CARDIGAN

January 18th

J. J. Morris reports: Another good entry for the time of year, with a total of 70 head of cattle, 50 calves and 818 head of sheep.

The store cattle section saw a steady trade. Barren cows sold to a faster trade and the calf section again sold well.

The hogget section met a steadier trade, but on par with national trends. Store lambs sold well. With over 300 cull ewes on offer, a fast trade was achieved.

Barren cows/overage cattle (43): £1,135, £1,090 £1,075 £1,070 £975 Watkin, Dyffryn Hoffnant, Brynhoffnant; £780, £670 Hodson, Cefngranod, Sarnau; £750 Harries, Garregwen, Boncath.

Store cattle (32): £855, £792, £670 Lewis, Glanllynan, Cardigan; £770 Webster, Nantyrefail, Oakford.

Calves (50): £240, £228, £218 (Belgian Blue) Williams, Cilcert, Aberaeron; £220, £200, £172 (Limousin) Jenkins, Trefach, Pontfaen; £185 (Belgian Blue) Bevan, Penymynydd, Puncheston.

Top prices: 188.8 Evans, Tandderi, Llanwenog; 186.8, 184.4, 182.3 Owens, Glantre, Pontsian; 184.2, 181.2, 180.0 Davies, Blaenbuarthe, Velindre.

Store lambs (21): £66.50 Evans, Garn, Plwmp; £60.50 Linfoot, Bigni, Ferwig; £55 Howells, Ucheldir, Cwmduad; £54 Evans, 4 Brodyfyriog, Llandyfyriog.

Cull ewes (325): £144 Davies, Rhandir, Tremain; £140 Scurlock, Solbury Farm, Haverfordwest; £122, £116, £110 Jones, Rhydygofaint, Llwyncelyn.

WHITLAND

JANUARY 19th

J. J. Morris reports: Prime hoggets (609): A good entry of hoggets was seen selling to a steadier trade compared to last week but in line with the national trends.

Top prices p/kg: 33.5k 187p Anthony, Waun Fawr; 40.5k 186p, 41k 184p Davies and Millichap, Llandre Uchaf; 38k 184p, 44k 182p John, Pantyderi Farm.

Cull ewes and rams (408): The best entry of ewes seen this year with trade a little more relaxed in comparison to last week but still prices remained at a good level with the greatest demand being for the heavier meated type ewes which sold to an average of £55/head. Top prices: £84 Texels Willett, Nant-Y-Castell; £82, £62 Williams, Ty Cynog; £79, £60 Phillips, Broomsgrove Farm.

Wethers: £55 Thomas, Tynewydd Farm; £53, £44 Davies, Trefasser Isaf.

Rams: £80.50 Kilvert, Cwmafael; £70, £64 Thomas and Davies, Ffynnonbrodyr; £64 Bryan, Colman House; £50 Evans, Frondeg; £44 Price and Son, Garnfach.

Fat cattle: Prices topped at 139.50p/kg for a 650 kilo Limousin steer from Thomas, Cresswell who also sold a 630 kilo Hereford heifer at 119.50p/kg. Topping at £906 was the 650 kilo Limousin steer while the Hereford heifer sold at £752/head.

Cull cows (13): A fair entry of cows was seen which saw the best well fleshed continental types sell to a top of 120p/kg and £930/head from Phillips, Esgerddeugoed; with the overall market average at 87p/kg and £560/head due to the presence of a few plainer dairy types. Top prices p/kg: Limousins 775k at 120p, 660k at 118p, 720k at 113p Phillips, Esgerddeugoed; Limousin 735k at 94p John, Pensarn; Meuse Rhine Issell 640k at 90p Thomas, Great Letterston Farm.

Calves (15): Prices topped at £230 for Hereford bulls from Rees, Plasbach. Other leading bull prices:£100, £80, £70 Simmentals, Woolley, Pencraig Isaf. Heifers: £168, £152 for a Limousin, Evans, Waterholmes Farm; £128 Hereford, Thomas, Little Pale; £100 Simmentals, Woolley, Pencraig Isaf.

Dairy bred calves topped at £42 for a Holstein Friesian from Nicholas, Cilmoor Farm; £40 Thomas, Little Pale; £32 Davies, Upper Carvan Farm.

Newcastle Emlyn

January 19th

Dai Lewis Auctioneers report as follows: A seasonal entry of cattle forward in all sections (152). Barrens sold to a fast run throughout, with keen competition for all sorts from start to finish, with overall average being up considerably from the last mart in mid December. Weaned calves and store cattle sold to another tremendous trade, which augurs well for the forthcoming season.

Barrens (58) overall average £682.24. Top prices: £910, £820 Jenkins, Penwern Fawr, Cwmcou, Newcastle Emlyn; £855 Maskell, Cwmgest, Talog, Carmarthen; £850, £810, £805, £750, £730, £720, £715, £680, £645 Evans, Maeniwan, Bryniwan, Cynywl Elfed, Carmarthen.

Bull: £722 Jenkins, Brohedydd, Pennant, Aberaeron.

Weaned calves: Bulls: £290 (4), £240 (3) Maskell, Cwmgest, Talog.

Steers overall average £638. £692 Griffiths, Blaenffynnon, Cynwyl Elfed; £668 (2), £648 (3) James, Bryngolau, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn; £565 (2) Welch, Silver Birches, Rhydlewis, Llandysul.

Heifers overall average £541. £662 Griffiths, Blaenffynnon, Cynwyl; £460 James, Bryngolau, Capel Iwan.

Store cattle: Steers overall average £872. Leading prices: £1,035, £980, (2), £970 (4) Williams, Treale, Felindre, Llandysul; £855, £850 (2), £807 (2) Jones, Cyffionos, Cross Inn, New Quay; £840 Davies, Rhydygors, Talog, Carmarthen.

Heifers overall average £617. £792, £715 Davies, Rhydygors, Talog; £720 Jones, Cyffionos, Cross Inn; £680, £675, £530 (4) Griffiths, Tredafydd, Sarnau; £650, £622 (2), £604 (5), Jones, Penbuarth, Newcastle Emlyn.

Newcastle Emlyn

January 21st

Dai Lewis Auctioneers report as follows: Another good entry forward in all sections, with producers now able to get out and about after the recent period of wintry weather.

Hoggets saw a faster run to the beginning of the week. Stores also sold to a fast run and culls again maintained a brisk demand.

Leading prices: 206.5, 186.0 Thomas, 32 y Rhos, Cardigan; 204.4, 194.7 Thomas, Cwmdyllest, Pontsian, Llandysul; 201.8, 188.0 Davies, Moelfryn Mawr, Bethania, Llanon.

Store hogs overall average £44.47. Leading prices: £77 Whitfield, Lancwm, Tregroes; £65 Evans, Dyffryn Brodyn, Blaenwaun; £60 Jones, Penrallteifed.

Culls: Rams overall average £77.50. Leading prices: £93, £61.50 Jones, Pantycetris, Talgarreg.

Ewes overall average £73.31. Leading prices: £103.50, £78.50 Thomas, Cwmdyllest, Pontsian; £96.50, £81.50 Evans, Rhydsais, Talgarreg; £94.50, £85.50 Davies, Glanwern, Felinfach.

Goats: £63.50 (3) Evans-Hennings, Llwynbeili, Felindre, Llandysul.