A larger entry of lambs at the Ross-on-Wye livestock market on Monday 19 October produced a fast and competitive trade, particularly on handy-weight lambs, with the top price of the day reaching £200 per head.
Lamb trade
Retail and wholesale buyers were active and selective, driving strongest competition for well-finished lambs in the 38kg–43kg weight range. These tended to sell between 350p and 372p per kilogramme, while the day’s peak was quoted at 372p per kilogramme for the top pens. The overall average for lambs at the sale was reported at £157 per head.
- Top price: £200/head for a run of Texel lambs from Monnow Marquees
- Top weight price: 372p/kg
- Typical range for well-finished 38–43kg lambs: 350p–372p/kg
- Overall average: £157/head
Other store and cattle trade
The sale also featured a useful entry of finished cattle and a larger entry of cull cows, both meeting what auctioneers described as a fast, competitive trade.
Finished cattle continued to be in short supply nationally and buyers showed increased appetite. Steers topped the market at £2,990 per head from DM & CS Andrews of Glen Court Farm and heifers peaked at £2,332 per head from DE & SJ Cheacker of Ostbridge Manor Farm; their Limousin cross heifers sold to 405p per kilogramme.
Cull cows drew a particularly strong response, topping at 325p per kilogramme and a top headage price of £3,049 from G E Phillips & Son of Dairy Farm; cows from the same vendor also realised £2,733.
Young bulls reached a top of £2,168 from N Scudamore and averaged 355p per kilogramme, illustrating continued demand for prime beef animals.
Summary of key figures
| market | date | category | price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Top lamb | £200/head (Texel run) |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Lambs (38–43kg) | 350p–372p/kg |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Overall lamb average | £157/head |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Steers (top) | £2,990/head |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Heifers (top) | £2,332/head; Limousin cross to 405p/kg |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Cull cows (top) | 325p/kg; £3,049/head |
| Ross-on-Wye | Monday 19 October | Young bulls (top/avg) | £2,168/head; avg 355p/kg |
Auctioneers R G and R B Williams reported the fast trade and said demand remains strong for well-finished lambs and finished cattle, with more finished cattle required to meet current demand. The market emphasised that heavy-weight lambs also stepped up on the previous week, while handy weights were the highlight of the sale.
