Another exceptional entry of 548 store cattle forward saw consignments of stock from across the three West Wales counties and as far as Llanelli, Gower and Sennybridge.

This resulted in a fast trade throughout, with good quality, well fleshed even bunches of cattle selling at a premium, with many vendors delighted at the level of trade.

Steers sold to a top price of £722 from Roberts, Parke, Henllan Amgoed, with young bulls selling to £482 for a pair of Welsh Blacks from Cumming, Llainshed, Brynhoffnant. Young bulls averaged £302, with heifers averaging £446 and steers averaging a similar figure.

A special entry of pedigree Limousin heifers from Phillips, Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin Mynach, sold for the day's leading prices at £780, £770, £760, £710 and £660, with the other leading prices for the heifers being £642 for a Blonde from Nicholas, Pleasant View, Cold Blow, and a Limousin from Roberts, Parke, Henllan Amgoed.

The suckler trade saw an entry of 12 suckler cows presented together with seven in-calvers and a Charolais bull. There were plenty of buyers around the sale ring, ensuring a fast trade, which saw a top price of £810 from Gibby, Sarngwm, Llawhaden, with other leading prices including £800 from Jones, Nantyrharn, Sennybridge, also £770; £780 from Morgan, Plas-y-gwer, St. Clears; £690 from Harries, Garregwen, Clydey, and £660 from James, Penygraig Farm, Whitland.

The lack of numbers forward, as less farmers are keeping suckler cows, is ensuring a brisk trade, which no doubt will continue. In-calf cows sold to a top price of £545 from Jones, Nantyrharn, Sennybridge, who also presented others which realised £535, £485, £480 etc. An in-calf heifer from Lewis, Trefyw, Cwmfelin Mynach, sold at £500.

The Charolais bull from Fulcher, Islands View, Rosemary Lane, sold at £1,000.

A similar entry of barren cows and overage cattle to the previous sale met an improved demand, with several lots making in excess of 85p per kilo, with a top price of 110.2p per kilo paid for a 680 Limousin from Evans, Ty-Isaf, Cwmfelin Mynach, with an M.R.I. from Kedward & Co., Hafod, Llanboidy, realising 100p per kilo, with other leading prices as follows: 96.36p per kilo for 760 kilos (AA) from Cumming, Llainshed, Brynhoffnant; 94.94p 495 kilos (BB) from Lewis, Llangwathen, Lampeter Velfrey, also 87.57p 660 kilos (BB), and 85.93p for 640 kilos (Fri) from Thomas, Little Pale, Whitland. Top price per head was the £750 from Evans, Cwmfelin Mynach, with other leading prices including £740 from Cumming, Llainshed. The overall average was £475, which equated to 73.56p per kilo.

A small entry of ewe and lamb couples - typical of the time of year - sold to a top price of £110 from Jones, Plasbach, Maesybont, with other leading prices including £91 from Giles, Bryngwyddil House, Llanfyrnach, who also presented others which realised £90.

The store sale tomorrow (Saturday) will see a special entry of 60 12-15-month-old Belgian Blue and Continental Steers and two pedigree bulls, a Welsh Black and a Limousin.

Tuesday Mart

An entry of 56 very good quality week-old calves presented resulted in a fast trade. Top price was £240 for a Limousin bull from Phillips, Esgerddeugoed, Cwmfelin Mynach, with Belgian Blue bulls selling to £235 from Kedward & Co., Hafod, Llanboidy, who also sold a Limousin bull which realised £208.

Heifers sold to a top price of £165 for a Limousin, again from Kedward & Co., Hafod, Llanboidy, with other leading prices including £102 for a Simmental from Bowen, Rose Park, Red Roses, and £100 for a Charolais from Tremellen, Tremoilet Farm, Pendine. Friesian bulls sold to a top price of £78 and averaged just over £14.

In the sheep section, an entry of 575 approved lambs once again sold to a brisk trade, with the overall average at 150.15p per kilo and a top price of 172.80p per kilo for 37.5 kilo lambs presented by Davies, Bron-Y-Gaer, Bancyfelin.

Other leading prices included 168.4p for 38 kilos from Edmunds, Carnary Farm, Whitland, and 167p for 40 kilo lambs from Evans, Greenwell, Llangybi. Top price per head was £72.50 for 45.5 kilos from Price, Holly Thorn, Upland Arms, with a large number of pens realising in excess of £60.

A reduced entry of hoggetts and sheep saw some 102 presented, with hoggetts averaging 117.3p per kilo and selling to a top price of 126.2p for 35 kilo hoggetts from Thomas, Awelgrug, Crymych, with other leading prices including 125.4p per kilo for 48 kilo hoggetts presented by Rees, Penrallt Meredith, Eglwyswrw, with sheep averaging 65.31p per kilo.

Some 378 cull ewes and rams sold to a very fast trade, with an improvement noticeable on the heavier ewes this week. Top price was £67 from Monahan, Biggins Hill Farm, Waterston, with other leading prices including £65.50 from Thomas, Carregllys, Whitemill; £65 from Richards, Tegfryn, Pumsaint; £64 from Lee, 17 St. John Street, Whitland, and Morris, Mwche, Llanstephan.

Light ewes continue to meet a very good trade, averaging £23, with heavier ewes averaging £45.60. Cull rams sold to a top price of £70.50 from Morris, Mwche, Llanstephan, with the average at £42.