17CarmarthenFarmTT An unprecedented shortage of cattle available for sale has resulted in prices improving rapidly at the country's busiest and leading centre for dairy cattle, store cattle and calves.

Entries at weekly sales are being affected by an increasing number of herds being subject to movement restrictions due to TB reactors, the removal of BSE cohorts in advance of lifting the OTMS rule, uncertainty of the new farm support payments all counterbalanced by expansion within most herds remaining in production.

Last Wednesday's dairy section was led by a £1,280 bid for a heifer consigned by David Fairclough and family from Newbridge On Wye dispersing the herd through the weekly sales, with five more animals crossing the £1,100 barrier. Average for the heifer section was £988 reflecting both the demand and quality of animals on offer.

Calf numbers remain far lower than normal for the time of year possibly indicating a swing in the calving pattern away from the spring months. Demand has increased as normal with local beef producers bidding up to £252 for a three week old Charolais bull from R. Beynon and Son, Eastern Slade, Oxwich, Gower with others up to £250.

An excellent entry of store cattle at the weekly Thursday sale saw 22 month Charolais steers from W. T. E. Davies, Glascoed Fawr, Llanarthne reach £790 with 24 month Charolais steers from M. Vooght, Blaenffos, Newcastle Emlyn at £748.

Demand again reflects the shortage throughout the country due to far too many calves being disposed of at birth as finished cattle prices remain at similar levels to previous years.