THE second sheep sale of the year saw an increased number of 1,115 sheep forward to include 869 yearlings, 201 older ewes, five rams, 18 yearling rams and 22 store lambs.

Yearlings sold to an improved trade, with many reaching over the £100/head barrier. The 869 yearlings forward sold to a very good average of £95/head — an improvement of £5/head on the first sale. The more mature ewes sold to an average of £65/head.

Rams: An improved entry of rams was seen on Friday, which saw the yearling rams sell to an average of 220gns, while the older rams sold to an average of 162gns. The best of the rams sold to a top price of 335gns for a yearling texel. Other leading yearling prices included 290gns for a texel. The more mature rams sold to a top of 215gns

Breeding ewes: A very good entry of quality ewes of all ages saw prices peak at £121/head for Suffolk X yearling ewes. Other leading yearling prices included £119 for pure-bred texels.

The older ewes also met a fast trade, selling to a top of £95 for Suffolk Xs. Other leading prices included £91 for four-year-old Suffolk Xs.

Store lambs: A small entry of store lambs saw prices reach a top of £36.50, with others at £32.

Cardigan Livestock Market — July 13

Yet another excellent entry, selling to an excellent trade.

With more than 700 prime lambs forward, a top price of 158.7p per kilo was achieved, and averaging 147.2p per kilo.

Store lambs also sold to a good trade, with the best making 136.0p per kilo. Cull ewes were very mixed quality, but the best peaked at £68.

A very mixed quality entry of calves, but the best continental bull calves topped at £290 and heifers at £170, Friesian bulls topped at £132.

Sheep Section: prime lambs — light max 144.2, avg 139.1; standard 156.0, 144.5; medium 158.7, 151.2; overall average 147.2p.

Store Lambs: £49. Cull Ewes: £68. Calves: £290.

Whitland Livestock Market — July 14

Lambs: An improved entry of lambs was seen this week, selling to a much better trade with the best meated continental lambs reaching a top of 153p/kg or £65.50/head.

The overall market average for the spring lambs was 143.45p/kg, an improvement of nearly 5p/kg on the previous week.

Six hoggets were sold to a top of 110p/kg for 47 kilos, which realised £51.50/head.

Quotations: light lambs (25.5-32kg) avg/£head 39.98, max/£head 41.50; standard lambs (32.1-39kg) 52.47, 59.00; medium lambs (39.1-45.5kg) 61.43, 64.50; Heavy lambs (45.6-52kg) 63.46, 65.50; Others (52kg-plus) 64.80, 64.80.

Cull ewes and rams: An improved entry of cull ewes was seen this week, selling to a solid trade throughout, with the best quality ewes selling to a very fast trade which saw the heavier type ewes selling to an average of £52, while the lighter ewes and rams averaged £22 and £43.50 respectively. Prices peaked at £90.

Fat cattle: A small entry of fat cattle saw prices reach a top of 144.50p/kg for a 625 kilo Limousin steer with other leading prices p/kg at 142.50p for a 615 kilo Limousin steer.

Barren cows: A good entry of cows forward sold to an average of 72.52p/kg, reflective of the quality of the animals on offer. Prices p/kg peaked at 116p for a 510 kilo Simmental from and at £660/head for a 655 kilo MRI.

Overage heifer and steers: Prices p/kg topped at 125p for a 750 kilo Limousin who also sold a 900 kilo Limousin steer at 121p.

Calves: A fair entry of calves forward, which saw bulls sell to an average of £62 due to an increased entry of dairy bred calves, while heifers averaged £60.

Prices peaked at £268 for a Limousin bull. Other leading bull prices included £195 for a Hereford.