Ringside at Hatherleigh Livestock Market, Devon

Hatherleigh Livestock Market, Devon

Store cattle trade remained buoyant at last Thursday’s sale (11 April), when 135 head went under the hammer. An 18-month-old Limousin cross steer commanded the day’s top price of £1,230, with forward Simmental cross steers selling to £1,120. British Blue steers reached £1,095, with Blue heifers topping at £1,095 and Friesian steers selling to £902.

Other top prices for animals aged 12 to 26 months ranged from £600 to £848 a head, with all steers averaging £689.49 a head and heifers settling at £556.42. Cull cows peaked at £910, with in-calf cows running to £995 apiece. Monday’s (15 April) sheep sale saw prime hoggets average 178.74p/kg and sell to a top of 185.8p, with draft ewes averaging £67.49.