn steers £780 £705; Saler steers £980 £945.

Suckler Cows, Calves & Stock Bulls (230): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report an exceptional entry of 230 kicked off with 24 bulls, when all but one sold on a fast trade to a top of £4500 for a 2 year old pedigree Limousin bull “Nealford Jedburgh” from Mr JH Neale & Sons of Cornwall. Their second bull sold for £3350. Charolais were also in demand and topped at £3700 for the 19m old “Vellow Jester” from Messrs A & V Sellick. Other breeds to £2100 for BRB and £1650 for AA.

Stronger cows and calves were in demand when second quality were harder to place. Mr C Phillips from Churchstanton sold a 4 year old Limousin cow with bull calf at foot for £2000. The dispersal for Messrs S Jones & Sons topped at £1550 for a pure Simmental cow with her month old heifer calf at foot. 7 year old BB cows with month old Charolais steer calf at foot sold to £1450 for Messrs JH Balment & Son of Barnstaple. ET Summerfield’s Charolais cow and Limousin steer calf sold to £1550.

Native breeds were in shorter supply when a 6 year old South Devon cow and her 1 month old bull calf at foot sold to £1400 for Mr C Northey of Ivybridge. 4 year old Hereford cross cow with twin month old calves at foot sold to £1300. AA cow and steer calf at £1340. Devon maiden heifers to £880 x2.

Private Treaty 15m Pedigree Angus Stock Bulls, 5 very thick 2 Year Old Pedigree AA Bulling Heifers.

Please contact Robert Venner 07889-006503.

Saturday, June 11, Monthly Catalogued Sale of Suckler Cows, Calves, Heifers & Bulls. To commence at 12.30pm Ring 1. Entries being taken. Please contact Jess Maynard on 01278-410278.

Busk Calves & Stirks (353): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report the fine spell of weather resulted in another excellent trade for the large entry of stirks on offer. Top price of £880 (12m) for a Limousin steer from Mr DJ Cheacker who also sold others at £845 x2 (13m). Other Limousins to £815 x2 (13m) from Mr TM Hervin; £790 (9m) £768 (9m) £745 (10m) and £740 (9m) from Messrs WJ & RA Alford; £750 x2 (11m) from Messrs WA Williams & Son; £735 (12m) from Mr D Prance; £735 x3 from Mr R Biss, who also sold others at £710 x2 (12m) and £725 (8m) from Mr B Jeffery. British Blues to £860 x2 (14m) from Mr CG Stanbury who also sold others at £810 (14m) and £795 x3 (13m). Other Blues to £785 (12m) from Mr PL Pendrick. Blondes to £795 (10m) from Mr C Chilcott. Others to £700 x3 (11m) from Mr RM Prouse. Simmentals to £725 x4 (11m) from Messrs AJ & TLJ Hawkins. Charolais to £725 (12m) from Mr P Attwell.

A good selection of bulls which rose to £705 x2 (12m) for a pair of Limousins from Messrs DH & SM Churchill. Other Limousins to £660 (13m) from Messrs AJ & LJ Hawkins. Charolais to £650 (8m) from Messrs MJ & RSM Barrow.

Heifers to £785 x2 (14m) for Limousins from Mr CG Stanbury who also sold another at £765 (14m). Other Limousins to £745 x3 from Messrs FA Kingcott & Son who also sold others at £680 x2 (14m); £700 (9m) and £640 x3 (10m) from Messrs WJ & RA Alford; £695 x2 from Mr R Biss; £680 x2 and £640 x5 (13m) from Mr TM Hervin. Simmentals to £745 from Messrs FA Kingcott & Son when others sold to £590 x2 (13m) from Messrs AJ & TLJ Hawkins. British Blues to £680 from Mr S Fry when others sold to £595 from Mr JP Stone (10m) and £580 (14m) from Mr SJ Williams. Charolais to £585 (9m) from Mr B Jeffery.

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 £880, Ave £507; Heifers Max £785, Ave £501.

Charolais steers £725 £680; Limousin steers £880 £845; heifers £785 £765; Simmental £725 £625 £745 £590; B/Blue £860 £810 £680 £595; Hereford £695 £650 £575 £520; Angus £690 £680 £530 £455; Devon steers £330; heifers £440 £390; Blonde steers £795 £700; heifers £545; Friesian steers £415 £395.

Non-Export Calves (450): Beef Breeds (342) – not able to be exported from market.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a larger entry met a buoyant Spring trade when many more farmers were in attendance, calves looked well and competition was keen throughout the day. Young continental bulls to £440 for Charolais from Messrs N & B Hutton. Others £388 Holmwood Farms Ltd; £388, £370 and £362 Messrs FJ Powell & Sons. Simmental bulls to £400 Habberfield Bros, others £390, £385 from Mr RW Harraway. Limousins to £400 Messrs PJ & AC Keirl, others £374 and £360. Blue bulls to £440 from Messrs CD & VJ Winn.

Many good bulls £320-£380 when a number of buyers put together some good rearing bunches. Mediums £250-£320 and smaller bulls £200 plus.

Heifers again in demand to £372 for Blues from Messrs CD & VJ Winn. Others £364, £360 and £358 from Messrs CJ & JC Pine and £350 Messrs AD & GD Bond. Charolais heifers to £300 Messrs SM & DM Turner and Simmentals £265 from Habberfield Bros. Limousin heifers the keenest today at £345 Mr N Morrow, Ladock, Cornwall. Others £340 the late Albert Grabham of Ilminster, £318 Messrs MW & S Edwards. More heifers over £250 today. Mediums from £200, small heifers £170 plus.

Native breeds in good supply when top Angus bulls sold to £328 from Messrs P Moon & Sons. Others £326. Heifers to £188 Paul Kostyla. Hereford bulls to £326 Messrs EG & CJ Rowe and heifers £260 Mr N Hutton.

Reared calves to £508 for 16 week Blues from Mr N George and Limousin bulls (12 weeks) £500, £498 and £480. Angus 12 weeks to £400 from Mr ND Churchill; £370 from Giles Willett and £360 from Mr GN Langley. Herefords £445 from Mr N George. Blue heifers £415 from Mr N George, also £410 Hereford £282, 12 week Limousins £358 from Messrs PJ & AC Keirl.

Blue Bull £440 CD & VJ Winn £438; Hfr £372 CD & VJ Winn £368; Charolais Bull £440 N & B Hutton £388; Hfr £300 SM & DM Turner £298; Limousin Bull £400 PJ & AC Keirl & Son £374; Hfr £358 PJ & AC Keirl & Son £345; Simmental Bull £400 Habberfield Bros £390; Hfr £310 RA Plowright £265; Hereford Bull £326 EG & CJ Rowe £310; Hfr £282 WT Baily £260; Angus Bull £328 P Moon & Sons £326; Hfr £240 GN Langley £215; Devon Bull £195 RF Tucker & Son; Hfrs £135 RF Tucker & Son £100; Hfr £285 Hill Partners; Fleckvieh Bull £260 GN Langley; Hfr £175 LJ & SF Gould; Welsh Black Hfr £140 N Morrow & Partners; Shorthorn Bull £192 Mr H Attwell.

Friesians (108) – not able to be exported from market. Greenslade Taylor Hunt report more black and white calves forward and a stronger demand, particularly for the smaller and plainer calves. Best British Friesians to £142 from Messrs TN Phillips & Son. Others £112 Giles Willett Partnership, £110 and £108 Messrs RJ & SJ Dare. Holstein Friesians to £139 Messrs AJ & EJ Maltby. Others £122 Paul Mason, Shrewsbury; £120 Messrs R Curtis & Partners and £115 Habberfield Bros. Medium calves £60-£100, plainer types £40-£80, keenly sought. Very few under £30. Reared Holstein Friesians to £200 Mr RA Plowright.

Sheep (3955): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report the following sheep trades:-

Store Lambs (462):

A slightly larger entry of store hoggs and lambs sold to a similar strong trade. The best hoggs sold to £99 from Messrs JEF & KF Stephens. Others £94 from Mr RJ Heywood; £89.50 and £84.50 from Mr KJ Seymour; £88 from Mrs F Green; £86 from Mr S Habberfield, Mr RB Macklin and Mr K Lye and £84 from Messrs RJ & LA Mitchell & Voke, Mr RJ Rowe and Snook Ltd. Lambs sold to £79.50 and £68 from Messrs AA & AD Gibbs. Others £71.50 from Messrs S & C Fry and £68.50 from Mr J Turney. Overall average £61.50.

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 (1719): The largest ever entry of grazing ewes and rams at Sedgemoor Market at 1719 head. Trade was generally a touch easier for all forward in line with other centres later on last week, however the best remained very competitive and the plainer ewes look very well sold. The best ewes sold to £121 from Miss J Killin. Others £114 from Mr K Lye; £110 from Mrs J Smith; £102.50 and £100 from Mr SHA Coombes; £100 from Mr C Peach; £99.50 from Messrs GJ & PC Perry; £98.50 from Mr J Baker and £97.50 from Messrs NF Clothier & Sons. Mediums ranged £68-£88, plain £58-£68. Boners nearly all £24 plus. Overall average £73.05.

Couples (568 Ewes & 760 Lambs): An extremely large entry of couples, being 568 ewes and 760 lambs sold to a fair trade for all on offer. Outfits with strong lambs and hogg couples keenly sought, however 2nd and 3rd quality types difficult to place. Best doubles to £192 (£64/life) from Mr G Bristow. Others £190 (£63.33/life) from Messrs JH & HJ Diment and £188 (£62.67/life) from Mr PG Gibbins. Strong singles to £185 (£92.50/life) from Messrs JH & HJ Diment. Others £175 (£87.50/life) from Mr PG Gibbins. Shearling singles to £148 (£74/life) from Messrs Evershot Farms. Overall average holding firm at £54.19/life.

Breeding Ewes (380): A useful entry of 380 breeding ewes forward, met a good but selective trade. Pedigree Poll Dorset shearlings to £155 from Messrs PW & MF Baker & Son. Other shearlings to £125 from Miss VEA Sparshott and £120 and £118 from Messrs NF Clothier & Sons. Ewe lambs to £100 from Messrs TG & MG Wooff and Messrs RG & E Powell. Overall average £93.70.

Goats (39): A good quality entry saw strong nannies to £109 from Messrs RG, AJ & JA Habberfield. Others £98 from Mr A Dickinson and £92 from Mr DH Turner. A nanny with 2 kids sold at £158 from Mr DH Turner.

Orphan Lambs (27): A much smaller entry of 27 orphan lambs sold to a more difficult trade when stronger types sold to £25 and £24 from Mr JP Tolley and an overall average of £10.15.

The Next Fodder Auction is Saturday, November 19.

The Next Poultry Market is Saturday, May 21.

Pigs (298): The Next Pig Market is Saturday, May 28.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report the following pig trades: Fat Pigs (130): A good entry of fat pigs forward again with new Vendors and a number of top quality pigs sold to a slightly brighter trade.

The best heavies to £114, £109 x3 and £105 for a cracking run from Messrs P & TA Reakes of Shepton Mallet. Other heavies to £100 and £98 for Mrs Tina Stone and £95 for Messrs V & H Christopher of Sturminster Newton. Lighter to medium weights to £94 for Messrs LE Miller & Son and £88 for Mr R Turner. Best also from Mr KN Groves, Mr P Hughes and Mr J Newth.

Store Pigs (140): More store pigs to a better trade than seen for some time. 10 w/o GOSx to £44 for Mr D Willis. Smart White 10 w/o stores to £39 and £36 for Paul Reakes. 10-12 w/o types to £43 and £30 for Mr J Collings of Cornwall and £45 for Mr P Hughes from Wales. Best also from Mr S Love, Mr N Richards and Mr D Gerring.

Cull Sows & Boars (28): Trade still strong for all well fleshed culls when the best sows sold to £128 for Messrs P & TA Reakes. Others £123 for Mr M Pipe and £118 for Peckmoor Farming. Boars to £99 for the same Vendors.

Monday, May 16

Total Stock: 2613 Head

PRIME Cattle UTM & OTM Clean & Young Bulls (95); UTM (92) & OTM Prime Cattle (3): Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a slightly larger entry at 95 head of prime cattle met a rattling trade. Rarely does the overall average exceed the R4L average but the steers returned at 175.4ppk, over 5ppk ahead of the R4L average. This was due to several runs of proper steers.

Steers topped at 202.5ppk for a Limousin (21m, 578kg & FA) from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop, Enmore, who sold other lightweight Limousins at 196.5, 193.5, 192.5, 190.0 and 189.5ppk. The best of a super run from Mr AJ Hepper & Son, Blue Anchor, rose to 196.5ppk for a Blue (21m, 681kg & FA) who also sold a Limousin at 191.5ppk. Further best steers from Messrs J & DJ Cotterill, Monksilver, rose to 195ppk for a Limousin (25m, 564kg & FA) and 190ppk for a Blonde (25m, 611kg & FA) from Bottor Rock Farms, Newton Abbot. Congratulations to all for an excellent show.

Heifers topped the day at 209.5ppk for a quality Charolais (25m, 550kg & FA) from Mrs MJ Tuckett & Partners, Ide. Close by at 208.5ppk was a perfectly finished Limousin (24m, 566kg & FA) from Mr J & Mrs S Vinnicombe & Son, Ottery St Mary, who sold another at 196.5ppk. Other very best heifers at 199.5ppk, Limousin (24m, 480kg & FA) from Mr DH & Mrs SM Churchill, South Chard; 198.5ppk, Limousin (19m, 467kg & FA) Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop and 198ppk, Limousin (26m, 409kg & FA) Mr J & Mrs DJ Cotterill.

Steers sold to a tremendous £1,338.17 for a Blue (21m, 681kg & FA) from Mr AJ Hepper & Son, who sold a Limousin at £1,312.22. A strong Charolais (25m, 794kg & FA) from Mr TV & Mrs E Wotton, Newton Abbot achieved £1,318.04.

Heifers sold to £1,194.72 for a strong Limousin (27m, 608kg & FA) from Mr J & Mrs S Vinnicombe & Son, who sold another at £1,180.11. Other better heifers at £1,162.88 for a Blue (26m, 632kg & FA) from Mr JS & Mrs M Frost, Weston Super Mare; £1,158.98 for a Blue (26m, 668kg & FA) from Mr CJ & Mrs JI Hayman, Yeovil who also sold a Blonde at £1,121.89 and £1,152.25 for a Charolais (25m, 550kg & FA) from Mrs MJ Tuckett & Partners.

Steers (55): Top Price UTM 202.5p/kg, OTM 117.0p/kg. Average UTM 174.4p/kg, OTM 117.0p/kg, Top price per head UTM £1,338.17, OTM £702.00.

Top Vendors: Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 202.5; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 196.5; Messrs AJ Hepper & Son BRBX 196.5; Messrs J & DJ Cotterill LIMX 195.0; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 193.5.

Top Vendors: Messrs AJ Hepper & Son BRBX £1,338.17; Messrs TV & E Wotton LIMX £1,318.04; Messrs AJ Hepper & Son LIMX £1,312.22; Messrs AJ Hepper & Son LIMX £1,292.17; Bottor Rock Farms BAZ £1,252.96.

Heifers (38): Top price UTM 209.5p/kg, OTM 146.5p/kg. Average UTM 167.6p/kg, OTM 129.2p/kg, Top price per head UTM £1,194.72, OTM £842.38.

Top Vendors: Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners CHX 209.5; Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX 208.5; Messrs DH & SM Churchill LIMX 199.5; Messrs KJ & S Bishop LIMX 198.5; Messrs J & DJ Cotterill LIMX 198.0.

Top Vendors: Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX £1,194.72; Messrs J & S Vinnicombe & Son LIMX £1,180.11; Messrs JS & M Frost BRBX £1,162.88; Messrs CJ & JI Hayman BRBX £1,158.98; Messrs MJ Tuckett & Partners CHX £1,152.25.

Limousin Steers Ave 179.4, Top 202.5, Heifers Ave 178.1, Top 208.5; Simmental Steers 179.0, 179.0; B/Blue 182.4, 196.5, 168.7, 184.0; Charolais 164.5, 190.0, 194.2, 209.5; Blonde 177.2, 190.0, 170.5, 170.5; A/Angus 161.5, 161.5, 144.9, 166.5; Hereford 167.5, 167.5, 153.0, 153.0; Devon Heifers 159.0, 159.0; H/Friesian Steers 121.3, 123.5; Bazadais Steers 180.6, 189.0.

Eurogrid Liveweight Averages: All weights, sucklers and dairy, assured and not, corn & grass fed. R4L equivalent of Steers 320ppk and Heifers 322ppk deadweight at 53%.

U+3 Steers Ave 185.4, Max 196.5; U-2 Steers Ave 189.3, Max 196.5, Heifers Ave 199.5, Max 199.5; U-3 182.8, 202.5, 202.6, 209.5; U-4L 179.9, 189.5, 179.2, 208.5; R2 Steers 187.2, 192.5; R3 Steers 167.1, 170.0; R4L 170.0, 175.0, 171.2, 182.5; O+3 Steers 161.5, 161.5; O+4L 154.5, 167.5, 160.0, 174.0; O-4L Heifers 143.0, 153.0; P+4L 121.3, 123.5, 106.5, 106.5.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report what a cow trade! Fewer cows forward at 76 head when 276 could have been sold. Probably the dearest trade for 12 months when all buyers were firing. Continental sucklers averaged 128.6, natives 116.2 and dairy breeds an excellent 106ppk.

Top was 148ppk for a grand 848kg Charolais from Mr TV & Mrs E Wotton, Newton Abbot. Continentals from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop, Enmore hit 143, 138, 137 and 136ppk. 136.5ppk was also bid for a 900kg Blonde from Mr RM Ashman, Wrington.

Native cows peaked at 133ppk from Mr RL Kent, Clevedon. A Devon from Mr DM Barker, Taunton rose to 132.5ppk.

Sucklers sold to a massive £1,255.04 for the Charolais from Mr TV & Mrs E Wotton. Mr RM Ashman’s Blonde returned at £1,228.50. Other good continentals at £1,124.70 for a Simmental from Mr KJ & Mrs S Bishop and £1,102.73 for a Charolais from Mr DM Barker.

Native cows sold to £1,096.16 for an Angus from Messrs Lynham & Chidgey, Bridgwater.

Best dairy breeds at 123.5 and 122.5ppk for Holsteins from Mr CJ & Mrs JC Pine, Stoke St Gregory. Better type cows at 117.5ppk for a Friesian from Messrs Cavill & Sons, West Monkton; 117ppk for a Holstein from Mr RF & Mrs JK Cox & Son, Chilton Polden and 116.5ppk for Holsteins from both Mr ES Triggol, Chedzoy and Mr FH & Mrs PJ Bailey, Bridport. Good cows to 115ppk. Meat 105 to 110ppk. Plain steakers 100ppk. The odd bone shaker at 70ppk plus.

Dairy breeds sold to £1,091.40 from Mr DW Rowe & Son, Axminster. Others £1,020.11 and £980 for Holsteins from Mr CJ & Mrs JC Pine; £1,000.35, Holstein, Mr RF & Mrs JK Cox & Son at £951.90 for a Friesian from Messrs Holt Farms Ltd, Bristol.

Barren Cows (76): Top Price Continental Beef 148.0p/kg, Native Beef 133.0p/kg, Dairy 123.5p/kg.

Average 128.6ppk, 116.2ppk, 106.0ppk. Top price per head £1,255.04, £1,096.16, £1,091.40.

Cows Only Grade 1 Ave (ppk) 134.7, Top (ppk) 148.0, Ave (£) £970.18, Top (£) £1,255.04; Grade 2 114.8, 132.5, £841.64, £1,102.73; Grade 3 105.3, 128.5, £705.36, £891.80; Grade 4 99.7, 136.5, £646.86, £1,228.50.

Top Suckler Vendors: Messrs TV & E Wotton, CHX, 148.0; Messrs KJ & S Bishop, LIMX, 143.0; Messrs KJ & S Bishop, SIMX, 138.0; Messrs KJ & S Bishop, LIMX, 137.0; Mr RM Ashman, BAX, 136.5.

Top Dairy Vendors: Messrs CJ & JC Pine, HF, 123.5; Messrs CJ & JC Pine, HF, 122.5; Messrs J & NP Cavill, BF, 117.5; Messrs RF & JK Cox & Son, HF, 117.0; Messrs FH & PJ Bailey, HF, 116.5; Mr ES Triggol, HF, 116.5.

Suckler Vendors: Messrs TV & E Wotton, CHX, £1,255.04; Mr RM Ashman, BAX, £1,228.50; Messrs KJ & S Bishop, SIMX, £1,124.70; Mr DM Barker, CHX, £1,102.73; Messrs Lynham & Chidgey, AA, £1,096.16.

Dairy Vendors: Messrs DW Rowe & Son, HF, £1,091.40; Messrs CJ & JC Pine, HF, £1,020.11; Messrs RF & JK Cox & Son, HF, £1,000.35; Messrs CJ & JC Pine, HF, £980.00; Messrs Holt Farms Ltd, BF, £951.90.

Bulls (2): Top price 106.5p/kg, Average 104.6p/kg, Top Price Per Head £1,038.38.

Top Vendors: Messrs MR & SK Westcott & Son AA 106.5. Messrs MR & SK Westcott & Son AA £1,038.38.

Heifers (1): Top price 118.5p/kg, Average 118.5p/kg, Top Price Per Head £809.36.

Top Vendors: Messrs FH & PJ Bailey HF 118.5. Messrs FH & PJ Bailey HF £809.36.

Finished Lambs & Hoggs (2439): Lambs (1558), Hoggs (881): Top price p/head £96.00, £88.50; Top price p/kg 213.0p/pk, 185.0p/pk; SQQ Average 200.80p/pk, 172.86p/pk.

Standard (32.1-39.0kg) 201.88; Medium (39.1-45.5kg) 200.32, 172.86; Heavy (45.6-52kg) 186.63, 167.22; Others (Over 52kg) 151.34.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report an even larger entry of 1558 lambs sold to a competitive trade for all presented and although they were at a lower level than last week they averaged over 12ppk more than the corresponding week last year. The best sold to 213ppk from Messrs TA Dowden & Son. Others 212ppk from Messrs GA & KJ Butt and Messrs CW Ashford & Son; 211ppk from Messrs RH Groves & Sons (x2) and Mr TE Harris and 210ppk from Mr SJ Millard, Mrs LA Read, RJ Willcox Ltd and Arscott Farm Machinery.

Heavier lambs sold to £96 from Mr K Paton. Others £95.50 from Mr TE Harris; £90.50 from Mrs J Hillman; £89 from Messrs JR & RH Williams; £88.50 from Messrs AF & RD Tucker & Sons; £88 from Arscott Farm Machinery and £87.50 from Mr KJ Seymour, Mr R Wall, Messrs PD & SA Godfrey and Messrs MR & P Cooke. Overall average £80.80.

A larger entry of 881 after last Monday’s flyer sold at lower levels for all forward. Handyweights sold to 195ppk from Messrs PD & SA Godfrey. Others 189, 187, 185 and 181 from Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 181ppk from Mr AJ Crabb and 180ppk from Messrs DR & PS Osborne.

Heavier hoggs sold to £88.50 from Mr AJ Crabb and from Mrs LM Walters. Others £88 from Messrs JB Pearce & Sons; £87.50 and £87 from Mr J Baker and £87 from Messrs MB & KN Crabb (x3) and Foxhollow Farm Ltd (x2). Overall average £77.85.

Lambs: 37.0 £77.50 Mr ZRJ Bessell; 38.0 £81.00 Messrs TA Dowden & Son; 38.0 £80.00 Messrs RH Groves & Sons; 39.0 £82.50 Messrs CW Ashford & Son; 39.0 £82.00 Mr SJ Millard; 39.0 £81.50 Mr J Buckle; 40.0 £84.50 Mr TE Harris; 40.0 £84.00 RJ Willcox Ltd; 40.0 £84.00 Mrs LA Read; 40.0 £83.50 Messrs K & N Crang; 41.0 £87.00 Messrs GA & KJ Butt; 42.0 £88.00 Arscott Farm Machinery; 42.0 £87.00 Messrs AF & RD Tucker & Sons; 43.0 £88.50 Messrs AF & RD Tucker & Sons; 45.0 £89.00 Messrs JR & RH Williams; 46.0 £90.50 Mrs J Hillman; 50.0 £96.00 Mr K Paton; 51.0 £95.50 Mr TE Harris.

Hoggs: 40.0 £78.00 Messrs PD & SA Godfrey; 41.0 £74.00 Messrs DR & PS Osborne; 44.0 £83.00 Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 45.0 £84.00 Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 45.0 £79.50 Messrs RG Drew & Sons; 46.0 £85.00 Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 48.0 £87.00 Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 48.0 £85.00 Messrs MB & KN Crabb; 49.0 £88.50 Mr AJ Crabb; 49.0 £86.00 Messrs MB & KN Crabb; 50.0 £87.00 Messrs MB & KN Crabb; 51.0 £88.50 Mrs LM Walters; 51.0 £87.00 Foxhollow Farm Ltd; 52.0 £88.00 Messrs JB Pearce & Sons; 52.0 £87.50 Mr J Baker; 53.0 £87.00 Messrs MB & KN Crabb.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt report a larger entry of 80 cull ewes and rams sold to £77 from Mr K Paton and £75 from Mr SER Hunt, Messrs OAG & PN Stephens & Sons, Mrs C Martin and Mr NCW Tavernor.

Forthcoming sales:

May:

Saturday 28, Monthly Sale of Native Store Cattle 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 28, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.

Monday 30, Bank Holiday No Market. Office Closed.

Tuesday 31, Prime Cattle, Barren Cows, Prime Lambs & Killing Ewes.

June:

Saturday 4, Monthly Catalogued Sale of Organic Store Stock 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 4, Special Catalogued Early Sale of Breeding Ewes 12pm.

Saturday 11, Monthly Catalogued Sale of Suckler Cows 12.30pm Ring 1.

Saturday 11, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.

Thursday 16, General Household Effects Sale 10.30am (Tel 01278-410250).

Saturday 18, Collective Catalogued Sale of Purebred Poultry 12 Noon.

Tuesday 21, Mid Summer Collective Dairy Sale of Freshly Calved Cows, Heifers, Youngstock & Bulls 11am Ring 1.

Saturday 25, Monthly Sale of Native Store Cattle 10am Ring 2.

Saturday 25, Fortnightly Sale of Pigs 11am.