Achi news desk-
By Alec Ross
Steers at St Boswells yesterday averaged 291p/kg and sold to 328p/kg, while heifers averaged 294p/kg and sold to 334p/kg, and cast cows averaged 186p/kg and were sold to 215p/kg or a top price of £1899.
The exceptional trade for Hoggs continued with an average of 393p/kg (+3p on the week) and a peak of £240 per head for Beltexes, while cast ewes averaged £107 per head and sold to £217 for a Texel ewe. Heavy ewes averaged £154, light ewes sold to £155 for North Country Cheviots, and an average of £111 per head.
The recent inclement weather meant that there were relatively few top quality Hoggets at Ayr yesterday, which meant that those who braved the elements were well rewarded for their efforts with an average of 391p/kg and a top of £250 each for Beltexes from Howcommon or 467p/kg for a strong pen of the same breed from Dustyhall Farming.
Lambing sheep prices also rose, with ewes selling to £231 for a Texel from Caprickhill and rams peaking at £219 for a Suffolk / Beltex cross from Brickrow, while Aitkenhead led the Blackie and Cheviot classes at £133 each and £ 177/ head respectively. And Mules from Lanemark sold for £157 each.
Heifers of the main beef breed at Lanark yesterday averaged 301p/kg (+2p on the week) and sold to 346p/kg for Limousin, while steers rose the same level to average 292p/kg and u sold to 318p/kg, again for a Limousin. And cast beef and dairy cows rose 2p on the week to average 197p/kg and 170p/kg respectively.
Top beef breed steers saw the biggest movement in the cattle classes at Carlisle yesterday, jumping 22p/kg on the week to an average of 278p/kg, and selling to 312p/kg.
Young bulls of all classes fell slightly to an average of 249p/kg, while cast beef cows and dairy cows averaged 197p/kg and 152p/kg. And due to the relative lack of choice lambs, an increase of 45p/kg was seen to an average of 459p/kg, while Dutch ewes averaged £166 per head and mountain ewes averaged £92 per head.
