A relatively small entry of cows and overage cattle was seen at Whitland Mart on Saturday with cows selling to an average of 123ppk or £760/head. Cows peaked at 137ppk for a 490 kilo Limousin from Davies, Gilrhyd, who also sold another 675 kilo Limousin at 130p. An overage Limousin steer weighing 525 kilos sold at 140ppk (£735) from James, Iscoed.

An entry of just under 300 store cattle was seen selling to an improved trade throughout with heifers and steers averaging of £555 and £637 respectively; Heifers peaked at £935 for an Anerdeen Angus from Evans, Ffynon-Iago, and for a Simmental from Gwynne, Rhosddu, whilst bulls levelled at £388.

A much improved entry of quality suckler cows and calves was seen, selling to a brisk trade averaging £1,100/head. Cows peaked at £1,660 for a Limousin with a Limousin calf at foot from Jones, Heol Feinog.

Four strong working bulls were forward selling to a top price of £1,460 for a Charolais from Howells, Llettywilws; £1,340 for a Limousin from Williams, Marchgwyn Uchaf; £1,280 for a Charolais from Priddey, Caermalwas Fawr, and £990 for a Limousin from Morris, Gilfach Farm.

Ewe and lamb couples sold to a top price of £152 for a good pen from Woolrich, Llecha Farm.

Weekly Mart

Some 700 lambs were seen at the weekly mart at Whitland on Tuesday, May 19, including 554 spring lambs -the best meated lambs achieving a top price of 223ppk and £90/head, while selling to an average of 206ppk.

Hoggets made up to 190ppk and £80/head, with the standard weight lambs selling to an average of 164.23ppk and £60.99/head. The overall market average returned 165.57ppk.

Cull ewes and rams numbering 370 met a steady trade throughout with the greatest demand again being for the heavier type ewes which averaged £60, while the lighter types averaged £47. Rams averaged £61. Ewes peaked at £90 from Monahan, Stember Farm House and Morris, Mwche. Rams peaked at £76.50 from Thomas, Mill Cottage. A small entry of fat steers forward sold to a top price p/kg of 139.50p for a 540 kilo Limousin from Reynolds, Pentroydin.

The best entry of cows was seen for a very long time including 27 cows, one bull and four overage heifers. Cows sold to an average of 101.07ppk or £611/head an improvement of 2.91ppk and £51/head on the previous week. Out of the 27 cows forward 22 were dairy bred which sold to an average of 95.27ppk.

The best entry of calves was also seen for a while with the good bulls selling to a top of £255 for a Limousin from Rees, Plasbach. Heifers sold to a top price of £218 for a Belgian Blue from Thomas, Little Pale.